CREDIT BY TRANSFER

Because not every school will accept credit for other schools, careful planning is necessary.  Check with the schools, first, to be sure credits earned are transferable.   Credits = money, so schools will limit what can and cannot be transferred.  And as mentioned in previous chapters, regionally accredited schools will not likely accept credits from non regionally accredited schools. 

Also, the age of a credit is a factor schools consider when credits are being transferred.  Some programs will not allow transfer of credits older than 10 years.  This is because the world changes, as does the working environment.  Schools want to be certain students demonstrate up to date knowledge and training.

Decide whether or not your school works on a quarter or a semester system.  Credits earned under one system are not necessarily transferred to a school operating under another system.  If this is the case, and you are trying to transfer a credit, it will not transfer, and you will need to retake the course

CREDIT BY EQUIVALENCY EXAMS

There are over 3,000 institutions throughout the country who award credit entirely based on written exams.  These examinations provide students a way to demonstrate knowledge acquired outside  the classroom.

This option saves the distance student huge amounts of time and money.  Some schools will even award a Bachelors degree soley on credits earned from successful passing of equivalency exam.  The schools are: 

1. Regent’s College at the University of the State of New York
2. Thomas Edison State College
3. Charter Oak College

Other schools that grant a lot of credit this way include Regis University and Prescott College, and Amber University to name a few.

Other schools that grant a lot of credit this way include:

Amber University
College of West Virginia
Governors State University
Prescott College
Regis University
Roger Williams University (2 years)
Texas Tech University
Western Governors University

to name a few.

Additional information on each of these is located in chapter 14.

Lawrie Miller  has created a wonderful web site with information on how she earned here bachelors degree in only four weeks. Click here for more information on how she did it:
http://www.geocities.com/ba_in_4_weeks/mainmenu.html

Another good source is:   http://members.lycos.co.uk/fourweekba/introduc.html

FIVE ADVANTAGES OF TAKING EQUIVALENCY EXAMS FOR CREDIT

1. Wide Acceptance: As indicated above, over 2,000 colleges and universities grant credit for the successful completion of equivalency exams.

2. Simplicity: Simply select the exam you want to take, pay the reasonable fee, and take the test.  That's all there is to it.

3. Convenient Locations: Numerous centers are available through-out the entire United States.

4. Safety Net: If after taking a test, you believe you did poorly, you can cancel the test. All you lose is the money you spent and the time you spent testing. This varies with each type of testing to right after the test is completed to up to seven days for the GRE. Check ahead of time so you can take advantage of this if necessary.

5. Save Money: On a "cost per unit" basis you will save a lot of money. Four GRE exams that costs about $384 can produce 120 semester units—or $3.20 per unit! You can retake a test many times and still save an incredible amount of money!

ACE (AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION)
The ACE evaluates individual examinations and examination programs in terms of educational credit, thereby ensuring that college credit awarded on the basis of test results represents achievement comparable to that earned through traditional courses of study. The following exams all carry ACE credit:

American College Testing Proficiency Examination Program

ACT-PEP: Regents College Examinations

American Payroll Association

Certified Payroll Professional Examination

Cardiovascular Credentialing International

Cardiovascular Registry Examination - Invasive

Cardiovascular Registry Examination - Noninvasive

Certified Cardiographic Technician

Central Intelligence Agency

Language Training Program

The College Board

Advanced Placement Program

College Level Examination Program General and Subject Examinations

Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES)

Subject Standardized Testing Program

Defense Language Institute

Defense Language Proficiency Tests

Federal Aviation Administration

Private Pilot Certificate

International Certification Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, Inc.

Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals

Associated Computing Professional

Certified Computing Professional

Certified Data Processor

Certified Systems Professional

National Association of Legal Secretaries

Certified Professional Legal Secretary

National Computing Centre

National Computing Centre Examination

National Court Reporters Association

Certificate of Merit Examination

Registered Professional Reporter Examination

National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence

Automotive Service Excellence Examinations

Novell

Certified Novell Administrator Examination

CNE Examination

Certified Novell Instructor Examination

Professional Secretaries International

Certified Professional Secretaries Examination

cf. the ACE website for more info: http://www.acenet.edu/programs/CALEC/CEP/home.html
 

CLEP (COLLEGE-LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM)

CLEP exams are the most widely accepted in the United States. Fully 75% of all accredited colleges and universities (over 2,800) award credit for earning successful scores on CLEP exams. Over 200,000 students take the CLEP exams every year. One advantage is that the scores are mailed directly to the student. If you desire, you can retake the test after six months have elapsed.

CLEP exams are divided into two areas;

1. General Exams: over five areas of general education including English Composition, Humanities, College Mathematics, History, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences.

2. Subject Exams: over twenty-nine separate tests (see list below).

Each test is comprised of multiple-choice questions and takes 90 minutes to complete. No more than four 90-minute tests can be taken in any one day. There are over 1,300 sites where these tests can be taken throughout the country. Fees are $50 per subject.

Internet Site: URL: www.collegeboard.org/clep/html/indx001.html   Includes descriptions of exams, lists of schools that accept CLEP exams for credit, etc.

Free publications from CLEP (609) 951-6106, include Information for Candidates and Registration Form, and CLEP Colleges - Where You Can Be Tested / Where You Can Get Credit.

PEP (PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION PROGRAM)

PEP exams are offered in 38 college subjects (see list below). They are available in New York state by the Regent College Proficiency Programs. Outside of New York state they are available through the Sylvan Learning Centers.

http://www.educate.com/learningcenters/centerfinder.html
These tests are all 3 hours long. Free study guides are available for each subject.

DANTES (DEFENSE ACTIVITY for NON-TRADITIONAL EDUCATION SUPPORT)

These tests were developed specifically to enable military personnel to earn credit for knowledge gained outside of the classroom while in the service. Typically the tests are not timed but take about 90 minutes.

Further information is available at:

DANTES Program

Mail Stop 31X

Educational Testing Service

Princeton, NJ 08541
Internet: http://voled.doded.mil/dantes\dl
850-452-1085
 

GRE (GRADUATE RECORD EXAMINATION)

GRE tests are used by graduate schools to evaluate a potential students preparation for graduate level study. These tests are administered three times a year throughout the nation at $96 apiece.

1. Atlanta, GA (404) 934-0160

2. Austin, TX (512) 478-8191

3. Evanston, IL (708) 492-5130

4. Boston, MA (617) 252-0800

5. Princeton, NJ (609) 951-1800

6 .Washington, DC (609) 951-1800

7. Emeryville, CA (510) 654-1200

8. Pasadena, CA (626) 564-9638

9. Los Angeles, CA (626) 564-9638

It normally takes 120 semester units, or four years of classroom work in a traditional college to earn a Bachelors degree. Through Regents College you can earn up to 120 semester credit hours by taking four GRE exams! With twelve hours of testing you can replace four years of classroom study! Total cost for four years of credit is about $384!

 Subject exams are offered in:
 

For more information regarding a computer-adaptive version of the GRE contact the Sylvan Learning Center in your area or call (800) 967-1100. Internet Site: http://www.educate.com/
For general information write:

GRE ETS
P.O. Box 6000
Princeton, NJ 08541
(609) 771-7670
Internet Site: http://www.gre.org/
 

RESOURCES

The leading test preparation company is Kaplan. They offer books, videos, online services, and courses in over 170 centers can classroom sites in the U.S. Kaplan prepares 150,000 students annually for college and graduate admission exams, professional licenses, and language exams. The Washington Post Company owns Kaplan as one of its subsidiaries. For information call (800) KAP-TEST / (800) 223-1782.
http://www.kaplan.com/
 

Moore Publications provide study materials for less than Kaplan.
Moore Educational Publishers
3202 Belmont Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37212-6006
(800) 737-2222
(615) 383-6559 (fax)
http://www.mepinc.com/
The Princeton Review testing service claims their courses will increase your score by 150 points. They offer course to prepare you for the GRE, GMAT (www.gmat.org), LSAT, MCAT, TOEFL but not for the CLEP or PEP. They have centers in all 50 states. (800) 2-REVIEW. http://www.review.com/index.cfm

Guide to Educational Credit by Examination, Fourth Edition, Published in 1996, this guide is the standard reference tool used by U.S. colleges and universities to award academic credit for learning acquired through national testing programs and professional licensure/certification examinations. $32.50. (202) 939-9434

cf. other ACE recommended publications at:
http://www.acenet.edu/programs/CALEC/Out_Info_Pubs/pubs_list.html#GECEP