Credit By Exam | Distance Learning Systems (DLSI)

CLEP Tests

Every university student goes through times where life is beyond stressful and preparation seems to be limitless. Fortunately, there is a way to cut down your to-do list during the term. College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a group of standardized assessments designed by the College Board. These assessments allow students to take college-level examinations with the chance of “CLEP-ing” out of getting a semester’s worth of a particular class. Students can take CLEP tests at most community colleges. Each test costs around $100, which is much less costly than getting a class for a complete term at a private college. They are also much simpler than investing 15 weeks seated through a class.

CLEP tests are pass-or-fail and you have a chance to study before getting the examinations. “I only tested for four times for Humanities; it was worth it because I do not have to take Imagination In Culture,” sophomore Garret Todd said. CLEP assessments usually cover pre-reqs and primary classes such as basic math and Writing in Culture. They also cover some electives. “I heard about it through buddies,” senior Joshua Kauzlarich said. “I researched it and heard I could really reduce my schedule for my last term. Not only that, but I could save a reasonable sum of cash.” Taking CLEP assessments allows students to reduce expenses and reduce their university load considerably.

“Next term I only have Wednesday and Friday sessions,” Todd said. He took two CLEP assessments, Humanities and Analyzing & Interpreting Literary works, for six credits each. Kauzlarich took the Humanities test as well. “CLEP assessments are excellent because they provide you a chance to reduce your course load as well as offer a probability to obtain extra credits and graduate early,” sophomore Bieber Geerts said. Geerts says he plans on taking CLEP assessments because they are a much better substitute to a regular term of a basic course. Kauzlarich said he would suggest other students to look into getting CLEP assessments as well and that he would have taken advantage of them early in his college stint, but he is too far into his educational plant to exchange any more credits over from CLEP assessments.

Credit by Exam and Prior Learning Assessment

A credit is frequently recognized as standing for a reliable enterprise officially guaranteeing the value of an educational experience. Officially, a credit symbolizes how long is spent in a particular course. Initially, the credit was an administrative input measure to assure equivalency of team amount of work. Features are gathered and “rolled up” into qualifications such as accreditation or degrees. Prior learning assessment and credit by exam are useful in this perspective to enable casual studying to be associated with credit. Credentials signify a package of information, abilities and skills; not just time spent, but also the accomplishment of desired studying outcomes, usually at the unit, program and institutional level (such as graduate skills) and getting skill sets, knowledge and capabilities.

The value and worth of credit, and especially qualifications, are dependent on the reputation of the conferring organization and its relationships with stakeholders. For example, a community trusts the popularity of a university and ascribes a value (usually economic) to this connection. Your credit or certification is recognized as being a de facto ‘letter of introduction’ from the school to a third party (most commonly an employer or another university) in which the popularity of the school performs a purposeful role.

The contextual sizing of the credit and the certification is implied in the reliable connection between the credentialing organization and the areas in which it is appropriate. Informal studying experiences, like their official alternatives, are most significant in the perspective in which the student is engaging with the encounter.

For example, local colleges often act as financial points of interest, hiring students and faculty who definitely give rise to the financial, social and perceptive investment of the region. For these institutions, the future of credits, credit by exam and credentialing could well lie in creating locally-valued studying experiences. A certification benefits value through localized, contextualized, genuine tests which build a connection of trust between the school and local industry. The connection is fully noticed when businesses are active stakeholders in the creation of units of study.

Speeding Up the College Completion Process

The common college student is no longer the 18- to 24-year-olds that completed secondary school and instantly went on to college. The present scholars are a different lot and include army veterans, stay-at-home moms, business men and others. Those that are not part of the young set are regarded “non-traditional students” or individuals that generally attend sessions on a part-time basis. Going to greater education part-time is often the only option for returning students. The procedure can take the better part of a decade to finish, placing stress on weddings, family members and businesses along the way.

Here is how you can speed up the college completion process:

1. Check out CLEP. The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) may make it possible for learners to take examinations to confirm expertise in certain subjects. If accepted by a college, College Level Examination Program examinations can help learners quickly obtain credits that will count toward graduating. Before you take a CLEP examination, you need to find out your college’s CLEP plan.

2. Prior classes may transfer. If you have been out of college for years, credits you have taken previously may still be transferrable. There are deadlines and credit limits that colleges and universities allow, but that “Modern European History” or “Health Science Foundations” programs you took decades ago may depend toward your present degree.

3. Remain on target. One of the annoying things that scholars must deal with are those programs that cannot count toward their degree. Typically, this happens when learners change degrees, perhaps shifting from Chemistry to Business Management. Some programs may count as electives while others will not. Clearly, you need to know what degree you want to engage in and stay on track at all times.

4. Take web based programs. Even if you attend college in person, you may be able to complement your programs by taking classes on the web too. On the internet programs generally allow learners to work at their own rate, allowing them to obtain credit as they finish each course.

5. Get the good grades. No matter your pace of study, you need to get high grades in every class. That meaning of “good” is generally a “B” or better. Getting at least a “C” can be appropriate too, but if you get a “D” grade, you may not be able to transfer that course to another school if you have to.

Credit by Examination Options

While attending college is now standard. In the past, you were privileged to attend a university. Today, however, most kids are expected to at least study at a community college. Even grownups are feeling the pressure to acquire higher education and return to college. Unfortunately, traditional college isn’t an option for everyone. High tuition, work schedules and family life often make it hard to begin or resume college. Thankfully, there are alternatives! Credit by examination is one alternative that many teens and grownups are starting to take seriously. Here are your credit by exam options.

You are probably acquainted with some CBEs already, like the AP analyze or CLEP examinations. But now, there are more than 30 new credit-bearing tests, as well as additional choices like the PLA, and non-credit keeping tests that can help you land a job.

Excelsior College Exams have been around for more than 40 years. And compared with CLEP and DSST tests, your ECE ranking comes from a domestically approved college, Excelsior College. Even better, more than 2500 universities agree to Excelsior College Exams for credit ranking.
You’ve obtained abilities and information in your life and on the job. Why not generate credit for what you already know? The PLA allows you to convert the information you’ve obtained in the real world through tasks, social and military involvement, helping out, separate research and even interests into college credit. A Prior Learning Assessment is more than just a test. It’s a process that universities use to assess what you’ve discovered outside the class room for the objective of giving educational credit. And there is not just one type of PLA. You can choose different kinds of PLA to fit your style and your price range.
Are you looking for a way to show prospective companies that you’ve got what it takes to succeed? Then we think you will be enthusiastic about the CLA+. It’s a computer-administered, open-ended examination developed to confirm how powerful your critical thinking, systematic reasoning, problem-solving, studying and ability as a copywriter are.

Tuition Assistance and DANTES Credit By Examination

Members of the National Guard are qualified to get Higher education tuition assistance (TA) for educational purposes, such as up to 100 percent coverage for college programs taken during off-duty time. The National Guard provides guardsmen several programs to support their education and learning goals such as up to 100% TA for college programs taken during off-duty time. According to location, members may get state funded rewards for education and learning based on individual state guidelines and eligibility (i.e. TA, waivers, exceptions, education loan repayment, DANTES Credit By Examination). The following is a brief summary of National Guard tuition advantages for each service.

Go Army Ed (Activated Guard and Reserve) – If triggered, you will be qualified to get Military Higher education tuition assistance for Active Duty and Activated Reserve/Guard. The program provides 100% tuition and fees up to $250 per Term Credit Time and $166 for each Quarter Credit Time, with an annual cap of $4,500.
Air National Guard (ANG) – The ANG provides to its members access to all DANTES credit-by-examination programs, Community College of the Air Forces Associate Degree programs, FTA for online applications and state education and learning advantages.
State college tuition assistance – The same as the ARNG, not all states provide transaction of TA for ANG, although many provide extra rewards in varying quantities.
Air Force College tuition assistance (Activated Guard and Reserve) – If triggered, you will become qualified for Air Force TA for Active Duty and Activated Reserve/Guard. The same hats apply as described above under Go Army Ed TA.

CLEP Exams Coverage

CLEP stands for College Level Examination Program. This method consists of consistent assessments of college-level proficiency in a range of subject matter. Many universities in the United States grant course credit to learners who make high enough scores on CLEP exams. High-achieving kids are typically the heaviest users of the CLEP program, but it can be very useful for older learners who have accumulated information through their job, learners who are house trained and even international learners. The price of a CLEP examination is generally far less than the price of getting an equivalent college level course.

Students who are house trained must often demonstrate to universities and colleges that they achieved a level of proficiency in certain subjects despite not having joined a traditional university. This is sometimes true even if the college student does well on the SAT or ACT. Picking a CLEP test for each core topic is a fantastic way for house trained learners to show their skills and information while simultaneously earning college credit. Just because you haven’t been in high school for several years doesn’t mean you have stopped studying. Many adults returning to school successfully generate college credit through CLEP exams. This is a huge way to save your time and effort when it comes to seeking a degree and at an average price of $80 per CLEP test, it’s a big cash saving as well. If you’re an adult who has continued studying on your own or for employment or other purposes, it is definitely worth your time and effort to check out CLEP eligibility.

The price of higher education and studying has risen much faster than the rate of inflation and many learners graduate with lots of cash in education and studying loan debt. When you consider that the common college degree costs around $700, compared to around $80 for the common CLEP examination, it’s easy to see how valuable this program is. Don’t think that CLEP is only for kids. People from every walk of life can benefit from the program. It is a fantastic way to get your degree quicker and to reduce costs on the price of your education and studying.

College Credit By Exam

The most popular examinations provided by credit by exam companies fall into the type of “general education and learning,” enabling learners to get credit for subjects such as college geometry and calculus or English composition and literature by passing standardized examinations, rather than participating a brick-and-mortar 101 class.

Between these significant players and other credit by exam resources, there are actually a variety of core/introductory, course-distribution and even significant need programs that learners can check off by passing an examination vs. seated through the comparative course at the school in which they are enrolled. Given that examination prices are a portion of educational costs, credit by exam is an attractive choice for learners looking to reduce costs by finishing a four-year degree program in just three years or less. And universities are starting to work with learners enthusiastic about discovering solutions to four years of tuition-paid registration as a means to bring down the increasing cost of higher education.

Students considering this choice should keep in mind that CLEP and other college equivalence examinations are much like a complicated final examination that comes at the end of a well-taught course. So, learners need to get ready (ideally by actually studying the content vs. just cramming) through separate study or registration in an online classroom. In theory, one could get an entire degree by just taking examinations (with some companies providing to help you get around your way through the thicket of who provides and who allows what with respect to college credit). But, credit by exam does illustrate an opening for getting more MOOC classes associated with authentic college credit (presuming some advanced MOOC company, examination designer or other business owner can find a way to make this a practical option).

College Level Examination Program Advantages

As learners look for ways to make education more affordable, there is an obvious chance that learners and their parents seem unacquainted with, the College Level Examination Program, or CLEP assessments. These assessments allow learners to be able to test out of up to 33 college level programs. That can convert to up to 45 units. Many of these programs such as chemistry, calculus, geometry, history and humanities, are required by almost all colleges and universities and some trade schools. These are programs that college-bound learners should already be taking in high school. Students who are doing well in these topics in secondary school should be able to successfully pass these programs, with little or no training, if they just study hard while in high school, but training and practice assessments are available.

The price of a unit of study at Northern State University is $133 per unit for citizens, so a three-unit class would cost about $400, not keeping track of the guides and various other fees. The CLEP examination costs $80. The big advantages come when you take enough CLEP examinations to equal a term or more of college tuition. For each term of classes you could miss at NSU, you would save their approximately $12,363, if you live at home, or the more likely $18,821 if you live on campus. Because NSU is one of the more cost-friendly colleges, you would save even more if you choose more expensive universities. As they say on the College Level Examination Program website, “you do the math.”

Within a 200-mile distance of Aberdeen, the site identifies 32 organizations that agree to CLEP examinations. Regionally, they include NSU and Presentation College. South Dakota State University, University of Sioux Falls, Dakota State University and Augustana also agree to these assessments. Even Lake Area Tech allows them. If you are looking outside the state, more than 2,900 universities and colleges accept these examinations. Another real benefit comes in time. Every term, the college student can “CLEP out of” is a term they could be making profits and getting real-life experience. Real education happens when you interact with what you have learned in the class room with actual life problems.

The Credit by Examination Approach

Too many students are targeted on the classes they need to take – English, Psychology, Chemistry and Accounting. It’s simple to see why. Pick up a college course book and you will see that degree programs are set out as series of classes to take. Successfully pass them all and you graduate with the degree you desired. Yet, this is actually a superficial way to look at higher education. As it turns out, classes are not the real foundations of degrees – credits are.

Take a closer look at your college’s course book. What you will see is that you actually need a certain number of credits to graduate, usually 60 for an associate degree and 120 for a bachelor’s. This is a key understanding, because once you move your focus from classes to credits, you can begin studying methods to buy them for less. The costly classes your university provides are just one way of getting those credits, even though most learners thoughtlessly believe it’s the only way.

In reality, there are three methods to generate higher education credit:

Classes at four year colleges/private universities
Classes at community colleges
Credit by examination

Most students are acquainted with the first two choices. But hardly anyone knows about credit by examination and even less understand its complete prospective.

Credit by examination represents college-level topic assessments like CLEP and DSST. With this strategy, you take a large test covering a whole topic rather than a semester-long course. Successfully pass the examination and you generate credit just as if you had taken the class. What this implies is that you can possibly cut lots of money off the price of finishing by replacing as many of these examinations for classes as your higher education will allow. Unfortunately, many colleges and universities have tight “residency requirements” restricting how many credits you can get this way.

DANTES Exams and Civilians

A way of prior learning evaluation, DANTES offer learners an affordable, time preserving way to use their information obtained outside of the class room (perhaps from studying, on-the-job training, or separate study) to achieve their academic objectives. If you are like me, you look for methods to reduce costs while attending higher education. Although most of us know to shop for used books and test out of programs with CLEP examinations, those of us with no army qualifications may have little, if any, information of DANTES exam or otherwise known as DSST examinations. Until lately, DANTES exam (now known as DSST exam) was only for army employees. Fortunate for us citizens, now we get to take advantage of these examinations too! Why is this a good thing? More options, of course!

Here’s a list of DANTES Exam subjects:

Fundamentals of College Algebra
Principles of Statistics
Art of the Western World
Western Europe Since 1945
Introduction to the Modern Middle East
Human/Cultural Geography
Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union
A History of the Vietnam War
The Civil War and Reconstruction
Foundations of Education
Lifespan Developmental Psychology
General Anthropology
Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Introduction to Law Enforcement
Criminal Justice
Fundamentals of Counseling
Principles of Finance
Principles of Financial Accounting
Human Resource Management
Organizational Behavior
Principles of Supervision
Business Law II
Introduction to Computing
Introduction to Business
Money and Banking
Personal Finance
Management Information Systems
Business Mathematics
Astronomy
Here’s to Your Health
Environment and Humanity: The Race to Save the Planet
Principles of Physical Science I
Physical Geology
Technical Writing
Ethics in America
Introduction to World Religions
Principles of Public Speaking