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The following is a list of Workforce programs that offer Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) options at the departmental level. Not all programs offer PLA options, so some Workforce programs will not be listed below.

 

A student may contact their program to see if they are a PLA candidate before meeting the PLA petition requirements. However, the student must meet those requirements before they can officially petition to have PLA credit applied to their Collin College transcript.

 

Review the petition requirements and other PLA considerations before officially submitting a Petition for PLA Credit.

 

Departments with PLA Options


This program provides prior learning assessments based on the successful completion of the appropriate departmental exam with a skills demonstration. Alternatively, students who already have the ASE (National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence) credential will also be required to complete the skills demonstration, but will not need to complete the departmental exam.

For more information, please contact:

James Yervasi, Discipline Lead
jcyervasi@collin.edu


This program offers prior learning assessments for the following courses based on the successful completion of the appropriate departmental exam with a skills demonstration.

 

CETT 1307 - Fundamentals of Electronics 
CETT 1425 - Digital Fundamentals
TECM 1343 - Technical Algebra and Trigonometry (Departmental Exam only)
 

For more information, please contact:

Tripat Baweja, Program Director 
tbaweja@collin.edu


Collin College can award credit for the following courses based on the successful completion of the CLEP exam with a minimum score of 50.

 

  • BMGT 1327 - Principles of Management (CLEP exam: Principles of Management)
  • MRKT 1311 - Principles of Marketing (CLEP exam: Principles of Marketing)

 

For more information, please contact:

Jeffery Johnson, Discipline Lead
jwjohnson@collin.edu 


This program offers prior learning assessments based on the successful completion of the appropriate departmental exam with a skills demonstration.

 

For more information, please contact:

Raven Luna, Discipline Lead
rluna@collin.edu


This program offers prior learning assessments based on select CCNA certifications.

 

For more information, please contact:

David Lipe, Associate Dean
dlipe@collin.edu


This program offers prior learning assessments based on the successful completion of the appropriate departmental exam. Computer Systems courses with PLA opportunities include:

 

  • ITSW 1304 - Introduction to Spreadsheets - Excel
  • ITSW 1307 - Introduction to Database - Access

 

For more information, please contact:

Ann Cervantez, Discipline Lead
acervantez@collin.edu


These programs offer prior learning assessments based on the successful completion of the appropriate departmental exam with a skills demonstration. Courses with PLA opportunities include:

 

  • CHEF 1301 - Basic Food Preparation
  • PSTR 1301 - Fundamentals of Baking

 

For more information, please contact:

Ron Reczek, Discipline Lead - Culinary Contact
rreczek@collin.edu


Jill McCord, Full-Time Professor - Pastry Contact
jmccord@collin.edu


This program offers prior learning assessments based on select industry certifications (Cisco, CompTIA, etc.). Cybersecurity courses with PLA opportunities include:

 

  • ITSY 1300 - Fundamentals of Information Security
  • ITSY 2301 - Firewalls and Network Security Design
  • ITSY 2342 - Incident Response and Handling
  • ITSY 2343 - Computer System Forensics

 

For more information, please contact:

Damien Smith, Program Director
dhsmith@collin.edu


This program offers prior learning assessments based on select certifications from the ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography). Students must also successfully complete the appropriate departmental exam with a skills demonstration. Courses with PLA opportunities include:

 

  • DMSO 1441 - Abdominopelvic Sonography
  • DMSO 2353 - Sonography of Superficial Structures
  • DMSO 2405 - Sonography of Obstetrics/Gynecology

 

For more information, please contact:

Megan Chambers, Program Director
mlchambers@collin.edu


This program offers prior learning assessments based on the CDA (Child Development Associate) National Credential by The Council for Professional Recognition. If awarded, the following PLA opportunities can be applied to the Level 1 Certificate - Child Development Associate (CDA) and/or the Associate of Applied Science - Early Childhood Educator (0-8 Years).

 

  • CDEC 1317 - Child Development Associate Training I
  • CDEC 2322 - Child Development Associate Training II
  • CDEC 2324 - Child Development Associate Training III

 

For more information, please contact:

Ann Butler, Discipline Lead
abutler@collin.edu


This program offers prior learning assessments for the following courses based on the successful completion of the appropriate departmental exam with a skills demonstration.

 

  • CETT 1307 - Fundamentals of Electronics 
  • CETT 1425 - Digital Fundamentals
  • TECM 1343 - Technical Algebra and Trigonometry (Departmental Exam only)

 

For more information, please contact:

Tripat Baweja, Program Director 
tbaweja@collin.edu


This program offers prior learning assessments based on the successful completion of the appropriate departmental exam, or an industry certification including the NREMT-B (National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians-Basic) or the NREMT-P (Paramedic) certifications.

 

For more information, please contact:

Greg Cox, Program Director

gcox@collin.edu


This program offers prior learning assessments based on the successful completion of the appropriate departmental exam and/or select industry certifications through the Texas Commission on Fire Protection.

 

For more information, please contact:

Pat McAuliff, Program Director
pmcauliff@collin.edu


This program offers prior learning assessments based on passing the NATCEP's (Nurse Aide Training & Competency Evaluation Program's) CNA (Certified Nurse Aide) exam offered by The Texas Health and Human Services Commission. This includes:

 

  • NURA 1160 - Clinical - Nursing Aide and Patient Care Assistant
  • NURA 1401 - Nurse Aide for Health Care

 

Additionally, this program offers a prior learning assessment after completion of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's Nurse Aide CBT (Computer-Based Training). Students must successfully complete a skills demonstration administered by the academic department before PLA is considered for the following course:

 

  • NURA 1401 - Nurse Aide for Health Care

 

For more information, please contact:

Michelle Kelly, Program Director

mlkelly@collin.edu

 

Miranda Lankford, Program Coordinator for Health Professions

mlankford@collin.edu 


This program offers prior learning assessments based on the successful completion of a departmental exam, or on select industry certifications granted by the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) or the AHLEI (American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute). Courses with PLA opportunities include:

 

  • CHEF 1305 - Sanitation and Safety
  • HAMG 1313 - Front Office Management
  • HAMG 1321 - Introduction to Hospitality Industry
  • HAMG 1324 - Hospitality Human Resources Management
  • HAMG 2301 - Principles of Food and Beverage Operations

 

For more information, please contact:

Eric Tobin, Discipline Lead
etobin@collin.edu


This program offers prior learning assessments based on the successful completion of both a departmental exam with a minimum score of 80% and a skills demonstration with a minimum score of 80%. The exams/demonstrations must be taken in the testing order below as designated by the HVAC department.

 

  • HART 1401 - Basic Electricity for HVAC
  • HART 1407 - Refrigeration Principles
  • HART 1445 - Gas and Electric Heating
  • HART 2431 - Advanced Electricity for HVAC
  • HART 2438 - Air Conditioning Installation and Startup
  • HART 2341 - Commercial Air Conditioning

 

For more information, please contact:

Brian Sanders, Program Director
bsanders@collin.edu 


This program offers prior learning assessments based on the TDI's (Texas Department of Insurance's) Agent or Adjuster License. Prior learning assessments can also be based on the successful completion of courses from The Institutes Knowledge Group, specifically the AINS (Associate in Insurance) courses AINS 102 (or 22) and AINS 103 (or 23).

 

  • INSR 1301 - Commercial Insurance (TDI License; or AINS 103 or 23)
  • INSR 1305 - Personal Insurance (TDI License; or AINS 102 or 22)

 

For more information, please contact:

Cydney Albert, Discipline Lead
cfalbert@collin.edu 


This program offers prior learning assessments based on the LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse) license awarded by the Texas Board of Nursing. Eligible students can petition for the following PLA opportunities after successfully completing their first semester in the LVN-to-RN Bridge program.

 

  • RNSG 1125 - Professional Nursing Concepts I
  • RNSG 1126 - Professional Nursing Concepts II
  • RNSG 1161 - Clinical I – Nursing – Registered Nurse Training
  • RNSG 1430 - Health Care Concepts I

 

For more information, please contact:

Lindsey Brown, Discipline Lead
ljbrown@collin.edu


This program offers prior learning assessments based on the appropriate departmental exam, skills demonstration involving a portfolio review, and/or industry certifications. Courses with PLA opportunities include:

 

  • PHTC 1311 - Digital Media
  • PHTC 1300 - Digital Photography

 

For more information, please contact:

Lisa Means, Discipline Lead
lmeans@collin.edu


This program offers prior learning assessments based on departmental exams, skills demonstrations, and/or an industry certification, including the RPSGT (Registered Polysomnographic Technologist) and the CCSH (Certification in Clinical Sleep Health).

 

For more information, please contact:

Amber Allen, Program Director
amberallen@collin.edu


Karen Peterson, Clinical Coordinator
kpeterson@collin.edu


This program offers prior learning assessments for PLA-eligible linked courses.

 

For more information, please contact:

Bart McLeroy, Discipline Lead
rmcleroy@collin.edu


This program offers a prior learning assessment based on select industry certifications. Additionally, students must successfully complete a departmental exam before PLA is considered for the following course:

 

  • HPRS 1204 - Basic Health Profession Skills

 

For more information, please contact:

Julie Boganwright, Program Director
jboganwright@collin.edu


This program offers prior learning assessments for the following courses based on the successful completion of the appropriate departmental exam with a skills demonstration.

 

CETT 1307 - Fundamentals of Electronics 
CETT 1425 - Digital Fundamentals
TECM 1343 - Technical Algebra and Trigonometry (Departmental Exam only)
 

For more information, please contact:

Tripat Baweja, Program Director 
tbaweja@collin.edu


This program offers prior learning assessments for students who have an industry certification from the NBSTSA (National Board of Surgical Technology & Surgical Assisting). Additionally, students will also need to complete the appropriate departmental exam or skills demonstration before PLA is considered for a particular course.

 

These PLA opportunities are a good fit for students who are Surgical Technologists who intend to earn their AAS in Surgical Technology. 

 

NOTE: Students who plan to apply to the Surgical Assisting program must have an AAS in Surgical Technology as part of the admission criteria. Surgical Technologists who plan to apply, but who do not yet have their AAS, are encouraged to contact the Surgical Professions department to see which PLA opportunities they may be able to utilize.

 

For more information, please contact:

Donna Smith, Director of Surgical Professions
drsmith@collin.edu


This program offers a prior learning assessment opportunity for CMAs (Certified Medical Assistants). Students must be certified as a CMA via the AAMA (American Association of Medical Assistants) or as an RMA (Registered Medical Assistant) via the AMT (American Medical Technologists). Additionally, students must successfully complete a departmental exam and a skills demonstration before PLA is considered for the following course:

 

  • VNSG 1502 - Applied Nursing Skills I

 

For more information, please contact:

Kimberly Forcum, Director of Vocational Nursing

kforcum@collin.edu


This program offers prior learning assessments for the successful completion of the appropriate departmental exam with a skills demonstration. The exams/demonstrations must be taken in the testing order below as designated by the department. 

 

  • WLDG 1407 - Introduction to Welding Using Multiple Processes
  • WLDG 1428 - Introduction to Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
  • WLDG 1430 - Introduction to Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
  • WLDG 2447 - Advanced Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
  • WLDG 2443 - Advanced Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)

 

For more information, please contact:

Brian Sanders, Program Director
bsanders@collin.edu


Testing Center     Advising
       

Celina Campus:

Room: 125
Phone: (469) 905-3599

   

 

Pamela Lee
pdlee@collin.edu

Farmersville Campus:
Room: 107
Phone: (972) 549-6450
   

 

Kamilah Willis
kwillis@collin.edu

Frisco Campus:
Room: F-209
Phone: (972) 377-1522
   

 

John Guillory
jguillory@collin.edu

McKinney Campus:
Room: W-206
Phone: (972) 548-6849
   

 

Liz Howard
ehoward@collin.edu

Plano Campus:
Room: J-232
Phone: (972) 881-5922
   

 

Caryn Wilson
ctwilson@collin.edu

Technical Campus:
Room: A-001
Phone: (972) 553-1234
   

 

Greg Forge
gforge@collin.edu

Wylie Campus:
Room: Campus Commons 201
Phone: (972) 378-8849
   

 

Doug Willis
dwillis@collin.edu