WSU Criminal Justice Prior Learning Assessments

 

The process of ta king these exams:

 

1

Prior Learning Assessments are exams designed to assess whether your lived experiences created knowledge equivalent to that of an academic class (they are not exams you study for). As such, we recommend reviewing the relevant Content Guide(s) before taking an assessment to gauge whether you posses the required knowledge. 

2

Obtain your employment verification letter - see "Prerequisites"

3

Email your employment verification letter to Dr. Bruce Bayley (bbayley@weber.edu). Be sure to put "PLA exam request" in the Subject Heading and don't forget to identify which exam you wish to take (you can only attempt one assessment at a time).

4

Once your documentation is approved, you will receive an email with the exam and payment link. Each exam costs $75 (no refunds) and you will have 1 hour to complete the 100 multiple choice questions (a score of 73% or higher is needed to pass each exam). Exam approval is valid for 90 days from the date of your approval email - after 90 days, you must reapply.

5

Once you complete the exam, notify Dr. Bayley via email. If you receive a score of 73% or higher, Dr. Bayley will send you the university's application for credit and instructions on how to apply that credit to your official record (Note: WSU will charge you a $10 recording fee for processing your application). 

Prerequisites:

  • Students must have a functioning camera for their computer in order to take these exams.
  • A student must either be officially registered or have an established WSU transcript at the time the request for credit or examination is made.
  • A student must have at least three consecutive years of full-time employment in a criminal justice related profession (determined by the Department of Criminal Justice) within five years of taking the exam.
  • A student must provide agency documentation, on official letterhead and signed/dated by an agency official, verifying that the three consecutive years of full-time employment requirement has been met AND that the student is in good standing with the agency. 
    • U.S. military veterans with an Honorable discharge can submit their DD214 to verify the criminal justice related profession and years of service requirements. 

Restrictions:

  • Students CANNOT take the challenge exam if any of the following have occurred:
    • Credit is not awarded if duplicated by previous examinations, petition or course work for which a student received a grade (A-E, I, T, W, UW, CR, NC)
    • The student is currently enrolled in the course.
  • Students may only attempt a challenge exam once.
  • Students CANNOT use this credit as part of the residence requirement. 
  • Student CANNOT take examinations in more than one subject at any one sitting.
  • Concurrent Enrollment and Early College students CANNOT be awarded special exam credits.
  • Veteran's benefits will not be paid for credit earned by special examination.