Credit for Prior Learning

Receive College Credit for Your Life Experience!

Credit for Prior Learning at Berkshire Community College (BCC) 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 BCC benefit from having some credit for prior learning on their transcript, helping them accelerate their education and transfer or graduate more quickly.

BCC 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 $30.50 per credit for approved portfolio review.

  • Life Experience Credential Review

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

    Credential Review
    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
    Paramedic Certification AHS 208 24 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 $30.50 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

    BCC 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 BCC Admissions at admissions@berkshirecc.edu for evaluation.

  • Military Experience

    BCC 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 Joint Services Transcript sent directly to BCC Admissions at admissions@berkshirecc.edu for evaluation.

  • High School Articulations through CTE Linkages

    The Career Vocational Technical Education (CVTE) Linkage Initiative at BCC 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 BCC 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 BCC.

  • College Transfer Credit

    Students who earned a C or better from a regionally accredited institution of higher education may request to have their official transcripts sent from their previous institution to BCC Admissions at admissions@berkshirecc.edu for evaluation.

Get Started



1. Apply to BCC

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

Apply online!



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.

Set up your account



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 BCC. For Certificates, at least 75% of certificate credits must be from coursework completed at BCC.