What are Life Experience Degree Programs?

Answer 1

Life experience definitely counts toward a degree if you want to go to college. All those years of management, customer service, teaching, training and working in your industry have taught you many of the basics covered in college courses. You can get perhaps a semester or more of credit for your work and life experience, depending on the college and degree program to which you apply.

Life Experience is Not Enough

You typically cannot earn an entire degree just based on your life experience. Colleges that say they will give you a degree just based on your work and life experience are generally not credible. There are some, however, that are accredited that offer degrees if you can prove your prior learning passes college-level standards.

Prior Learning Assessment

You can demonstrate that you have learned through your life or work experience the content that is typically taught in college courses at the undergraduate level through portfolios. This is one way to earn undergraduate credit. You may even be able to earn an undergraduate degree from some accredited colleges. This is not an option for a graduate degree. Typically, however, you will only earn credit for a semester or two of college. Some colleges have limits on the number of credits you can earn by prior learning assessment. Your portfolio will consist of letters, certificates of training, reports, and any other examples or documentation you have that attest to your skill level and knowledge of specific subjects.

Accredited

Any college you submit a portfolio to should be accredited. It should be recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. You can find a list of accredited higher education institutions on the U.S. Department of Education's Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs website.

Getting college credit by putting together a portfolio may sound easy, but it is a difficult process. You must demonstrate that you have the knowledge and skill to pass college-level courses. It will take time to put your portfolio together, and you must follow strict guidelines from your college for it to be accepted.