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Earn College Credit for what you already know
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is a set of well-established, researched, and validated methods for assessing learning for college credit. It allows any student to demonstrate knowledge, competencies, and skills in a particular field or fields and have that learning evaluated for college credit by faculty subject matter experts.
Why Pursue Prior Learning Assessment?
Prior Learning Assessment may allow you to earn college credit for skills you already have that are applicable to your degree, it may shorten the length of time to graduation and may help save you money.
How is Prior Learning Assessed?
- Standardized Tests – CLEP, DSST/DANTES, UExcel, Advanced Placement (AP), Straighterline and International Baccalaureate (IB)
- American Council on Education (ACE) and National College Credit Recommendations Service (NCCRS)
- Faculty-Developed Assessments, including:
- Challenge Exams
- Portfolio Assessments
- Individual Performance Assessment
- Locally-Evaluated Industry and Workplace Education/Training Program Credit
Who is Eligible?
- Credit may be granted only to admitted students to Great Falls College
- Students seeking PLA via portfolio, challenge exams, or other faculty‐determined assessment methods must be current enrolled at Great Falls College in a degree-seeking program.
- Great Falls College does not allow prior learning assessment for prospective students.
To read more about the eligibility and transferability, view the Great Falls College policies and procedures.
Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
Students, who have taken the Advanced Placement Examination (AP), will need to submit a copy of their scores to the Registrar’s office. AP Exams are available for various courses taken through AP.
To request a copy of your AP scores go to the College Board’s AP website https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/home
AP scores transfer to Great Falls College by the following criteria:
- The Registrar’s office will only transfer in AP credits applicable to the student’s degree.
- Grades of 3, 4 or 5 on an AP examination will be granted for college credit for the appropriate courses.
- Pass Grades (TP) are assigned to all courses awarded from AP exams.
- Some programs at Great Falls College limit the use of pass/fail courses in their curriculum.
- There is a 25% PLA cap on the number of PLA credits that may be used for a student’s degree at Great Falls College.
| AP Test Title | Minimum Score Required | Number of Credits | Equivalent Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ARTZ 000 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ARTZ 000 |
| African American Studies | 3 | 3 | SOCI 000 |
| Art History | 3 | 6 | ARTH 160 |
| Biology | 3 | 4 & 4 | BIOB 160 & BIOB 170 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | M 171 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 4 & 4 | M 171 & M 172 |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 3 | 4 | M 171 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 & 4 | CHMY 141 & CHMY 143 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | ML 000 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | PSCI 000 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 3 | CSCI 111 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | CSCI 105 |
| Cybersecurity | 3 | 3 | ITS 000 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | WRIT 101 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 & 3 | LIT 110 & WRIT 101 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | SCI 000 |
| European History | 3 | 3 & 3 | HSTR 101 & HSTR 102 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | ML 000 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | ML 000 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | GPHY 000 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | ML 000 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | ML 000 |
| Latin | 3 | 8 | ML 000 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECNS 202 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECNS 201 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 3 & 2 | MUSI 105 (3cr) & MUSI 140 (2cr) |
| Physics 1: Algebra Based | 3 | 4 | PHSX 000 |
| Physics 2: Algebra Based | 3 | 4 | PHSX 205 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | PHSX 220 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | PHSX 220 |
| Precalculus | 3 | 4 | M 151 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSYX 100 |
| Research | 3 | 3 | ACT 000 |
| Seminar | 3 | 3 | ACT 000 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 4 & 4 | SPNS 101 & SPNS 102 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 3 | SPNS 000 |
| Statistics | 3 | 4 | STAT 216 |
| Drawing | 3 | 3 | ARTZ 000 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | PSCI 210 |
| United States History | 3 | 3 & 3 | HSTA 101 & HSTA 102 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 6 | HSTR 160 |
Pass Grades (TP) are assigned to all courses awarded from AP exams.
Students must have official AP scores sent to Great Falls College for review.
Last updated 9/15/2026
Challenge Exam
Challenge Exams provide students with the opportunity to earn college credits without formal course enrollment by taking a comprehensive examination in the subject matter of the course. Formats and availability vary by department.
The Division Director will designate the appropriate faculty member, Department Chair or Program Director to develop the criteria for demonstrating assessment using course outcomes.
Contact the Advising & Career Center for options at [email protected] or 406-771-5100.
CLEP
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) offers various subject tests in composition and literature, world languages, history and social sciences, science and mathematics, and business. Students with knowledge in these areas may decide to take a CLEP exam to earn college credit.
CLEP exams can be taken through the Testing Center at Great Falls College. To view the Testing Center hours go to https://www.gfcmsu.edu/home/current-students/testing-center/
To view what specific subject tests are available through CLEP, or to schedule an exam, go to https://clep.collegeboard.org/
To submit previous CLEP scores go to the College Board’s CLEP website to request a copy of your scores https://clep.collegeboard.org
CLEP scores transfer to Great Falls College by the following criteria:
- The Registrar’s office will only transfer in credits from CLEP scores applicable to the student’s degree.
- Pass Grades (TP) are assigned to all courses awarded from CLEP exams.
- Some programs at Great Falls College limit the use of pass/fail courses in their curriculum.
- There is a 25% PLA cap on the number of PLA credits that may be used for a student’s degree at Great Falls College.
| CLEP Exam Title | ACE Recommended Score | Semester Hours | Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Government | 50 | 3 | PSCI 210 |
| American Literature | 50 | 3 | LIT 000 |
| Analyzing and Interpreting Literature | 50 | 3 | LIT 110 |
| Biology | 50 | 3 & 3 | BIOB 160 & BIOB 170 |
| Calculus | 50 | 4 | M 171 |
| Chemistry | 50 | 3 & 3 | CHMY 141 & CHMY 143 |
| College Algebra | 50 | 3 | M 121 |
| College Composition | 50 | 3 & 3 | WRIT 101 & WRIT 201 |
| College Composition Modular | 50 | 3 | WRIT 101 |
| College Mathematics | 50 | 6 | M 105 |
| English Literature | 50 | 3 | LIT 000 |
| Financial Accounting | 50 | 3 | ACTG 201 |
| French Language, Level 1 Proficiency | 50 | 6 | ML 000 |
| French Language, Level 2 Proficiency | 59 | 9 | ML 000 |
| German Language, Level 1 Proficiency | 50 | 6 | ML 000 |
| German Language, Level 2 Proficiency | 60 | 9 | ML 000 |
| History of the United States: Early Colonization to 1877 | 50 | 3 | HSTA 101 |
| History of the United States II: 1865 to Present | 50 | 3 | HSTA 102 |
| Human Growth and Development | 50 | 3 | PSYX 230 |
| Humanities | 50 | 3 | LSH 000 |
| Information Systems | 50 | 3 | CAPP 131 |
| Introduction to Educational Psychology | 50 | 3 | EDU 221 |
| Introductory Business Law | 50 | 3 | BGEN 235 |
| Introductory Psychology | 50 | 3 | PSYX 100 |
| Introductory Sociology | 50 | 3 | SOCI 101 |
| Natural Sciences | 50 | 6 | SCI 000 |
| Precalculus | 50 | 3 | M 151 |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | 50 | 3 | ECNS 202 |
| Principles of Management | 50 | 3 | BMGT 235 |
| Principles of Marketing | 50 | 3 | BMKT 225 |
| Principles of Microeconomics | 50 | 3 | ECNS 201 |
| Social Sciences and History | 50 | 3 & 3 | SOCI 000 & HSTR 000 |
| Spanish Language, Level 1 Proficiency | 50 | 3 & 3 | SPNS 101 & SPNS 102 |
| Spanish Language, Level 2 Proficiency | 63 | 9 | SPNS 000 |
| Spanish with Writing, Level 1 Proficiency | 50 | 6 | SPNS 101 & SPNS 102 |
| Spanish with Writing, Level 2 Proficiency | 65 | 12 | SPNS 000 |
| Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 | 50 | 3 | HSTR 101 |
| Western Civilization II: 1648 to Present | 50 | 3 | HSTR 102 |
Pass Grades (TP) are assigned to all courses awarded from CLEP exams.
Students must have official CLEP scores sent to Great Falls College for review.
Last updated 9/15/2026
DSST (DANTES)
DSST (formerly DANTES)
The DSST exams, formerly called the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), are a way for students to earn credit for prior knowledge. The DSST includes over 30 exams and offers funding for military active duty and their spouses.
DSST exams can be taken through the Testing Center at Great Falls College. To view the Testing Center hours go to https://www.gfcmsu.edu/home/current-students/testing-center/
The DSST website offers practice exams, information about exam costs, and more. To learn more about DSST exams go to http://getcollegecredit.com/
To request past DSST scores go to the DSST website and complete their Score Report Order Form http://getcollegecredit.com/
DSST scores transfer to Great Falls College by the following criteria:
- The Registrar’s Office will only transfer in credits from DSST scores applicable to the student’s degree.
- Pass Grades (TP) are assigned to all courses awarded from DSST exams.
- Some programs at Great Falls College limit the use of pass/fail courses in their curriculum.
- There is a 25% PLA cap on the number of PLA credits that may be used for a student’s degree at Great Falls College.
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| DSST (DANTES) Exam Title | Minimum Score | Semester Hours | Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| A History of the Vietnam War | 400 | 3 | HSTR 000 |
| American Government and Politics | 400 | 3 | PSCI 210 |
| Art of the Western World | 400 | 3 | ARTH 000 |
| Astronomy | 400 | 3 | SCI 000 (no lab) |
| Business Ethics & Society | 400 | 3 | BGEN 220 |
| Business Mathematics | 400 | 3 | M 108 |
| Computing and Information Technology | 400 | 3 | CAPP 131 |
| Criminal Justice | 400 | 3 | CJUS 121 |
| Environmental Science | 400 | 3 | SCI 000 (no lab) |
| Ethics in America | 400 | 3 | PHL 000 |
| Ethics in Technology | 400 | 3 | ITS 000 |
| Foundations of Education | 400 | 3 | EDU 200 |
| Fundamentals of College Algebra | 400 | 3 | M 121 |
| Fundamentals of Counseling | 400 | 3 | ACT 000 |
| Fundamentals of Cybersecurity | 400 | 3 | ITS 000 |
| General Anthropology | 400 | 3 | ANTY 101 |
| Health and Human Development | 400 | 3 | HTH 000 |
| History of the Soviet Union (formerly:The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union) | 400 | 3 | HSTR 000 |
| Human Resource Management | 400 | 3 | BMGT 000 |
| Introduction to Business | 400 | 3 | BGEN 105 |
| Introduction to Geography (formerly titled: Human/Cultural Geography) | 400 | 3 | GPHY 000 |
| Introduction to Geology | 400 | 3 | GEO 101 (no lab) |
| Introduction to Law Enforcement | 400 | 3 | CJUS 000 |
| Introduction to World Religions | 400 | 3 | RLST 000 |
| Lifespan Developmental Psychology | 400 | 3 | PSYX 230 |
| Management Information Systems | 400 | 3 | CAPP 000 |
| Math for Liberal Arts | 400 | 3 | M 105 |
| Money and Banking | 400 | 3 | ECNS 000 |
| Organizational Behavior | 400 | 3 | PSYX 000 |
| Personal Finance | 400 | 3 | ACTG 000 |
| Principles of Advanced English Composition | 400 | 3 | WRIT 201 |
| Principles of Finance | 400 | 3 | ACTG 201 |
| Principles of Public Speaking | 400 | 3 | COMX 111 |
| Principles of Statistics | 400 | 3 | STAT 216 |
| Principles of Supervision | 400 | 3 | BMGT 000 |
| Substance Abuse (formerly: Drug and Alcohol Abuse) | 400 | 3 | HTH 000 |
| Technical Writing | 400 | 3 | WRIT 121 |
| The Civil War and Reconstruction | 400 | 3 | HSTA 000 |
Pass Grades (TP) are assigned to all courses awarded from DSST exams.
Students must have official DSST scores sent to Great Falls College for review.
Last updated 9/15/2026
Other Assessment Options
Students may have other assessment options detailing their college-level knowledge and skills gained through prior learning experiences and have it evaluated for credit by faculty. Formats and availability vary by department.
The Division Director will designate the appropriate faculty member, Department Chair or Program Director to develop the criteria for demonstrating assessment using course outcomes.
Contact the Advising & Career Center for options at [email protected] or 406-771-5100.
Portfolio
Portfolio Assessment
Students may have the option to prepare a portfolio detailing their college-level knowledge and skills gained through prior learning experiences and have it evaluated for credit by faculty. Formats and availability vary by department.
The Division Director will designate the appropriate faculty member, Department Chair or Program Director to develop the criteria of the portfolio using course outcomes.
Contact the Advising & Career Center for options at [email protected] or 406-771-5100.