Recognition of Prior Learning (Accreditation)

Recognition of Prior Learning (Accreditation)

You will explore recognition of prior learning in more detail during the autumn semester guidance days. All instructions and forms will be updated on the website by September 2025. Discussions related to recognition of prior learning will be held with your teacher educator once your studies have begun.

You have the opportunity to have prior learning recognized if it has been acquired through other studies, work experience, or other contexts. You can recognize prior learning through substitution, inclusion, and recognition of prior learning. 
 

Replacement:

• Basics of Educational Sciences 6 cr
• Sociology of Education 6 cr
• (Diversity in Learning 5 cr)*

Inclusion:

• Optional Studies 5 cr

Recognition of Prior Learning:

• Teacher as a Specialist in Interpersonal Competence 5 cr
• Teacher in Multidisciplinary Networks 5 cr
• Optional Studies 5 cr

Replacement means replacing a course with equivalent studies completed elsewhere in the same field. The following courses can be substituted:

• Basics of Educational Sciences 6 cr
• Sociology of Education 6 cr

Possible replacement include:

• University level pedagogical studies in educational sciences, adult education or vocational education of 25 ECTS / 15 credit units according to Finnish university
• Pedagogical studies (Understanding Learning 6 cr and The Future of Education 6 cr) completed at Jamk Open University of Applied Sciences
• Studies completed at other vocational teacher education institutions (e.g., HAMK 12/13 ECTS, Haaga-Helia 15 ECTS)
• A recognition decision by the Finnish National Agency for Education with a requirement to study 15-20 credits’ didactical and teaching practice studies

If you verified the above basic studies (25 ECTS / 15 credits) or equivalent studies from Jamk or other institutions during the application stage, the credits will be automatically recorded in the study register by the end of September. If you do not want these credits recorded and prefer to complete the pedagogical studies at JAMK, notify student services at
opiskelijapalvelut.aokk(a)jamk.fi by August 12, 2025.

Basic studies in special education, early childhood education, university pedagogy, military pedagogy (25 ECTS / 15 credits), or 10 ECTS of pedagogical studies from TAMK or Oamk do not qualify for direct substitution. In these cases, you must complete the following:

• Basics of Educational Sciences: Task 2 (Learning in the light of educational knowledge) and Task 3 (Adult and adolescence learners)
• Sociology of Education: Task 2 (Key questions in educational sociology – adapted as needed) and Task 4 (What resonates in educational sociology research?)

*Diversity in Learning, 5 ECTS: If you have completed the open university course Equality and Equity in Teaching and Guidance (5 cr) at Jamk, you can substitute part of the Diversity in Learning course and complete the rest with 1–2 learning assignments. Alternatively, you may include Equality and Equity in Teaching and Guidance course (5 cr) in your optional studies, provided it was completed after January 1, 2023, and then complete the Diversity in Learning course in full.

Inclusion refers to incorporating higher education level studies completed at other institutions into your degree. You may include studies completed elsewhere (5 ECTS) as elective studies if they support your personal goals for teacher education and were completed after January 1, 2023. These studies can't be a part of the degree that granted you eligibility for teacher education. The School of Professional Teacher Education will decide whether the studies you propose are eligible for inclusion.

The recognition of prior or externally acquired competence is based on the learning outcomes defined in the curriculum. This competence may have been acquired in various contexts, at different times, and in different ways.

• Teacher as a Specialist in Interpersonal Competence,  5 cr
• Teacher in Multidisciplinary Networks, 5 cr
• Optional Studies, 5 cr
   

You may apply for recognition of competence related to the objectives of teacher education that you have acquired through work experience or other contexts. A certificate alone is not sufficient for recognition; you must provide other evidence and comprehensive assessment material. To identify your competence, you will assess, describe, and demonstrate it according to separate instructions. Forms are available on the School of Professional Teacher Education’s “Instructions and Forms” page.

The teacher educator will assess your competence and decide on the recognition on the following courses:

• Teacher as a Specialist in Interpersonal Competence
• Teacher in Multidisciplinary Networks
• Optional Studies
   

Applying for Recognition of Prior Learning 

Replacement and Inclusion:

Apply for replacement and inclusion using the Peppi eRPL tool. The applications are processed by Study Counsellor Katariina Jouhiaho. More information is available on the “Instructions and Forms” page.

Recognition of Prior Learning:

The student submits a course-specific application with attachments to the teacher educator in an agreed manner. Forms for recognition and accreditation of prior learning are available on the “Instructions and Forms” page.