How to Accelerate Your Degree Plan (2)

Excelsior College Examinations (formerly Proficiency Examination Programs - PEP)

Excelsior examinations are accepted for college credit by over 900 colleges and universities (acceptance policies vary by school so verify acceptance before registration - see the registration guide for a directory of colleges granting credit.) Tests are available within the arts and sciences, business, education, and nursing. The exams are 3 hours long, contain either objective or extended response questions, and are graded according to a standard score, letter grade, or pass/fail. Excelsior exams can help you earn undergraduate credit and graduate credit. Fees vary, depending on the subject and type of exam.

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 is sometimes also used to assess student's learning at the undergraduate level. There are two types of GRE examinations: general testing and subject (discipline) specific. Credit for these exams can go up to 30 credits. These tests score undergraduate achievement in eight disciplines.

Many colleges and universities also have credit-by-examination programs through which students earn college credit. The most well known are throughOhio University, Thomas Edison State College, Charter Oak College and theUniversity of North Carolina.

Ohio University offers approximately 150 examinations for obtain credit. To take an examination, students must enroll in the subject course. The fee for a correspondence or Internet course is $95.00 per quarter hour. Exams can be taken on campus or at another proctored location.

Thomas Edison State College offers more than 50 exams in business, liberal arts, and professional areas. Non-resident students may to take the tests with a proctor at any accredited American college or university or U.S. military base. Most of the tests are essay questions or multiple choice. Time limits range from 90 minutes to 4 hours, depending on the exam. Cost per exam for Thomas Edison students is $50; those not enrolled pay an additional $100.

Charter Oak State College.

Charter Oak provides multiple options for sources of college credit. Proficiency tests and portfolio assessments are used to evaluate prior learning, as well as taking courses through correspondence and credit banking.

The University of North Carolina offers a credit by examination option for 140 correspondence courses in business administration, education, electrical and computer engineering, foreign languages, health administration, humanities,

social sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences. The examination fee is $75. The exam may be taken on campus or under supervision at an accredited local college or university.

To learn more about gaining credit through examination, see the ACE Guide to Educational Credit by Examination.

Credit for Corporate, Military, or Professional Training 

Have you completed corporate, military, or other professional training programs? The American Council on Education has two programs that assist in translating professional and career training courses, certfications or examinations into college credit. One such program is the College Credit Recommendation Service. The CCRC serves to evaluate formal educational programs sponsored by professional and voluntary organizations, labor unions, the government, hospitals, business and industry. These college credit recommendations are listed in The National Guide to Education Credit for Training Programs. If your training or program is recommended for credit in the ACE guides, your school may count it as college credit.

TheThe ACE Military Program evaluates courses provided through the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Department of Defense, Navy, and the Marines. The military recommendations are in The Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces. 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 specialities (MOS's) held, and examinations passed.