Getting College Credit For Your Knowledge And Experience

Whether you are a high school student or an adult considering a college degree, there are options for you to earn credit for courses and knowledge you have acquired.  The advantage to these are a shorter time in college and as a result reduced cost of your college degree.

High school students may be familiar with Advanced Placement or AP Courses. These are  advanced classes taken in high school that equate to introductory college level courses. Once students have completed the AP courses, they can then register for the individual subject matter tests. AP tests are scheduled in the spring. There are 38 subject matter tests offered by the College Board.

Here is a sample list:

• Art History
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Calculus
• Chinese Language and Culture
• French Language and Culture
• German Language and Culture
• Government and Politics (Comparative)
• Government and Politics (US)
• Psychology
• Studio Art Drawing
• US History
• World History

Scoring on the AP tests range from 1-5 and colleges generally award college credit for students who score 3-5 on their individual tests. Colleges their own policies regarding the awarding of credit for AP tests. The fee per test is $94. However, if you have a financial hardship, you may qualify for a $32 Fee Reduction per test.  For more information about the AP exams, practice tests and registration go to APTEST.