Experiential waivers and credit reductions can be granted for prior professional or technical work experience. The MPA faculty program director, using guidelines set forth in the Professional Experience application forms, determines if the experience qualifies for a waiver and/or reduction. Three to six credit hour reductions are most common. In general, credit reductions require work experience above entry level that involves some independent managerial, analytic, or scientific responsibility and work that articulates with the student’s current field of study.

• Qualifying work is generally assumed to have been paid, full-time work, but you may make the case for highly relevant volunteer and part-time work.
• Experience must have been with a single entity for at least two years (consulting work may present an exception).
• Position may be with the government, a private firm, or nonprofit organization, but the work must be explicitly related to an MPA career path, regardless of the type of employer.
• Employing entity may be domestic or international.
• Documentation from supervisors may be required.