Professional Experience and Other Prior Learning

Professional Experience and Other Prior Learning

At the discretion of the director of academic affairs, prior learning experiences and/or professional credentials may be considered for transfer credit when the competencies or knowledge demonstrated through those experiences are determined to be equivalent to the learning outcomes of a specific course offered at AIMS. All such credit must be supported by appropriate documentation and may require the student to pass a challenge exam.

Students may also request transfer credit for professional work experience that meets the following criteria:

• The experience must have been in a paid healthcare role where the duties performed align with the knowledge, skills, and competencies taught in the course for which transfer credit is being requested.
• The student must have completed a minimum of one year of full-time work (or the equivalent) in that role.
• The experience must be current or have occurred within the past 12 months.
• The student must demonstrate mastery of the relevant course learning outcomes by passing a challenge exam.

Transfer credit for professional experience will only be awarded when there is clear evidence that the student’s work-based learning is equivalent in scope and rigor to the coursework being considered for credit. All decisions regarding the awarding of credit for professional experience are made under the guidance of the director of academic affairs and the appropriate program director.