How to Get Credit for What You Already Know
The economic downswing afflicting the United States is impacting more than just stocks and investments; it's tightening the belt on nearly every aspect of American life, including continuing education. Prospective students, both adult and traditional "teens and twenty-somethings" are faced with rising course credit costs, all while an increasing number of financial institutions are backing out of student loan programs. There are, however, strategies available to students that can help keep their educational plans on track even while the economy is in a tailspin.
Utilizing prior-learning assessment (PLA) is a great example. PLA is a system for awarding college credit for knowledge acquired outside the "traditional" classroom environment. This experiential knowledge may be learned through corporate training, work experience, independent study programs or other means. Colleges and universities award credit for this learning when it is reflective of the content depth of a college course.
Prior learning assessment can take many forms, including Experiential Learning Assessments, Evaluation of Local Training or Challenge Exams. Another widespread form of prior learning assessment is credit by exam programs, which include AP, DSST or CLEP exams. A passing score on any of the exams offered under these programs
awards learners college credit. Credit by exam programs allow learners to use knowledge they already have to earn college credit, specifically for lower-level courses in a variety of fields, from mathematics to the humanities.
But exactly which students,traditional (standard college kids) or non-traditional (adult or continuing education learners), should consider PLA, and specifically, credit by exam programs? The answer is both. Prior learning assessment offers specific and sometimes overlapping benefits to both groups of learners, and can be especially helpful when money is tight.
One of the biggest ways PLA initiatives help students is through their often reasonable price. Using the concept of Credit by exam as an example -- taking one exam is far less expensive than actually enrolling in a 100 level course (or equivalent) at an educational institution. Most exams are available for under $70, whereas college courses can cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, especially when textbooks are factored in. Credit by exam programs offer an easy path to fulfillment of either elective credits or low-level course prerequisites.
The overall timeliness of the process is also beneficial to any type of learner: Several exams can be taken at once, allowing individuals to earn multiple credits and possibly even knock out several degree requirements in a single week or weekend. This takes the place of a "normal" course, which often lasts several weeks to a full semester. Allowing students to speed up their overall degree process helps keep the costs of a degree program down, as students will not be required to be in school for as long a period of time
Tests offered as part of a credit by exam program are also flexible in the sense that they can be taken almost any time at thousands of colleges and universities or military installations. This allows test-takers to work full-time while they earn college credit in the evenings or on the weekends, without any homework or long courses to attend. In a down economy, keeping a steady job and supporting one's family are critical, making flexibile PLA initiatives almost a necessity to any non-traditional learner.
For students planning a longer stint in school, credit by exam programs helps to build confidence that they can perform at the college level. Learners who are fresh out of high school or who have taken time off from pursuing their educational goals are sometimes caught off guard by the intensity of college level exams. Credit by exam gives them a taste of the college testing experience while providing credit for a passing grade.
Adult or continuing education learners can also use PLA to help fill in missing requirements for a previous degree program. For those who have had to leave their studies early, either due to family, career or military obligations, PLA methods can be used to "fill in the gaps," allowing students to continue pursuing a degree with a minimum number of filler courses to take.
In the end, while prior learning assessment methods may not be suitable for every learner, they are certainly viable and flexible, though underused tools. Whether you are an adult learner coming back to school or a freshman setting foot on a college campus for the first time, consider a credit by exam program in addition to your current course load. It could save you a fair amount of money and time, and help you to achieve your educational goals well ahead of schedule.
