No. 1 - Challenge Exams
Challenge exams have been developed to test what older students already know about college-level subjects ranging from accounting to foreign languages to nursing. For a modest fee, anyone can take these exams at local testing sites. Most exams are multiple choice, feature an average of one hundred questions, and can be completed in an hour or less.
Challenge exams have been developed to test what older students already know about college-level subjects ranging from accounting to foreign languages to nursing. For a modest fee, anyone can take these exams at local testing sites. Most exams are multiple choice, feature an average of one hundred questions, and can be completed in an hour or less.
College Level Exam Program (CLEP)
CLEP, the College Level Exam Program, is the most widely accepted "life experience" challenge exam program. More than 2,900 accredited colleges, both residential schools and online schools, accept CLEP test results for undergraduate degree credit. The CLEP program features 32 single-subject college exams and five general exams. Single-subject exams cover material that is covered in a single college course. For example, the College Algebra CLEP covers the material commonly taught during an introductory course in college algebra. The cost for each CLEP is $70—a fraction of the cost of tuition for a single college course.
The five general CLEP exams cover freshman-level knowledge in English composition, humanities, college mathematics, natural sciences and social sciences. If all five general exams are passed, up to 30 college credits may be awarded—the equivalent of an entire year of college.
No. 2 - The Academic Portfolio Option
Some people express themselves better in written form, via papers and essays, than they do on multiple-choice tests. If this sounds like you, consider earning credits for experience by putting together a written academic portfolio.
You might be a good candidate for life experience or work experience college credits through the academic portfolio process if:
Learners in the distance learning program at Ohio University,
for example, must complete the Life and Career Experiences Analysis
course to learn how to compile a portfolio. The homework for this course
involves working with an advisor to identify and document college-level
knowledge for degree credit.CLEP, the College Level Exam Program, is the most widely accepted "life experience" challenge exam program. More than 2,900 accredited colleges, both residential schools and online schools, accept CLEP test results for undergraduate degree credit. The CLEP program features 32 single-subject college exams and five general exams. Single-subject exams cover material that is covered in a single college course. For example, the College Algebra CLEP covers the material commonly taught during an introductory course in college algebra. The cost for each CLEP is $70—a fraction of the cost of tuition for a single college course.
The five general CLEP exams cover freshman-level knowledge in English composition, humanities, college mathematics, natural sciences and social sciences. If all five general exams are passed, up to 30 college credits may be awarded—the equivalent of an entire year of college.
No. 2 - The Academic Portfolio Option
Some people express themselves better in written form, via papers and essays, than they do on multiple-choice tests. If this sounds like you, consider earning credits for experience by putting together a written academic portfolio.
You might be a good candidate for life experience or work experience college credits through the academic portfolio process if:
- Challenge exams are not offered in your area(s) of expertise
- You enjoy writing papers and reports
- What you know represents applied knowledge, rather than textbook theory
- You have products—such as artwork, certificates, business plans, articles, software, videos or written reports—which attest to your competency in selected subject areas.
No. 3 - Corporate Training Programs
Corporations spend more time, money and effort teaching adults than do all the colleges in America combined. Many large corporations operate their own “corporate universities,” which specialize in teaching employees everything from technical management to C++ programming.
Non-collegiate training programs can often be converted to life experience credit through a portfolio process. But many large corporations, such as AT&T, have subjected their training courses to a special review process sponsored by the American Council on Education's Program on Non-Collegiate Sponsored Instruction (ACE/PONSI), known today as the CREDIT program.
No. 4 - Professional Licenses and Credentials
The American Council on Education (ACE) has also reviewed professional certifications offered by non-collegiate agencies and made credit award recommendations for work experience in its free National Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training.
A few of these credentials are highlighted below:
- Certified Public Accountant
- Certified Computer Programmer
- Certified Novell Engineer
- Certified Professional Secretary
- Certified Purchasing Manager
- Chartered Financial Consultant
- FAA Pilot, Engineer, Mechanic Licenses
- Respiratory Therapy Technician
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No. 5 - Military Training Programs
If you've been in the military in the last decade, you probably have ACE (American Council on Education) military credits that can be applied toward a college degree. Did you know that boot camp or basic training alone is worth several free elective college credits in first aid, personal hygiene, physical education and marksmanship?
ACE publishes a whopping four-volume set on how military training and occupational specialties translate into university degree credits through the ACE process. The Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services can be accessed free online.
The guide contains ACE college credit recommendations for all formal courses and occupational specialties offered by the services.
Additional Points to Consider
• Limits on Credit for Life, Work and Career Experience
Most regionally accredited online colleges limit the number of challenge exam credits they will accept to 30 credits (one year of college). The same is true for portfolio or ACE credits. In addition, typically the last 30 semester credits (senior year) of any regionally accredited bachelors degree must be taken directly from your degree-granting college.
• Special Distance Learning Assessment Colleges
Two regionally accredited distance-learning colleges in the United States—Thomas Edison State College of New Jersey and Excelsior College of New York—operate primarily as assessment colleges. These two special colleges allow students to earn entire undergraduate degrees through credit for life and work experience options.
However, most learners who attend these two colleges also complete some formal college courses to earn their degrees.
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