Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025 > Academic Policies and Procedures/Academic Services > Academic Procedures > Earning Credits for Prior Learning and Experience > Experiential Learning Not Requiring a Portfolio

Experiential Learning Not Requiring a Portfolio

Students having the experience or credentials below may apply for experiential learning credit without submitting an additional portfolio of supporting documentation. (Any documentation that is required for the final approval of credit is listed along with each item below.) The application for university credit for the following credentials will be evaluated upon presentation of proof of the required certification or transcripts.

The American Council on Education (ACE): Lindenwood University accepts the recommendations for credit as set by (ACE). To earn experiential learning credit, the student must provide the ACE transcript or certificate verifying that the experience or training is or has been recognized by ACE.

• Certified legal assistant: Up to 24 hours of credit may be awarded. Copy of certificate required.

• Certified professional secretary in selected business and economic areas: Up to 14 hours of credit may be awarded. Copy of completion certificate required.
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B): Up to nine credit hours may be awarded for the completion of training and certification for EMT. Student must present official current license.
• Information Technology Certifications: Up to 27 credit hours may be awarded for current certifications from ITIL, Cisco, Microsoft, CompTIA, EC Council, copy of certification or official transcript required.
• Life insurance license (completion or training) and certification for life insurance licensure: Up to three hours of credit may be awarded. Students may be eligible for an additional three credit hours in an area of specialization. Copy of license required.
• Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT): Official transcript from accredited school of MLT or school of radiology and completion of an accredited course of medical laboratory science required.
• Nursing (RN-BSN Track): Thirty-two (32) credits will be granted to students entering the RN-BSN nursing degree track based on the candidate’s professional experience as a licensed registered nurse. Proof of current and unencumbered registered nurse licensure in the state of declared primary residency is required for admission to this track and before awarding credits. A $250 administrative fee is charged instead of a per-credit cost for experiential credit. All students in this track will be charged the fee regardless of how previous nursing education credit was obtained.
• Paramedicine: Forty-five (45) credits will be granted to students entering the paramedicine degree (experienced track) based on the candidate’s professional experience as a licensed paramedic. Proof of current national registry or state paramedic license is required for admission to this track, and prior to awarding credits. A $500 administrative fee is charge in lieu of a per credit charge for experiential credit. All students in this track will be charged the fee regardless of how previous paramedic education credit was obtained. 
• Radiologic Technology: Up to sixty (60) credits may be granted with successful completion of the national license exam, becoming certified, and registered with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (AART). Proof of licensure and registry are required before awarding credits. A $500 Radiologic Technology Credit Transfer Fee is charged instead of a per-credit cost for experiential credit.
• Real estate broker’s license: Up to three hours of credit may be awarded. Copy of license required.

• Real estate sales license: Up to three hours of credit may be awarded. Copy of license required.

• Respiratory Therapist (RT): Up to 12 hours of credit may be awarded for the completion of training and certification in respiratory therapy. Official transcript from accredited school of RT required.

• Up to 27 Lindenwood experiential credit hours may be awarded to undergraduate students who have completed a certified police officer training academy. After submitting police academy training certificates along with transcripts verifying contact hours, students will be awarded Lindenwood credit hours as follows:

• 200 - 499 Academy contact hours = 12 Lindenwood credit hours awarded

• 500 - 799 Academy contact hours = 15 Lindenwood credit hours awarded

• 800 - 899 Academy contact hours = 21 Lindenwood credit hours awarded

• 900 and above Academy contact hours = 27 Lindenwood credit hours awarded

Hours for In-Service training are not accepted, and experiential learning credit will only be applied as free electives and not toward any requirements for the Criminology and Criminal Justice (CCJ) program of study unless a given student has declared CCJ as the minor. For students who have graduated from an academy with 900 or more contact hours, a total of 15 credit hours may be applied toward the police academy emphasis area of the CCJ degree. The remaining credits will apply toward experiential learning free electives. Additionally, credits will not be applied retroactively, meaning students who complete a police academy training program, while enrolled, as a student at Lindenwood University, will not satisfy the experiential learning credit requirements. Experiential learning is reserved for those who have completed services and gained experience in the appropriate area. However, students may enroll in the St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy partnership course and earn 15 credit hours of the police academy emphasis area of the CCJ degree, even if the student chooses to attend a separate accredited police academy, as described above for the emphasis area.

• Stockbroker’s license completion of training and certification for a stockbroker’s license (series 6 or 7): Up to six hours of credit may be awarded. Copy of completion certificate required.
• Certified Surgical Technologist (CST): Up to thirty (30) credits may be granted with successful completion of the National Board for Certification for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). Proof of certification is required.
• YMCA leadership development courses: Up to five credit hours may be awarded. Submission of YMCA transcript required.

Training courses offered by specific companies or corporations may also be awarded credit for experiential learning. For a list of these companies and eligible courses, check with the registrar or the experiential learning coordinator.

Students who wish to have experiential learning credit posted to their Lindenwood transcript must pay a fee of $100 per credit hour. Credit will not be applied to the transcript until the fees are paid. 

The following organizations have agreements with the university that permit the application of experiential learning credit as follows:

• Military Service: Students seeking an experiential learning award for military experience, formal courses taken in the military, or for proficiency in a military occupational specialty must provide official military records. Military credits are posted to a student’s transcript at no charge, based on the recommendations of the American Council of Education. For credit derived from military experience or from formal courses taken through the military, veterans should submit a DD Form 95, DD Form 214, Joint Services Transcripts, depending on the branch of the military, or a transcript of in-service training.