Looking for info on TESC P.L.A....

[nbmorton]

Hi everyone, I am new to the forum but was hoping some people here may be able to give me a better understanding of what the P.L.A.'s at TESC entail. How difficult are they to complete? What are others experience with them?

Forgive me if there are other threads out there about this. I tried to search for other threads with this info but I am having a hard time finding what I am looking for.

Thanks
Brett

[bricabrac]

if the link below does not work -- go to advanced search, key words : prior learning assessment check threads box
http://www.degreeforum.net/search.php?searchid=35439

another source -- tesc unofficial website -- have to sign up (free) then check under tesc courses -- last entry pla/fema...
you will find loads of pla information, samples, instructions etc
UNOFFICIAL TESC WEBSITE - Login

[dcan]

I haven't done it but I can sum up mostly what you'll find here.

Option #1: Pay $450 or so and 12 weeks for a PLA that may give you 3 hours credit, with no guarantee you'll be approved for anything.

Option #2: Pay $400 or so and take 4 CLEP/DSST tests in the same 12 weeks or less, getting anywhere from 12-24 hours credit. (each test being 3 or 6 hours credit)

You win all the cookies if you can guess which option is recommended.

That said, if you really are interested in pursuing the PLA approach, Steve Levicoff has a ridiculously thorough guide to how to max out the PLA approach.

[nbmorton]

Thanks for the replies, I am only interested in the PLA courses so I could complete the residency requirements. I am 33 credits shy of a B.A. in Communications. I was hoping to CLEP/DTTS as much as possible but I am trying to figure out the most efficient way to complete the residency requirements.

[NAP]

Thanks for the replies, I am only interested in the PLA courses so I could complete the residency requirements. I am 33 credits shy of a B.A. in Communications. I was hoping to CLEP/DTTS as much as possible but I am trying to figure out the most efficient way to complete the residency requirements.

What do you mean by "residency requirement" at TESC? That is one of the biggest advantages of the Big 3. There is no residency requirement (except capstone at EC and cornerstone+capstone at COSC) and all credits can be transferred in through any combination of courses and exams.

Is this because the military is paying for your degree? If so, how many credits do you need to get at TESC? I'm sure TESC students can recommend some good course options, if needed.

Welcome to the forum!

[nbmorton]

yes I am in the military and using TA. They say I need 18 credits through them to get my degree.

[ryoder]

I took two courses through TESC and it was very manageable and a pleasant experience all around.
You get 50% for homework and 50% of your grade comes from tests. I took a 6 credit environmental science class and it was not hard as long as you do the readings and write good responses to the homework essay questions.

[dcan]

Military here as well. Have you talked to TESC about PLAs fulfilling a residency requirement? I mean, I guess it might because you are working with them for 12 weeks. But doing this really makes no sense to me. The PLA will take 12 weeks and may give you 3 credits, whereas a real class will take 12 weeks and will give you 3 credits. (assuming you pass of course)

Am I missing something? Since TA is going to pay for it anyway why not take courses you want to take, or that you don't feel comfortable testing out of? For example, in my BSBA CIS plan I'm going to test out of accounting I but take managerial accounting and finance courses, and I just signed up for business law because I'm very interested in the subject. You may as well get something out of it instead of putting in a lot of effort and stress with the possibility of being turned down and having nothing to show for it. Also, I talked to my ed office and they said there is no problem with taking classes at another school and transferring them in, as long as it is documented on your degree plan. So that may be another option for you to consider, taking any class at any school you want. At one point I was seriously considering taking the CISSP course through UMUC to prep me for the cert and transfer it into TESC towards my degree, and that would have been completely acceptable for TA purposes.

Besides, if TA pays for a PLA, and TESC says you don't get any credit, is that then considered a fail or incomplete and you have to refund the TA money?

[bricabrac]

Just a quick fyi, I know PLAs do not have a good reputation here on the forum where testing rules. On the tesc unofficial website it is a bit different. Basically by compiling 6-9 pgs of info that you already know, you can earn three credits. I have not heard of anyone failing since your assigned mentor actually walks you through the paper. Some have even met the course requirements with the first draft. They have also been submitted by graduate students. It depends on your area of knowledge. Some areas of study may be hard to find or expensive for credit; hence the PLA database.

I signed up for three when I first started but because of work demands had to drop. We were going through a drug submission at work and because my company paid the tuition I could not say no. By what I learned in the few short weeks they are easy, again when you are demonstrating theory/application of a subject you already know.

[cookderosa]

I'll keep it short. A course and a PLA cost the exact same, and a PLA is going to be a hell of a lot more work. Not a lot more, a hell of a lot more. Just sayin.