UMF awards academic credit to enrolled students for demonstrated learning from work and life experiences through its Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) program. Students have earned credit for a broad range of learning experiences:
- from working in schools to working in restaurants,
- from caring for a special needs child to caring for a relative at end-of-life,
- from being a photographer to playing in a band,
- from helping to run a family business to leading a scout troop,
- from maintaining trails to lobbying legislators,
- from being multilingual to being certified as a CNA,
- & much more
You can gain credit for prior learning in three ways:
UMF accepts college credit for successful completion of the following exams:
- Advanced Placement (AP)
- College Level Exam Program (CLEP) Exam
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
- Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support Subject Standardized Tests (DANTES DSST) Exam: All DSST exams with a score of 400 or higher are awarded credit at UMF.
- American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Exams
- American Sign Language Proficiency Exam (ASLPI)
- Brigham Young University Foreign Language Achievement Exams (BYU FLATS)
- Seal of Bilingualism/Biliteracy
Credit by examination is not currently a CPL option for graduate students.
Official reports of test scores should be sent from the organization offering the test directly to umf.registrar@maine.edu
Language Exams
UMF offers multiple options for students to demonstrate their knowledge of and skills in languages other than English for credit. In addition to Advanced Placement, CLEP, and IB exams, the Seal of Bilingualism/Biliteracy, and Multilingual at Work portfolio submissions, students can demonstrate their language skills via any of the following exams: ACTFL, ASLPI, and BYU FLATS language exams. Students cannot duplicate language credits by demonstrating the same language skills with more than one of these options.
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Tests
UMF accepts ACTFL reading, writing, listening and oral proficiency tests as evaluated and recommended for college credit by the American Council on Education (ACE).
- An official ACE transcript must be submitted for courses to be considered for transfer credit.
- Credit will be awarded at the ACE recommended level (1xx or 3xx).
- Credit will be designated as general elective credit for subjects with no comparable discipline at UMF, program elective credit, or for a specific course if the ACE recommendation aligns with an existing course.
For details on requesting ACE transcripts, click here. You can also find the ACE National Guide here.
American Sign Language Proficiency Exam (ALSPI)
For information on ASLPI exams, see What is ASLPI? ASLPI exam scores of 3 or higher receive ASL 2XX 8 credits. Official score reports should be requested by and emailed directly from ASLPI@Gaulladet.edu to umf.registrar@maine.edu
Brigham Young University Foreign Language Achievement Exams (BYU FLATS)
For information on BYU FLATS exams, see FLATS for non-BYU students
American Council on Education (ACE) recognized learning
Courses from non-accredited training organizations may be granted transfer credit if they are recognized by the American Council on Education (ACE). The courses must carry a credit recommendation from ACE and be categorized as lower division, upper division, or graduate level. Credit will not be granted for courses at the vocational level.
- An official ACE transcript must be submitted for courses to be considered for transfer credit.
- Credit will be awarded at the ACE recommended level (1xx or 3xx).
- Credit will be designated as general elective credit for subjects with no comparable discipline at UMF, program elective credit, or for a specific course if the ACE recommendation aligns with an existing course.
For details on requesting ACE transcripts, click here. Have your transcript sent directly from ACE to umf.registrar@maine.edu You can also find the ACE National Guide here.
Approved certifications, licenses, training, and professional development
| Credential | Subject | Course | Credit hours |
| Basic Life Support & First Aid (American Red Cross or American Heart Association | Health | 1XX | .5 |
| Basic Life Support & First Aid Renewal (American Red Cross or American Heart Association | Health | 1XX | .5 |
| Behavioral Health Professional (BHP), Maine DHHS | Rehabilitation & Human Services | 1XX | 3 |
| Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Assistant to Nurse’s Certification | Health | 1XX | 3 |
| Certified Residential Medication Aide (CRMA), Maine DHHS | Rehabilitation & Human Services | 1XX | 1 |
| Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential: Infant Toddler | Early Childhood Education (Birth-5) | 196 & 296 | 6 |
| Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential: Infant Toddler | Early Childhood Education (PreK-3rd) | 196 & 2XX | 6 |
| Community Health Worker Core Competency Training from MCD Global Health (40-hour program) | Health | 1XX | 3 |
| Community Health Worker Core Competency Training from MCD Global Health (80-hour program) | Health | 2XX & 296 | 6 |
| Direct Support Professional (DSP) or Maine College of Direct Support (MCDS), Maine DHHS | Rehabilitation & Human Services | 1XX | 1 |
| Early Childhood Education and Care-Advanced (CECA) | Education | 1XX | 3 |
| Educators Rising Micro-credentials (all 5 completed) | Education | 1XX | 3 |
| Emergency Medical Technician – Basic (EMT-B) | Elective | 1XX | 6 |
| Emergency Medical Technician – Advanced (AEMT) (no additional credit for EMT-B) | Elective | 2XX | 12 |
| Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Series 65 Exam | Business | 345 | 3 |
| Firefighter I (State Certification) | Elective | 1XX | 3 |
| Firefighter II (State Certification) | Elective | 1XX | 3 |
| Language Line Interpreter Skills Certification | Humanities | 3XX | 4 |
| Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Level I | Math | 120 | 3 |
| Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Level I | Math | 100 | 3 |
| Maine Bureau of Insurance: Producer Resident (Life & Health) | Business | 1XX or 177 | 3 |
| Maine Bureau of Insurance: Producer Resident (Property & Casualty) | Business | 1XX or 177 | 3 |
| Maine Master Gardener Volunteer | Environmental Science | 277 | 4 |
| Maine Media Workshops and College (1 week intensive) | Humanities | 2XX | 3 |
| Maine Roads To Quality Infant Toddler Credential | Early Childhood Education | 1XX & 250 | 6 |
| Maine Roads to Quality Youth Development, Director, Inclusion, Family Child Care, or Technical Assistance Credential | Elective | 1XX | 6 |
| Mental Health Support Specialist (MHSS), Maine DHHS | Rehabilitation & Human Services | 1XX | 1 |
| Midcoast Permaculture Design (120 hours) | Environmental Science | 377 | 4 |
| New Ventures Maine: Venturing Forth – Business Planning for Entrepreneurs | Business | 262 | 3 |
| Olympia Snowe Leadership Program | Elective | 2XX | 3 |
| OSHA 30-Hour Training | Elective | 1XX | 1 |
| OSHA HAZWOPER Training | Elective | 1XX | 1 |
| Personal Support Specialist (PSS), Maine DHHS | Rehabilitation & Human Services | 1XX | 1 |
| Project Management Professional (PMP) | Business | 377 | 3 |
| ServSafe Food Protection Manager | Elective | 1XX | 1 |
| Society of Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) Certification or Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) Certification | Business | 310 | 3 |
| State of Maine Sales Agent/Associate Broker/Designated Broker | Elective | 1XX | 3 |
| Wilderness First Aid (15-20 hours) | Elective | 1XX | 1.5 |
| Wilderness First Responder (36-70 hours) | Health | 120 | 3 |
| Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200 hours) | Elective | 1XX | 3 |
Other certifications, licenses, training, and professional development
UMF will review for credit certifications, licenses, training, and other professional development which have clearly documented the following:
- Learning outcomes
- Methods of assessment
- Role of subject-matter experts
Approval of credit(s) award(ed) for certification, licensure, training, and other professional development programs are typically valid for five years, at which time another review of the program is required.
Students can find approved certifications, licenses, training, and other professional development programs posted on UMF’s website with information on how to submit documentation of these credentials or training for credit.
Students whose workplace or professional learning does not meet these requirements are advised to use the portfolio review process to document their learning.
Portfolio Review allows students to demonstrate and earn credit for college-level learning from professional experiences, community work, or personal pursuits. Portfolios usually include documentation of and reflection upon student learning experiences. We work one-on-one with students to assess their opportunities for earning portfolio credit. We also provide the following templates to guide submissions for demonstrating learning from
- Work Experience in General
- Work Experience in Education
- Work Experience in Biotechnology
- Multilingual at Work
- Volunteer and/or Civic Engagement
- Leadership Experiences
- Entrepreneurship
- Creative Endeavors
- Family Caregiving
To learn more about credit by portfolio review, email umfcpl@maine.edu
Credits earned via Portfolio Review count toward the 30 credits from UMF required for graduation from UMF.
The fee for Portfolio Assessment is $50 per credit hour.
“After a 35 year wait”
