3 Diploma Programs that Turn Test Scores and Life Experience into College Credit
Friday December 15, 2006
Are you passed up for promotions because you don't have a degree, even though you know more than any college graduate in your field? If you have demonstrable knowledge and life experience, you can earn a diploma by enrolling in a nontraditional credit program. Three regionally accredited schools offer students the chance to bypass months or even years of study by demonstrating what they already know. Unlike diploma mills, these legitimate programs require that students prove what they know through rigorous testing and make up any remaining credits by enrolling in distance learning courses. Read more in our latest article: 3 Diploma Programs that Turn Test Scores and Life Experience into College Credit.
Comments
Hi Jamie,
Thanks for the great article! I did have one question though. With the increasing number of diploma mills today, do employers have negative feelings toward schools that offer life experience credit?
Your article mentions 3 programs that are legit and accredited, but do potential employers know the difference between a legitimite program and a diploma mill?
Thanks,
David
Good question, David.
Some employers may be uncomfortable with the idea of “life experience” credit. However, most employers won’t know that a degree from one of these schools may have been earned in part by testing or experience credit. There are thousands of schools in the U.S. – employers aren’t going to be familiar with most of them.
If an employer expresses concern, a former student could easily prove that the school in question is regionally accredited. The employer could verify this information on the Department of Education’s website (http://distancelearn.about.com/od/accreditationinfo/ht/checkaccredit.htm).
These schools don’t just take your word for it – students actually have to prove their life experience by taking an exam, turning in documentation, working with a professor, etc.