High-quality applied learning experiences have been linked to increased student engagement, retention and knowledge and skill acquisition. Recently, SUNY encapsulated best practices for applied learning into five criteria that must be met in order for an applied learning experience to be considered Approved Applied Learning (AAL). This presentation will describe how instructors modified an existing service learning activity to meet these SUNY and will describe data that have demonstrated the impact that this experience has had on students. Over the last few years, college students from Speech-Language Pathology, Psychology, and Exceptional Education at SUNY Buffalo State were placed into transdisciplinary teams to conduct early childhood developmental screenings at two child-care centers, housed within SUNY-partner Professional Development Sites or PDS. To meet the AAL criteria, several new dimensions to the experience were added including: (1) explicitly addressing the professional behavior of the students during orientation and training and stressing the importance of appropriate communication, collaboration, dress, and conduct while on site; and (2) requiring students to engage in structured and guided reflection. The addition of these components allowed the instructors to incorporate each of the five applied learning criteria into our project while monitoring the professional development of our students. Specifically, modifying our project in these ways allowed us to add deliberate and authentic learning opportunities to the students’ assignment. We provided extensive orientation and training in small groups to increase collaborative and professional practices among our students. During each phase of the project, we asked students to maintain a journal and provided them with thought-provoking writing prompts to guide their structured reflection which was assessed continually throughout the assignment. This presentation will provide an overview of our project and a description of modifications made to ensure the project’s alignment to each of the five criteria. Quantitative and qualitative results of our study will be shared with attendees, as well as lessons learned and suggestions for converting projects to include the five criteria for AAL.