Wish you could return to college but think it’s an impossible dream? With the arrival of distance education and increasing flexibility, there are now many more options available to adult students. These include testing out through examination and advanced placement, getting credit for military, corporate, or professional training, and receiving credit for life experience through portfolio assessment. These options generally cost less than a traditional classroom education and can help save significant time and money toward a college degree.
Credit by Examination
Did you know that you can “skip” many core courses and receive credit for them through college credit examinations and advanced placement? College credit examinations are widely accepted by colleges and universities. By passing these examinations, individuals can earn one-third or more of the credits required for a degree. These examinations are available in more than 150 subject areas and are similar to final examinations given by colleges and universities. Credit by examination is a relatively fast, low cost way to receive college credit. There is a small fee involved for the exams.
The American Council on Education* (ACE) recommends college credit for all of the following credit by examination programs:
College Board Advanced Placement Examinations
The College Board offers exams specifically for students who wish to earn college credit in preparation for college entrance. Exams in thirteen subject areas are offered. According to the Board, almost one-fifth of students entering four-year colleges are eligible for credit through Advanced Placement. The AP (Advanced Placement) program provides testing in arts and languages, computer science, history, mathematics, the natural sciences, and social sciences. Most tests are multiple choice or essay questions and can take two to three hours to complete. Each exam costs $94; but assistance is available for those with financial need. AP examinations are especially helpful for the adult student who is about to or has completed a GED (General Education Diploma) and will be entering college. Find colleges and universities that offer credit or placement for AP scores.
CLEP College Credit by Examination
The CLEP (College Level Examination Program) is the most widely accepted credit by examination program in the United States. Over 2,900 colleges and universities award credit for satisfactory scores on CLEP exams and these tests are inexpensive (Each exam is $87. Administrative fees may be included by the test center. Military service members may be eligible for free exam.) The 33 exams are divided into two categories: General Examinations and Subject Examinations, and take approximately 90 minutes to complete.
- CLEP General Examinations. Students can attain as many as 30 semester hours of college credit by successfully passing the CLEP General Examinations. These exams test the five basic areas of general education: English Composition, Humanities, Mathematics, the Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and History.
- CLEP Subject Examinations. The CLEP Subject Examinations measure knowledge of basic concepts, principles, relationships, and applications involved in college courses. The American Council of Education recommends 3 semester hours of credit for most of the CLEP Subject Examinations, with some recommended for 6 or even 12 semester hours depending on the institution’s credit policy. Tests include College Algebra, American Government, Literature, Psychology, and the Social Sciences.
The College Board provides a directory of colleges and universities accepting the CLEP, and provides test and study preparation materials.
For one student’s personal experience, see Gain Credit with the CLEP.
DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSSTs)
The DSST program is an extensive series of examinations in college and technical subjects that are comparable to the final examinations in undergraduate courses. DANTES is used by colleges and universities to award credit to students who can demonstrate knowledge of subjects commonly taught in introductory college courses (prior learning). DANTES is also useful for active and reserve military personnel. Thirty eight tests cover business, physical science, humanities, social science, and applied technology. Most of the exams are multiple choice. DANTES is recognized by almost 2,000 colleges and universities, which administer the exams all year round. The test fee for a DANTES exam is $80 plus a possible test center administrative fee. It may take up to two hours to complete each test.
To locate institutions accepting DANTES testing, you can search the online database at GetCollegeCredit, as well as find resources for test preparation.
Excelsior College Examinations (formerly Proficiency Examination Programs – PEP)
UExcel (Excelsior College examination program proficiency examinations) are accepted for credit by more than 900 colleges and universities (see transfer credits for a directory of colleges granting credit.) Exams are offered in business, education, humanities, natural science/mathematics, nursing, social sciences/history, and technology, and are available for undergraduate and graduate credit. Fees vary, depending on subject and exam type (for example, the cost of an exam in Business Ethics is $95; an exam in Microbiology is $345.) Enrollment is not necessary to take the examinations, and results are transferable to any school accepting Excelsior credit.
Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is generally the standard admissions test for students seeking admission to graduate school. However, the GRE subject exam is sometimes also used to assess student’s learning at the undergraduate level (for example, Charter Oak College may assess credit for a GRE exam). Credit for subject exams can amount up to 30 credits. These tests score undergraduate achievement in eight disciplines. Cost: $195.
Many colleges and universities also have credit by examination programs through which students earn college credit. The most well known are through Ohio University, Thomas Edison State College, Charter Oak College and the University of North Carolina.
Ohio University offers portfolio assessment and credit by examination. To take an examination, students must enroll in the subject course. Exams can be taken on campus or at a proctored location.
Thomas Edison State College offers 38 exams in English Composition, Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences/Mathematics, Business & Management, Computer Science Technology, and Applied Science and Technology. TESC also offers a Portfolio Assessment program.
Charter Oak State College provides multiple options for sources of college credit. Proficiency tests and portfolio assessments are used to evaluate prior learning. Charter accepts most standardized exams, including:
The University of North Carolina offers a credit by examination option for self-paced courses (independent study) taken through correspondence or online. All courses are taught from a distance, and no class attendance is required. The courses can be started at any time and are not tied to a semester schedule.
Credit for Corporate, Military, or Professional Training
Have you completed corporate, military, or other professional training programs? The American Council on Education assists adult students in turning professional career training, certifications or examinations into college credit through the College Credit Recommendation Service. The CCRC serves to evaluate formal educational programs provided by professional and voluntary organizations, labor unions, the government, hospitals, business and industry.
The ACE College and University Network includes nearly 2,000 colleges and universities that recognize and consider ACE credit recommendations. Students can find courses or a list of organizations by browsing the National Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training or searching for a specific course or exam within the guide.
For the military, the ACE Military Guide provides credit recommendations for formal courses and occupations offered by all branches of the military (the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Department of Defense, Navy, and the Marines) and provides a course search. For Army veterans, the Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System (AARTS) will provide a transcript of ACE credit recommendations for all coursework completed while in service,. the military occupational specialties (MOS’s) held, and examinations passed.
The ACE Transcript Service, or the American Council on Education College Credit Recommendation Service*, is accepted by most colleges and universities. Locate your completed training or certification (i.e., Microsoft Office Certification) and its college credit equivalency. You can also check coursework, CEU’s or examinations evaluated by ACE, and use the ACE Credit Transcript System to keep a record of ACE reviewed training or order an official transcript. mended for credit in the ACE guides, your school may count it as college credit.
The NCCRS (National College Credit Recommendation Service), formerly National PONSI, evaluates outside education and training programs for college credit equivalency. Programs reviewed by NCCRS are offered by corporations, unions, and other organizations. Over 1,500 colleges and universities consider awarding credit based on NCCRS recommendations.
Credit for Life Experience (Portfolio Credit)
Students who have gained competency in an area through life experience may be able to earn college credit through a life experience portfolio. But preparing life experience portfolios can be time consuming and are not a quick route to college credit. Reports must be submitted for each course the student seeks credit for, including supporting documentation for learned proficiencies. Some colleges offer courses that provide the student with direction for developing a portfolio, while others may have advisors available. An individual portfolio may include:
- Credit for Corporate Training. Documentation would include certificates of completion for employment training or seminars and workshops.
- Professional Licenses and Certification. Licensure for profession or field of employment. Examples include insurance and real estate licenses.
- Coursework Transcripts. Credit may be awarded for coursework completed from business or technical schools, and some unaccredited institutions.
- Credit for Experiential Learning. This classification comprises non-classroom learning: i.e., personal and professional life experience. Examples include business experience or volunteer work.
- Competency Credit. Credit is awarded for out of the classroom learning demonstrated through the creation of a tangible product: i.e., book publication or computer software development.
Material that may be included in a portfolio are documents that demonstrate skills or knowledgeability: i.e., awards received, multimedia presentations, published newspaper or magazine articles, resumes, and references.
There are hundreds of accredited colleges and universities that grant credit for life experience. However, not all schools offer portfolio assessment. Each school’s policy is different – from not accepting portfolio credit to limiting the amount of credits accepted. The national average for credit awarded through portfolio assessment is 21 credits – and this is usually undergraduate division credit.
Course Challenging
Many universities have their own institutional testing procedures, or “departmental exams” – ways to challenge a course. Students can obtain a list of classes open to challenge from the admissions or testing center of the college they are attending or plan to attend. If they take the test and pass, they will earn credit without having to take the class. Be aware, however, that these are not standardized tests and are based on lecture content and textbooks used for a specific course. That is why it is important to talk to the instructor before taking a challenge exam and to study the course syllabus and other materials.
Credit Banking
Credit banking is an evaluation and transcript service for those who need to consolidate academic records. The credit bank issues one transcript in which all credit is summarized in a comprehensive form. The credit bank will accept seven kinds of deposits, including credits from licenses, certifications, college courses (including correspondence or distance courses), equivalency exams, non-college learning experiences, company courses and in-house training. Some universities that provide portfolio assessment and credit banking are Charter Oak, Excelsior College, Ohio University, and Thomas Edison State College.
Credit by Learning Contract
Contract learning, where you design your own curriculum or learning contract, is used in many distance degree programs. The learning contract enables students who cannot attend traditional programs offered by colleges and universities to prepare a contract to attain the equivalent knowledge. Under faculty guidance, students design contracts that detail the subjects to be studied, assignments, projects or tasks to be fulfilled, resources used, and the methods for knowledge assessment, as well as the time frame for completion.
Transfer Credit
In devising an academic plan, be sure that any course you take at another school will transfer to the institution you want to issue your degree (this must be in writing). Be certain that each course also applies to the school’s degree requirements for graduation. When transferring credit, there is no hard and fast rule as every college or university has its own policy on accepting transfer credits from other schools. Schools with regional accreditation are known to not accept credits from colleges accredited by other accrediting agencies.
It is important to remember that while different colleges and universities will have specific requirements to earn a degree, they typically require that 30-45 of these units must be residency units (units earned from the graduating college). Some colleges and universities also have limits on the number of credits that can be transferred and applied toward a degree. There are exceptions, however (see Credit Banking, above.) You can also receive a degree from a prestigious school just by taking the final 30 hours at that institution.
Competency Based Education
Competency-based education (CBE), broadly defined as credit awarded on student learning (rather than time spent in a classroom), may streamline the path to a degree for a large number of students, according to a report from the American Enterprise Institute (a private, not-for-profit institution dedicated to research and education.). According to the report, colleges that offer CBE programs offering credit for Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) are difficult to find. AEI profiles 52 colleges with CBE programs either in existence or projected to launch. The research shows whether the colleges participate in credit transfer with PLA, the ACE Credit College and University Network, CAEL and LearningCounts for course transfers. Some of the more well known colleges listed include Capella University, Western Governors University, Colorado State University Global, DePaul University, and University of Maryland University College, Among these schools, CSU-Global accepts 24 portfolio credits toward a bachelor’s degree.
Importance in School Selection
How important is it to find a college or university that grants credit for prior learning or experience? According to the American Council on Education, when colleges and universities were asked how they evaluate prior learning of adult students, nearly half (48 percent) said credit was given through examination, 36 percent used portfolio review, and about 34 percent followed ACE credit recommendations. Unfortunately, 37 percent of respondents did not provide any assessment for prior learning. Be sure to ask about a school’s policy before enrolling.
Also, before you take any examinations, contact the college or university you want to attend or check their Website to confirm their policies on exam acceptance. Generally schools will follow the standard recommendations for credit, but may have their own policy regarding acceptable grades and the amount of credit received. If needed, request a written confirmation to ensure you will receive full credit.
Helpful Resources:
Credit for Prior Learning and The Currency of Higher Education, two research papers from the Lumina Foundation, show alternative options to college credit for older students.
Adult Learner’s Guide to PLA (Prior Learning Assessment). Includes a Student Resource Center to help you gain credit for ACE reviewed coursework.
The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL). Cael’s online service, Learning Counts partners with hundreds of colleges and universities to help students earn credit from prior learning, and helps them build online portfolios for credit.
College Degree Search. Subscription based. Know your options, to find the best college for you. Find regionally accredited degree programs that offer American Council on Education credit for life experience (prior learning or portfolio assessment), business and military credit, and other accelerated options. Profiles the top degree programs in a range of disciplines offered on campus, through the Internet, correspondence, multimedia, or broadcast/video.
See also Are You a Candidate for Life Experience Credit?
Additional Resources:
College Credit Without Classes, How to Obtain Academic Credit for What You Already Know, James L. Carroll.
Getting a College Degree Fast, Testing Out & Other Accredited Shortcuts, Joanne Aber, Ph.D.
One Year to a College Degree, Lynette Long and Eileen Hershberger
Do it Yourself Degree: How To Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree In One Year Or Less, For Under $10,000. Jay P. Cross.
Guide to Credit By Exam and External/DIY Degree Programs: Excelsior College, UExcel, CLEP, DSST & More, Walter Were.
CLEP Official Study Guide 2017, The College Board.
*The American Council on Education (ACE ) is the major coordinating body for all higher education institutions nationwide, representing over 1,600 college and university administrators, and 200+ related associations. ACE is a leader in key higher education issues and an influential advocate for public policy.
