Credit by Examination and Home Schooled Students

Simple Steps for Credit by Examination

It saves both time and money. That is the desired effect of credit by examination. It allows students to have full college credit through a standardized examination process. There are steps governing credit by examination. As in the case for nursing courses. First, you need to attend test prep classes to learn more of the content of the said subject. After which, the said exam will take place. If you pass, then that would earn you an entire semester of study. To some, this a convenient way to earn a degree.

The steps are as follows:
There has to be an evaluation first. This includes the courses you have taken before and determine which of this will be credited. This is important because it’s a form of assessment before you proceed with the next step.

After evaluation, test prep classes will take place, provided you have finished taking either associate courses in nursing or a bachelor’s degree. Classes are usually conducted once a week, but you can choose to go for classes twice a week, with the intention of accelerating your way to a degree.

Then comes the test proper. If in case you pass the exam, you have now earned a college credit. That would enable you to pursue the subject of which you have taken the exam. After that, proceed to your clinical exam. This will further develop your skill as a nurse, and at the end of it, you will earn a nursing degree from an accredited nursing institution.

And last stop is the state exam; this will lead you to become a licensed nurse in the end. This is just a simple walk-through when you want to become a nurse through credit by examination. You don’t have to study long enough to become a professional nurse, you can shorten the process.

Ways to Acquire Credits

There are a few ways to obtain college credits even without enrolling to a course. The Government has been supporting the credit by exam program for students who have advanced knowledge of a certain course or subject. They will no longer retake a course they already master. There are many options available to earn credits.

Advanced Placement
After finishing an Advanced Placement course, students have the choice of paying a fee for taking suitable assessment. Test scores identify the kind and number of credits the UO can honor.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a countrywide assessment system that makes it feasible for students to acquire college credit through exams. Subject Examinations are available to all students. The educational departments that have permitted the use of these assessments also figure out the scores essential to receive college credit.

Credit by Examination
Credit by examination permits officially accepted undergraduate students to challenge undergraduate university courses without subscribing to the courses. Students wanting to obtain credit by examination have to be registered for the term in which the exam is offered. Credit by examination might be earned only in courses in whose content is recognized by the college or university.

College students should get in touch with the Office of the Registrar first to complete an Academic Requirements Committee request to determine eligibility for credit by examination. Students then acquire faculty and department approvals prior to the exam. Students are charged a test fee of $25 per credit hour.

You can avail of any of these methods, with good preparation you may pass the exam and enjoy the benefits of earning a credit as you enter your course in College.

If you’ve ever considered how a homeschooler can graduate from secondary school and college at the same time, it is probably because they combined home school with earning college credit by examinations. CLEP examinations, DSST examinations and AP examinations can be used to accelerate through high school and college. There are three basic types of examinations used to earn college credit while home school learners at the secondary school stage. These are the same programs used by learners attending a physical high school as well.

1. The CLEP (College Level Examination Program) was designed by the College Board to allow scholars to gain credit for prior experience or knowledge. There are 33 examinations available that range from three to six credits per test. More than 2900 approved colleges and universities agree to these assessments as credit for classes, allowing learners to skip starting programs and get to the meat of their program. Home schoolers can take CLEP examinations at local colleges and universities.

2. DSST examinations (formerly known as DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) were initially designed for the army and allowed servicemen to speed up their education while serving in the military. While these assessments are free for the army, citizens may also use these examinations instead of attending a traditional college class. Over 1200 schools agree to the 38 DSST examinations as credit for classes at their schools. Home schoolers and High School students are drawn to DSST examinations as they cover common topic like Astronomy, Personal Finance, and Introduction to World Religions that learners are likely to have some information about and may have to take as a core subject in college. Students must take the credit by examination at a university that provides the test.

3. AP programs with examinations are designed by the College Board and used widely in public schools to award high school learners with college credits. AP exams are often taken in the Spring as part of an official AP (Advanced Placement) class; however, home schoolers can still participate through independent study. You will also need to arrange to take the AP credit by examination at a college in your area that takes part in the AP program.