Amendments to the Credit for Prior Learning Policy

In the spring of 2023, the Office of the Registrar and the Office of Transfer Credit and Articulation proposed updates to the Credit for Prior Learning Policy for undergraduate students. An exception has been added to the policy that students may receive up to 30 units of credit for prior learning if they are enrolled in a program that requires government-approved licensure as a prerequisite to admission. Any programs with such admission standards may request approval to increase their prior learning credit threshold through the Division of Undergraduate Education. This credit may only be applied to approved programs, and not to majors, minors, or certificates which do not require licensure for admission. 

The updated language leaves in place the current maximum of 6 units of credit for prior learning for all students whose program does not require licensure for admission. 

Language added to policy: 

"Approved undergraduate programs who have admission standards requiring prerequisite learning that can be completed outside of an accredited higher education institution and confirmed by government-approved licensure can issue up to 30 credits of prior learning. These credits will only be applicable when a student remains in that academic program and will not count toward the minimum required for other bachelor's degrees …. Academic programs who have admission standards requiring prerequisite learning that can be completed outside of an accredited higher education institution and confirmed by government-approved licensure will, upon recommendation of the department faculty, request approval through the Division of Undergraduate Education for the increased threshold of credit for prior learning."

The updated policy was approved by the Undergraduate Council, Graduate Council, Undergraduate College Academic Administrators Council, Graduate College Academic Administrators Council, and the Faculty Senate during the spring and fall of 2023.  

The updated policy is effective Fall 2023 and can be read in full online.

Justification/Rationale 

In limited cases, an undergraduate program may require students to have completed extensive training and licensure prior to being admitted to the program. While some students may earn university or transfer credit for coursework associated with that licensure, other students may earn the same license through alternative pathways. The update to the Credit for Prior Learning policy ensures that students with the same required licensure can be granted the same credit toward their degree requirements, regardless of how the licensure was earned. 

Questions about the updates to the Credit for Prior Learning policy should be addressed to the Office of the Registrar at catalog@arizona.edu.