Earning Credit for Work, Life Experience.

• Author: Smalley, Andrew
• Position: Brief article

To promote attending and completing college, lawmakers are granting students credit for previous learning experiences.

Since 2016, at least 19 states have expanded and simplified the process, sometimes called a "prior-learning assessment," of giving college credits to students who can demonstrate the skills and knowledge they've gained in corporate or military training programs or through professional certifications.

At least 13 states help veterans earn credit for learning acquired in the military. And so far this year, 12 states have considered bills to expand prior-learning programs. The programs have been shown to increase the number of students, especially adult learners, who earn degrees or certificates, according to the American Council on Education.

The bills have taken various approaches. Illinois lawmakers required the...