How to get academic letters of recommendation?

[LeekyLeek]

how do you get academic letters of recommendation when all your credits have been obtained by testing out?

[perrik]

Makes it a bit tough, doesn't it?

If you're applying to a master's-level program, LORs from employers and other professional references are usually accepted in lieu of academic LORs. It's hardly rare for someone to return for grad school a decade or more after earning the undergrad degree.

If you absolutely must have academic LORs, take some grad-level courses as a non-enrolled student or pursue a graduate certificate that doesn't require references for enrollment. Lo and behold, fresh references!

[codface]

I wonder if you could get one from your proctor?

[cookderosa]

Any program that won't accept letters from employers, won't accept proctor evals. Even classes at TESC are not taught by professors- only mentors- offering very little help. I ditto Perrik's post, and add that some grad schools want graded credits- so look before you leap. I purposefully took all my "in major" credits as classes for this reason (and testing out of 51 gen eds). If a specific grad school is high on your list- make your undergrad process SERVE YOU, don't be a slave to the method of testing just because you can. *I don't know your age, but if you are mid-career, I'd still try and slip in strong employer/work letters- especially if you work with/for someone who has a grad degree and don't overlook the possibility of an alumni referral- that is always good.
Good luck!

[perrik]

Here's a little cut-and-paste from one of the programs I'm considering (Indiana University):

Letters of recommendation from professors or instructors who know the applicant's academic and intellectual skills are preferred. Letters from employers and others who know the applicant's work habits and character are also acceptable.

Professional references are good. Professional references who've gone through graduate school themselves are better! One of my potential references is a former co-worker who has an MBA and a healthy respect for non-traditional education; another is my boss's boss, an entrepreneur and doctoral candidate whose son just completed a grad program in my prospective major. It looks like I'll need to take an actual class to finish my major, so assuming I don't screw up the assignments, that's the third LOR.