Posts: 350
Threads: 17
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: May 2007
Hello everyone. I'm in need of some wisdom from the brain trust. Way back in 2008 when it was still TESC, I CLEP'd out of a BA in Liberal Studies and went into the Army. They decided to make me an IT nerd and gave me experience and a bunch of certs. Fast forward to today and I'm getting ready to retire. On almost every single IT job board post, they're wanting applicants to have a BS in IT. So here I am. I did my research and decided to get a 2nd bachelors degree vs a masters.
I had TESU evaluate all my credits and I only had like 10 classes to do. Study.com made that too easy, so now I'm down to four classes and a capstone left. I need:
CMP-3540 Network Technology
ITS-3630 Windows Server Configuration
ITS-3400 Wireless and Mobile Networking
CYB-4500 Cloud Computing (Google Cloud Data Analytics Professional Certificate?)
Capstone
If anyone could help me with options to knock out these classes as fast as I can, I'd appreciate it! I have experience in all these areas, so TECEP or PLA? I'm just trying to figure out options because I'm cheap and don't want to give TESU any more money
Your Location: WA state, USA
Your Age: 42
What kind of degree do you want?: BS in IT
Current Regional Accredited Credits: like 170+
Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: Too many to name
Any certifications or military experience?: 25 years Army, CISSP, CISM, Sec+, ITIL
Budget: TBD, but not trying to break the bank
Commitments: Right now, minimal. Getting ready to retire from the Army
Dedicated time to study: 40 hrs/week
Timeline: ASAP
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: None
Jesse
BA, Thomas Edison State College
MS, Grand Canyon University
•
Posts: 20,622
Threads: 1,032
Likes Received: 6,906 in 5,213 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Feb 2016
Great post with all the info asked for in the addendum and template! That's great you maxed the credits for transfer using Study.com as an example. Each class (if you decide to take them) are $250 credits each for active duty, that's $750 for the Capstone alone. Do you already have residency credits? If not, the cheapest is to do the TECEP for CMP-3540 Network Technology and capstone for 6, and you can take the 3 classes remaining to hit the 15. Yes, Google Cloud Data Analytics Professional Certificate will work for the class mentioned.
Study.com Offer https://bit.ly/3RTJ3I9
Pre-Med Online, MSc Biomedical Sciences (Starting Jan 2026)
In Progress: UoPeople BS Health Science
Completed: UMPI BAS & MAOL (2025)
TESU ASNSM Biology, BSBA (ACBSP Accredited 2017)
•
Posts: 43
Threads: 1
Likes Received: 34 in 16 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Jun 2023
Based on that experience and those certs, you’ll be able to pass the Network Technology TECEP without any additional studying. Maybe spend 15 minutes reminding yourself the names and orders of the network layers before the exam.
Posts: 4,707
Threads: 432
Likes Received: 2,702 in 1,776 posts
Likes Given: 1,606
Joined: Jun 2018
03-08-2026, 03:14 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-08-2026, 03:16 PM by LevelUP.)
(03-07-2026, 10:23 PM)HawkGuy Wrote: Hello everyone. I'm in need of some wisdom from the brain trust. Way back in 2008 when it was still TESC, I CLEP'd out of a BA in Liberal Studies and went into the Army. They decided to make me an IT nerd and gave me experience and a bunch of certs. Fast forward to today and I'm getting ready to retire. On almost every single IT job board post, they're wanting applicants to have a BS in IT. So here I am. I did my research and decided to get a 2nd bachelors degree vs a masters.
I had TESU evaluate all my credits and I only had like 10 classes to do. Study.com made that too easy, so now I'm down to four classes and a capstone left. I need:
CMP-3540 Network Technology
ITS-3630 Windows Server Configuration
ITS-3400 Wireless and Mobile Networking
CYB-4500 Cloud Computing (Google Cloud Data Analytics Professional Certificate?)
Capstone
If anyone could help me with options to knock out these classes as fast as I can, I'd appreciate it! I have experience in all these areas, so TECEP or PLA? I'm just trying to figure out options because I'm cheap and don't want to give TESU any more money
Your Location: WA state, USA
Your Age: 42
What kind of degree do you want?: BS in IT
Current Regional Accredited Credits: like 170+
Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: Too many to name
Any certifications or military experience?: 25 years Army, CISSP, CISM, Sec+, ITIL
Budget: TBD, but not trying to break the bank
Commitments: Right now, minimal. Getting ready to retire from the Army
Dedicated time to study: 40 hrs/week
Timeline: ASAP
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: None
TESU does offer a flat-rate term, so if you already have to take three courses with TESU, it’s basically free to take two more during that flat-rate term.
I’m guessing you’ve already reviewed the Wiki.
Wiki TESU IT Degree
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan
Study.com – Get 10% Off: https://altcredit.click/study10
Degrees: BA Comp Sci; BS Business Admin (CIS); AS Nat Sci & Math — TESU (4.0 GPA)
Certs: Google (IT Support, Digital Marketing, Proj Mgmt); W3Schools PHP
•
Posts: 37
Threads: 0
Likes Received: 29 in 17 posts
Likes Given: 38
Joined: Dec 2025
(03-08-2026, 03:14 PM)LevelUP Wrote: TESU does offer a flat-rate term, so if you already have to take three courses with TESU, it’s basically free to take two more during that flat-rate term.
Military undergraduate tuition is $250 per credit, so their tuition for three courses would be $2,250 (assuming 3 credit courses).
In-Progress
PhD, Computer Science, Capitol Technology University
DEng, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, George Washington University
Completed
DSc, Information Technology, Middle Georgia State University
MS, Artificial Intelligence, University of Texas at Austin
MEng, Computer Science, Oregon State University
MS, Cybersecurity & Information Assurance, Western Governors University
MBA, IT Management, Western Governors University
MS, Information Systems, Strayer University
BA, Computer Science, Thomas Edison State University
BS, Internetworking Technology, Strayer University
AS, Mathematics, Thomas Edison State University
AAS, Electronic Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force
Exploring
MA, Organizational Leadership, University of Maine at Presque Isle
MEd, Instructional Design and Educational Technology, American College of Education
EdS, Instructional Technology, American College of Education
•
Posts: 350
Threads: 17
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: May 2007
(03-08-2026, 02:33 AM)bjcheung77 Wrote: Do you already have residency credits? If not, the cheapest is to do the TECEP for CMP-3540 Network Technology and capstone for 6, and you can take the 3 classes remaining to hit the 15. Yes, Google Cloud Data Analytics Professional Certificate will work for the class mentioned.
I have 6 SH with TESU from my previous degree. It appears the residency is a new thing (at least since my last time at TESU) so I need another 18 credits from TESU to meet the military residency requirement or pay the Edison Accelerate fee.
I guess it's time to deep dive the residency requirements, PLA, and TECEP options.
Jesse
BA, Thomas Edison State College
MS, Grand Canyon University
•
Posts: 2,226
Threads: 145
Likes Received: 1,543 in 863 posts
Likes Given: 2,848
Joined: Dec 2008
03-09-2026, 06:18 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-09-2026, 06:18 PM by Jonathan Whatley.)
Note that for students in the Military Degree Completion Program, Navy College Program Distance Learning Partnership or the ArmyIgnitED Program, TECEP exams and portfolio assessments count towards your 24 credits of TESU residency (they don’t count towards residency for civilian students).
Posts: 20,622
Threads: 1,032
Likes Received: 6,906 in 5,213 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Feb 2016
(03-09-2026, 05:45 PM)HawkGuy Wrote: I have 6 SH with TESU from my previous degree. It appears the residency is a new thing (at least since my last time at TESU) so I need another 18 credits from TESU to meet the military residency requirement or pay the Edison Accelerate fee.
I guess it's time to deep dive the residency requirements, PLA, and TECEP options.
Yes, the PLA course and TECEPs combination will get you the remaining 15 credits, the final class is the Capstone for 18. If you want, you can do a PLA class, get credit for the two remaining classes using the PLA method and another class of your liking, the TECEP I mentioned, and finish the degree capstone. The PLA can be done for 3 credits, and you can get up to 12 credits additional (4 classes), total 15 credits.
Study.com Offer https://bit.ly/3RTJ3I9
Pre-Med Online, MSc Biomedical Sciences (Starting Jan 2026)
In Progress: UoPeople BS Health Science
Completed: UMPI BAS & MAOL (2025)
TESU ASNSM Biology, BSBA (ACBSP Accredited 2017)
•
|