Create a portfolio assessment system. The legitimate colleges that offer credit based on life experience typically allow students to claim credit for previous work experience from jobs or military service. For example, Charter Oak State College and Excelsior College require students who wish to utilize portfolio assessment to gain credit for life experience to enroll in a three hour course and construct a portfolio documenting their knowledge obtained while engaged in their work. Students must submit a portfolio that contains a personal narrative and documentation regarding their previous learning experience. Their assessment is matched with the description of coursework found in the schools' course catalog.
Examine students' knowledge through the use of a testing system. Students who have life experience should be able to account for the knowledge they have obtained by taking an examination and proving it. Excelsior College uses multiple examination formats to assess the life experience of incoming college students. Students who have taken advanced placement college exams can receive credit for those while other students can take various standardized CLEP examinations.Other types of exams for which college credit is granted include Information Technology certification exams and Dantes Standardized Subject Tests.
Include licenses and certifications as part of the evaluation process. After all, incoming students who have spent a significant amount of time at their job and have achieved professional designations and certifications will be more likely to go to school if they can receive credit for credentials they have already worked hard to obtain. Thomas Edison State College uses a committee to evaluate student certifications. Each student can submit proof of their certification for evaluation to the American Council on Education's College Credit Recommendation Service. Once students' petitions have been approved, they can be submitted with documentation to the appropriate committee for further evaluation.