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Prior Learning Assessment

SUNY Canton awards credit to degree-seeking students for verifiable college-level learning (knowledge or skills) acquired through college coursework or demonstrated prior learning, life or work experience. This learning can come from many sources, including military education & training, professional and industry certifications & licenses or other credentials, apprenticeships, standardized published exams, portfolio review & challenge exams, and non-credit to credit pathways.

Credit for Prior Learning

The credit for prior learning review process is used for the evaluation of industry acceptable credentials that cannot be assessed through other prior learning assessment processes (i.e., standardized exams, challenge exams, transfer credits, ACE military evaluations). Credit for prior learning may be granted to students with an affiliation with the campus, such as being enrolled in a degree program and/or microcredential at the completion of the review process.

Includes both portfolio and non-portfolio review.

Proficiency/Challenge Exam

The proficiency and/or challenge exam process is used for the evaluation of course specific credits awarded through departmentally designed exams.

Standardized Published Exams

Admission with advanced standing may be granted based on satisfactory completion of published proficiency examinations. The College participates in the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), DSST (formerly DANTES), Excelsior College Exams (ECE), the International Baccalaureate Program (IB), and the Advanced Placement Program (AP) as well as the Regents College Proficiency Examination Program sponsored by the New York State Education Department.

Military Education & Training

The College may grant advanced standing for military training and experience as recommended by the American Council on Education. Where courses, service school experience, or subject matter exams are applicable to a curriculum in which a student is enrolled at this college, credit will be determined using the publication “Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services.”

Apprenticeships

SUNY Canton is dedicated to partnering with industry sponsors offering approved Department of Labor (DOL) apprenticeship programs. As part of the SUNY Apprenticeship Program (SAP) grant, SUNY Canton will offer industry roundtables, related instruction, curriculum development, and pre-apprenticeship trainings.