Prospective nurses who have relevant experience or education may qualify for Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) credits, allowing them to complete their nursing degree faster. PLA credits streamline initial licensing by reducing required class time if certain conditions are met. This guide covers the basic requirements for PLA Nursing License
What is Prior Learning Assessment?
Prior Learning Assessment provides a way to translate documented life and work skills into academic credit. PLA determines if an individual has met learning standards for college-level knowledge without having taken formal courses. Methods used include exams, military transcripts, and portfolio reviews. PLA enables nurses to save substantial tuition dollars and time in school.
PLA Reduces Required Clinical Hours
All nurses must complete set clinical hours to obtain licensure; however, up to 75% of these can be PLA credits for knowledge demonstrated from past healthcare learning. Documentation of skills mastery must satisfy academic nursing standards. If they do, previous real-world experience covers parts of clinical education.
Specific Documentation Needs for PLA Applicants
Nurses supply evidence of abilities matching course learning objectives. Schools review materials critically before accepting credits based on past training and credentials. Commonly submitted items are skills checklists from prior healthcare employers, military healthcare transcripts, and notarized letters from supervisors detailing online learning.
PLA Credits Have Strict Limits
While PLA clinical hours help reduce class time, at least 25% of total state-mandated hours must come from an accredited nursing school. And certain skill standards require in-person checkoffs. State boards want some training done through accredited institutions under current instructional standards and technology.
PLA May Waive Select Licensing Exam Content
If PLA clinical hours are approved to count toward licensure, parts of the nursing exam might get waived since past education covered those sections sufficiently. However, testing centers determine what content they’ll exempt based on reviewed transcripts. Plan to take some licensing exams.
Where PLA Nursing Applicants Can Submit Documentation
Prospective nurses file PLA requests along with their license applications through state boards of nursing. Each state board independently assesses PLA materials. Qualified PLA training must meet board standards for rigor and scope, demonstrated by transcripts from accredited institutions, workplaces, or the military.
Why PLA Benefits Aspiring Nurses
PLA credit helps nurses begin licensure and career faster, saving months or years of added education. Accepted PLA applicants skip redundancy, avoid loan debt, and start earning sooner. Streamlining career progress makes nursing more accessible and affordable. Patients also benefit from more licensed providers entering the workforce faster.
Maximizing PLA Approval Odds
Submit a thorough portfolio reflecting healthcare skills learned through past employers, volunteer work, military posts, and informal education. Show how experiences directly relate to licensing competencies and curriculum requirements. Provide ample performance records of abilities. Reference learning objectives matched. Follow all state board PLA guidelines.
Which Nurses Might Not Benefit from PLA
Applicants lacking detailed records proving abilities may not be strong PLA candidates. For example, nurses informally picking up knowledge or those with older training may be hard pressed demonstrating their learning stacked up to current standards. Strongest PLA options exist for recent healthcare experience where performance feedback documented mastery.
Conclusion: PLA Offers a Viable Fast-track Option
For nurses holding related experience, Prior Learning Assessment delivers potential to expedite licensing by substituting previous accredited training for portions of required clinicals. PLA offers shorter paths to registration, helping address nurse shortages.