A model for assessing and awarding credit for prior experiential learning is presented; the adult student's experiences are summarized in a portfolio. The model incorporates eight stages: facilitating the construction and assessment of a portfolio, identifying significant prior experiences, expressing the learning outcomes of prior experiences, articulating prior outcomes to educational goals, documenting the learning experience, measuring the extent and level of prior learning outcomes, judging the learning outcomes, and evaluating prior learning outcomes for awarding credits or recognition. At each stage, alternative practical procedures are suggested. (Author/MV)