Credit for Prior Learning

Receive College Credit for Your Life Experience!

Credit for Prior Learning at ΊμΠΣΦ±²¥ All Rights Reserved (ΊμΠΣΦ±²¥) offers you the opportunity to match your skills and experience with course content offered at the College.

Did you know?

One in six students at ΊμΠΣΦ±²¥ benefit from having some credit for prior learning on their transcript, helping them accelerate their education and transfer or graduate more quickly.

ΊμΠΣΦ±²¥ offers a variety of ways to earn credits for the learning you have already completed. The information below provides details about how to seek credit for what you already know!

Students who earn prior learning credit save $198 per credit, helping them graduate more quickly!

Contact Us

Geoffrey Tabor, Coordinator of Advanced Standing
onestop@berkshirecc.edu
413-236-1610

Types of Prior Learning Credit

  • Life Experience Portfolio Review

    Students may develop portfolios to be reviewed by a departmental faculty to demonstrate they acquired the knowledge and skills that match course learning outcomes through life experience or employment.

    *Please note there is a fee of $30 per credit for approved portfolio review.

  • Life Experience Credential Review

    Specific training, licensure or certification may be equivalent to a ΊμΠΣΦ±²¥ course. Submission of the valid credential is needed to earn course credit. ΊμΠΣΦ±²¥ currently offers credit for the following credentials:

    Certification Course Credits
    MA Firefighting Academy I FIS-101 3 credits
    MA Firefighting Academy II FIS-106 3 credits
    MFA Hazardous MaterialsTechnician (135 hours) FIS-201 3 credits
    MA State/Municipal Policy Academy (current within five years and currently employed as an officer by a state or local government law enforcement agency) CRJ-121
    CRJ Professional Elective    		 6 credits
    EMT Basic Certification FIS electives
    or
    AHS-111    		 6 credits
    3 credits
    ServSafe Certification CUL-108 1 credit
    LPN or CNA (present certificate/licensure with demonstrated practice of at least one year (within the last five years) AHS-111 3 credits
    LPN (for students accepted into the ADN Bridge program) NUR-101 and NUR-102 17 credits
    American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certifications
    Certified Coding Associate HIM-102 and HIM-105 6 credits
    Certified Coding Specialist HIM-102, HIM-105, HIM-106, HIM-132 12 credits

    *Please note there is a fee of $30 per credit for approved credential review.

  • College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

    Students may receive college credit by taking a CLEP exam which assesses your knowledge in specific course content.

    *The fee paid to CLEP is $90. The proctoring fee is $30 and is paid to the Testing Center.

  • Advanced Placement (AP) Exams

    ΊμΠΣΦ±²¥ offers credit based on the score students receive on several AP Exams offered through College Board. If you completed an AP exam, review the course equivalences and required scores, and then contact College Board to have your official AP Scores sent to ΊμΠΣΦ±²¥ Admissions at admissions@berkshirecc.edu for evaluation.

  • Military Experience

    ΊμΠΣΦ±²¥ supports our veteran and active-duty students and recognizes the value your unique experience brings to our campus. Veteran and active-duty students may be eligible to receive course credit for their military academic and work experience. Please have your official sent directly to ΊμΠΣΦ±²¥ Admissions at admissions@berkshirecc.edu for evaluation.

  • High School Articulations through CTE Linkages

    The Career Vocational Technical Education (CVTE) Linkage Initiative at ΊμΠΣΦ±²¥ works with local high schools to provide high school career vocational students with a smooth transition into the programs of their choice. Students in aligned programs may be able to receive college credit for some of their high school coursework upon entering ΊμΠΣΦ±²¥ under the terms set between the College and their high school. To determine your eligibility, contact the CVTE Linkage Coordinator, Addie VanDeurzen, at avandeurzen@berkshirecc.edu.

  • Bridge to College Program

    The credit you earned in the Bridge to College program may apply to your academic program at ΊμΠΣΦ±²¥.

  • College Transfer Credit

    Students who earned a C or better from a may request to have their official transcripts sent from their previous institution to ΊμΠΣΦ±²¥ Admissions at admissions@berkshirecc.edu for evaluation.

Get Started



1. Apply to ΊμΠΣΦ±²¥

If you haven’t yet applied to ΊμΠΣΦ±²¥, you should! It’s free and the most important step in this process.



2. Attend your new student advising appointment

Meet with a member of the Academic Advising and Coaching Team to review your academic program and the ways in which your previous experience and learning could apply to your program. Follow the recommendations of the Academic Advising and Coaching Team.

Contact Academic Advising and Coaching



3. Build a profile, if recommended

Answer a short series of questions that helps us learn about you, and to determine the college program(s)* you're interested in.



4. We'll get in touch

The Coordinator of Advanced Standing reviews your profile and contacts you with your next steps.

Please note: For associate degrees, at least 25% of degree credits must be from coursework completed at ΊμΠΣΦ±²¥. For Certificates, at least 75% of certificate credits must be from coursework completed at ΊμΠΣΦ±²¥.