Relay’s Credit for Prior Learning Policy allows students to earn credit for Relay coursework based on a professional learning experience completed with a Relay partner and/or a certification/licensure examination. For Relay’s master’s-level programs requiring between 30–39 credits, a maximum of nine (9) credits may be granted in total through any combination of the following policies: Transfer Credits for Credits Earned at an Outside Institution and Credit for Prior Learning. For Relay’s post-baccalaureate programs or certificates requiring between 18–28 credits, a maximum of six (6) credits may be granted in total through any combination of the following policies: Transfer Credits for Credits Earned at an Outside Institution and Credit for Prior Learning. 

 

A fee of $100 per credit will be charged for each course credit that is granted, per student, and payment is due immediately. Accepted credit for prior learning will be reflected in a student’s transcript with the name of the Relay course the credits are being applied to and the grade “CPL.” These credits will not impact a student’s GPA. Once CPL credits are awarded, they become a permanent part of the student's academic record and transcript, and they cannot be removed.

 

Credit for Prior Learning for a Professional Learning Experience Completed with a Relay Partner

Partners may request credit for prior learning on behalf of a cohort of students for professional learning experiences sponsored by the partner. Applicable experiences under this policy may include pre-service training (i.e., summer institutes or intensives prior to the start of a student’s classroom teaching experience) and professional development series focused on specific and relevant topics. However, this policy does not cover activities such as weekly team meetings, general school-specific professional development sessions, or professional learning communities.

 

Credit for prior learning for a professional learning experience completed with a Relay partner may be applied to the following courses. Please note that in order for a student to be eligible for credit for prior learning in any of the courses below, their partnering organization must first receive approval for the course.

 

• EDU-501: Building a Culturally Responsive and Inclusive Classroom for Diverse Learners

• EDU-502: Introduction to Instructional Planning

• CLD-501: Teaching Multilingual Learners in Inclusive Settings

• TEL-500: Teaching Exceptional Learners in Inclusive Settings

• TEL-601: Introduction to Special Education

• ELEM-550/ELA-550: The Science of Teaching Reading

Credits through this policy can only be earned for courses that are required within a student’s Relay program for licensure/certification. The policy can not be applied to open flex course options within a student’s program. 

 

For students to be eligible to earn credit for prior learning through a Professional Learning Experience Completed with a Relay Partner, their partnering organization must first apply for approval for the course. Information on each of the eligible courses and how partners can apply can be found here, and currently approved learning experiences and associated courses can be found here.  

 

When partners request credit for prior learning concerning a professional learning experience, they must provide the following information: 

• the Relay course(s) for which they are seeking credit for prior learning

• the duration of the professional learning experience (in hours)

• a list of key knowledge and skills addressed, and 

• a scope and sequence of the session topics and/or objectives

 

If a student’s employer or sponsoring organization has been approved for credit for prior learning under this policy, the student or partner must provide Relay with performance-based evidence of skill application from the learning experience. Acceptable forms of evidence include a final portfolio or a rubric-based evaluation of teaching.

 

If performance-based evidence of skills is not available, the student may submit a certificate of completion for the learning experience AND the Relay-created final portfolio for the course(s). The final portfolio will be evaluated using the course’s assessment rubric. If the student receives a passing score, then the credit(s) for the course will be added to their transcript. 

 

Credit for Prior Learning for a professional learning experience will only be granted to students for whom the required documentation is received by the end of their second term of enrollment at Relay. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so students and/or partners are encouraged to submit documentation as soon as they are able. NOTE: Some state certification and licensure timelines may require that the required documentation be submitted earlier than a student’s second term and a delay in submission will lead to a delay in certification/licensure. Students and partners should review the Approved Learning Experiences to see recommended dates for submission.

 

Here is a list of professional learning experiences that are approved at the current time. Once a professional learning experience has been approved, eligibility will be applicable for up to three calendar years, unless there are substantive changes to the professional learning experience (e.g., changes to the objectives, assessment measure, and/or length of the experience). In the event there are substantive changes to the professional learning experience, a new credit for prior learning application must be submitted. 

 

Credit for Prior Learning for Examinations 

A student who has passed the subject-specific content examination that is required for certification/licensure in their state, may apply credit for prior learning to the aligned content knowledge course, if it is a course that is required within a student’s Relay program for licensure/certification. The policy can not be applied to open flex course options within a student’s program. 

 

The Relay courses included under this policy are:

• ELEM-550/ELA-550: The Science of Teaching Reading

• ELA-551: Understanding Concepts in Secondary ELA

• MATH-551: Understanding Concepts in Secondary Mathematics

• SCI-551: Understanding Concepts in Secondary Science

• SS-551: Understanding Concepts in Secondary Social Studies

 

To view the exams that are currently eligible for Credit for Prior Learning for Examinations for each course, please see this document.

 

Individuals requesting credit for prior learning for an examination must provide the following information by submitting this form: 

• the Relay course(s) for which credit for prior learning is being sought

• proof of a passing score for the current, subject-specific content examination that is required for certification/licensure