How IT Certifications translate into Credits at Excelsior College

[BMWGuinness]

Hey everyone,

After speaking to Excelsior College, they let me know that IT Certifications can transfer into credits (both lower and upper level).

These include Microsoft Tests that are no longer in use by Microsoft (MCP NT4.0 for example)

You can go here to see what your credits can transfer to:

https://www.excelsior.edu/portal/page?_p...ema=PORTAL

Just to give you an example, I have 3 Comptia Certifications and 4 Microsoft Certifications. Comptia Transfers via the certification, and Microsoft Transfers via the Exam passed. In this case (if all certs and exams translate into credits - My Transcripts have not been cataloged at EC yet) I have 7 Upper Credits and 19 Lower Credits that translate from my Certifications.

I'll list them here with their corresponding Value


Comptia A+ - 2 Lower Credits
Comptia i-net+ - 4 Lower Credits
Comptia Network+ - 2 Upper Credits

Microsoft MCP 2.0, MCSE NT4.0, MCSE 2000, MCDBA 2000

70-028 Administering Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 - 1 Lower Credit
70-029 Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 - 1 Lower Credit
70-058 Networking Essentials - 2 Lower Credits
70-067 Implementing and Supporting NT™ Server 4.0 - 2 Lower Credits
70-068 Implementing and Supporting NT™ Server 4.0 in the Enterprise - 3 Lower Credits
70-073 Implementing and Supporting NT™ 4.0 Workstation - 2 Lower Credits
70-210 Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional - 1 Lower Credit
70-215 Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Server - 1 Lower Credit
70-216 Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure - 2 Lower Credits
70-217 Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure - 2 Upper Credits
70-219 Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure - 3 Upper Credits

I hope this is helpful for anyone who has Certifications they are looking to receive credit for, especially those over 5 years old (some colleges will not accept certifications older than 5 years).

[sgloer]

Hey BMW--great infomation, thanks for taking the time to put it together!

[BMWGuinness]

Depending on which degree you choose not all the exams will count towards specific credit. I also have A+, Network+, i-net+, MCSE+I 4.0, MCSE(2k), some 2003 exams. Some of the exams that I had are considered duplicate credit and they may not give you credit for all of your exams. They left off a few from my Status Report for this reason. I have included some conversations I had with excelsior about the certs and which credit they counted towards for anyone that may find them helpful.

Originally I was going towards a General Business degree:




I then switched to the MIS degree:

For the MIS degreee the Network+ will satisfy the Networking requirement

Interesting, so you went with Business MIS, why did you decide on School of Business and not School of Technology?

[cbrchris]

Interesting, so you went with Business MIS, why did you decide on School of Business and not School of Technology?

I was orginally just set on getting any degree, but felt Business would fit better for me than Liberal Arts. Then I learned about the MIS track and it requires a little more work on my part as I still need 3 of the requirements for it. They can be satisfied with the ICCP exams but I am not sure how easily I could pass them. I could not locate very much study material for them so i will probably take classes for each one. I have been wanting to take a programming language anyways for some time.

I felt the MIS track would fit with my background while still remaining in the business track. I have been in IT support and felt I may have more option staying in the School of Business. I am not sure how many of the depth requirements I would have met and which ones I would have needed. For some reason i felt in my mind it would have been more and didn't really pursue the School of Technology.

[BMWGuinness]

I was orginally just set on getting any degree, but felt Business would fit better for me than Liberal Arts. Then I learned about the MIS track and it requires a little more work on my part as I still need 3 of the requirements for it. They can be satisfied with the ICCP exams but I am not sure how easily I could pass them. I could not locate very much study material for them so i will probably take classes for each one. I have been wanting to take a programming language anyways for some time.

I felt the MIS track would fit with my background while still remaining in the business track. I have been in IT support and felt I may have more option staying in the School of Business. I am not sure how many of the depth requirements I would have met and which ones I would have needed. For some reason i felt in my mind it would have been more and didn't really pursue the School of Technology.

I understand where you're coming from. After speaking with Admissions (transcripts have not come in yet) I know I have a ton more credits that would transfer to Liberal Arts, and more of the IT Certifications would move to Liberal Arts as well.

I will have to wait until all of my transcripts come in, but I was thinking perhaps it would be good to get my AS and BS in Liberal Arts, and then come back and get an additional AS and BS in Business MIS. I don't know if this will work or not, but if I eventually want to work toward an MBA (just a passing thought) I know a foundation in business would be advantageous.

[BMWGuinness]

I recently received a reply from TESC regarding CompTIA certifications

CompTIA A+ will receive 2 credits in Windows. CAP-171 Windows is our equivalency. CompTIA Network+ will receive 2 credits in Networks. CAP-181 Networks is our equivalency. We have not reviewed Comptia i-net+ for credit.

CompTIA A+
Excelsior: 2 LL
TESC: 2 LL

CompTIA Network+
Excelsior: 2 UL
TESC: 2 LL

CompTIA i-net+
Excelsior: 4 LL
TESC: Not Reviewed

[Chebasaz]

I can attest as well that Comptia Sec+ will gain you 2 UL credits from Excelsior. As BMWGuinness has pointed out, my Microsoft exams were awarded 1 LL credit per exam, though not all of them were awarded credit.

[tester]

Hey BMW: Awesome info as always!!!
I have 4 MOUS 2003 certifications but I have no idea on how to get credits for them. I called ACE and they said that they are currently reviewing the 2003 MOUS certifications and I should check with them again in March. Do you know of any other way to get the credits?

[BMWGuinness]

Hey BMW: Awesome info as always!!!
I have 4 MOUS 2003 certifications but I have no idea on how to get credits for them. I called ACE and they said that they are currently reviewing the 2003 MOUS certifications and I should check with them again in March. Do you know of any other way to get the credits?

If you can wait, I would say wait. If not, I would say research community colleges, starting with ones in your area to see if they have programs for MOS 2003, and if they do, ask about Portolio Assessments and see if having the Certifications would get you credit for the courses.

If in doubt, spend an hour searching Google for "MOS 2003 College Credit"