TECEP® exams and other credit-by-exam programs are one of the most efficient ways for students to earn credit. If you have some prior knowledge or experience in a subject area and think you are an independent learner, you might be a good candidate for this exam method of course completion. And you can feel confident that TECEP® exams will fulfill your degree requirements, just like the University’s online courses.
The best thing about earning credit this way is the ease and flexibility of the process. You do not need to follow a rigid course schedule, prepare assignments by due dates or participate in online discussions. All you need to do is show up on a test date, which you select, and (of course) be prepared to take a comprehensive final exam.
Another appealing feature of testing is the grading system. Credit-by-exam grades are pass/fail only and do not affect your grade point average. Because of this, you only need to demonstrate that you know the subject matter to earn the credit.
TECEP® is the University’s own testing program. The exams are developed by mentors and subject matter experts in order to help you fulfill your degree requirements.
You can earn credit using several other credit-by-exam programs available, such as the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and DSST exams.
There's one big reason: not everyone can successfully work in an unstructured environment. Deciding to earn college credit by preparing for an exam that covers a semester's worth of content means you have to be self-motivated and disciplined. There are no deadlines and there is no mentor to answer your questions or provide feedback. This approach is exactly what appeals to many busy adult students who have competing demands on time and prefer to work independently without any interactions with a mentor or other students.
Does this sound like you? If you think you can establish and follow your own study preparation schedule, you may be able to "test out" and try a credit-by-exam method to earn college credit.