How can you take a test to advance in obtaining my associate's degree?

Answer 1

Some colleges/universities which offer associates (and even bachelors) degrees will allow a student to "test out" of certain courses by taking either "CLEP" or "DANTES/DCCT" exams. Usually, only "lower-division" (freshman and sophomore) level courses may be earned via CLEP or DANTES standardized testing; however, there are a few upper-division (junior and/or senior year) tests out there that some schools also accept.

An associates degree is equivalent to the freshman and sophomore years of a four-year bachelors degree; and so all associates degree courses are "lower division."

Most schools limit the amount of lower-division coursework that may be earned via standardized testing; so don't look forward to testing-out of, for example, an entire associates degree. But some schools allow as many as 30 semester credit hours of standardized testing to count toward a degree; and 30 semester credit hours is equal to half of a typical 60 semester hour associates degree. Most schools, though, won't allow that much.

In the "sources and related links" area, below, are links to the CLEP and DANTES/DSST web sites. From there, you can learn all about what tests are available, and how to arrange to take them.

For the most part, it's just a matter of telling your college advisor that you want to take such-and-such CLEP or DANTES exam, and have it count toward such-and-such of the degree's course requirement; and then you make arrangements at the nearest CLEP and/or DANTES testing center (which is sometimes right there at your own school; some schools are authorized CLEP and/or DANTES testing centers). When you make the appointment to take the exam, you must pay a small fee. Then you show-up on the appointed day at the appointed time, and you sit down and take the exam. Simple as that.

If you take the exam on paper, using a number 2 pencil (just like the SAT), then you'll learn whether or not you passed the exam (and earned its course credit) in a few weeks. If, on the other hand, the testing center is more advanced and you took the exam on a computer, then you learn right then and there, immediately upon completing the exam, if you passed it and earned the college credit. Said credit, in any case, is sent straight to your college (which you specify when you sign-up to take the exam).

Again, though, most colleges severely limit the amount of course credit that you may earn from standardized CLEP and/or DANTES/DSST testing. So don't get your heart set on testing-out of the entire degree. While that can actually be done at some schools (very, very few... almost none, in fact; but I admit that I can think, off the top of my head, of at least three that will allow it), nearly all schools fairly severely limit the amount of lower-division (and especially upper-division) coursework which may be "tested-out" of using CLEP and/or DANTES.

Either discuss it with your college advisor, or consult your college's "catalog" to learn if CLEP and/or DANTES/DSST exams are even allowed/accepted; and, if they are, in what amounts. Then just go from there!

A WORD OF CAUTION AND ADVICE: Never assume that you already know enough to pass either a CLEP or DSST/Dantes exam! They're harder than you might think... even of you think you know the material. You must study -- and you must study hard -- to pass either CLEP or DANTES exams. There are all kinds of online study courses, and practice exams that you may use... some free, most not. And there's an excellent book called "Cracking the CLEP" that's about as good a study guide as any out there. A link to that book is also in the "sources and related links area," below.

ADDENDUM: I've added some additional CLEP/DANTES test preparation websites; and even the "BA in Four Weeks" website... yes, it's actually at least theoretically possible to earn a bachelor of arts (BA) degree in only four (4) weeks, and that side explains how to do it entire through standardized testing.

It's not easy, and it also can't really, as a practical matter, be done in four weeks. Heck, just the various waiting periods to take some of the exams make that almost impossible. But there are three regionally-accredited (or, well, now there may only be two, now that one of them is no longer accepting GRE subject exams, as of Sept 2011) colleges that will accept entirely standardized testing as credit toward a degree... both an associates, and a bachelors; and the BA in Four Weekswebsite tells you how to do it. I don't recommend it, but it's nevertheless legitimate... not a scam. The schools are regionally-accredited, and well-known for helping people -- usually adults who want to circle back and get the degree they never completed in their youth -- to cobble together degrees from whatever prior coursework and standardized testing they have under their belts! While I don't recommend getting an entire degree that way, at least that website teaches how the whole standardized testing thing may be used and leveraged.