Quick FEMAs?

[bricabrac]

This is probably a silly question but does the course number having a ".a" at the end mean anything? Perhaps it's just an updated course?

For example...in just browsing the FEMA site some courses such as IS-5.a and IS-8.a exist. Are those the same as IS-5 and IS-8 in that they would be accepted?

Yes the "a" notation is for want of a better term "refreshed" course. They have been in the process over the past 9mos or so of updating the courses. I have often seen courses disappear and then reappear later. Sometimes with an "a", new or updated name, college credit or ceu award change....etc. This list has been pretty stable.

[cjzande]

So, I cross-referenced the list of classes TESC accepts posted here with the classes actually available HERE and there were... some problems. By which I mean, as someone mentioned, many of the courses on the list here aren't available any more and many of the courses on the EMI site aren't on this list. (Also, there's at least one instance where a course is listed here as accepted, but on the EMI site, it's one of those, credit awarded "when combined with X course" courses, and yet the second course needed for a "complete" credit is NOT listed as one of those TESC accepts. *shrug*)

Anyway, since 25 is the maximum credit TESC accepts, I did find 25 courses that are listed as 1-credit on EMI (without needing to be combined with something else) and are on this TESC list.

Here's what I got:

IS-00001
IS-00003
IS-00005a
IS-00007
IS-00008a
IS-00010
IS-00011
IS-00111
IS-00139
IS-00208a
IS-00230a
IS-00235
IS-00240
IS-00241
IS-00242
IS-00244
IS-00271
IS-00279
IS-00288
IS-00301
IS-00324a
IS-00346
IS-00386
IS-00393a
IS-00394a

There may be a few others I missed. I quit when I reached 25.

[bricabrac]

Well it would seem my comments and list of courses I gave the OP are still available! Thank you for taking the time to cross-reference. The TESC list I posted later is effective May 2010 and I think I did mention they disappear reappear and are updated/changed. I do not work for TESC or FEMA. Nor do I have the time to update and maintain that list. This is why we have advisors.

Moving forward....

[cjzande]

Well it would seem my comments and list of courses I gave the OP are still available! Thank you for taking the time to cross-reference. The TESC list I posted later is effective May 2010 and I think I did mention they disappear reappear and are updated/changed. I do not work for TESC or FEMA. Nor do I have the time to update and maintain that list. This is why we have advisors.

Moving forward....

I didn't mean anything against you by my comments. I was very glad to see your list, because it's the first I've seen. When I mentioned "problems," I meant it more in a, "Gee, I wish TESC would take some time to maybe update their list with some of the new stuff at EMI and figure out how they handle the multi-courses for one credit thing." I do understand why the old and no-longer-available courses are still on the TESC list; after all, someone may have already taken one of those courses and can still get credit, even though it's not something anyone can take any longer now that it's gone.

I just threw that list up there because 1) I put it together tonight for my son and website, so I had it available and 2) I thought it might help someone who is just getting started - just to save a step.


ETA: O/T - bricabrac, I just noticed in your sig line that you did beginning, intermediate, and college algebra through ALEKS. Was there a reason? (Well, duh, obviously there was *some* reason.) Did you do it for separate credit or just for learning purposes? I'm only asking because my son can't decide which algebra to do. I read somewhere that beginning would satisfy a math credit for him, but he's tending toward intermediate "just in case."

[bricabrac]

IETA: O/T - bricabrac, I just noticed in your sig line that you did beginning, intermediate, and college algebra through ALEKS. Was there a reason? (Well, duh, obviously there was *some* reason.) Did you do it for separate credit or just for learning purposes? I'm only asking because my son can't decide which algebra to do. I read somewhere that beginning would satisfy a math credit for him, but he's tending toward intermediate "just in case."

Beg Algebra is a wonderful refresher but the reason I took both beginning and intermediate was for cheap easy credit. I think it may be due to the college mathematics CLEP (MAT 102/103) that Aleks beginning algebra is accepted for credit at TESC. IMHO, beg algebra is easy, intermed not much harder, College algebra is when it gets challenging.

I think it's been two students recently that did not receive credit. Seems the folks in the transcribing department are not yet on the same page. If for any reason it should appear on your sons evaluation as "developmental / 0.00 credit" call advising, raise sand and have it corrected.

BTW thank you for clarifying your statement. I'm sure there is an updated fema list, someone only need contact advising and ask for it. The last listing I have is from May.

Take care.

[NC Coach]

Tremendously helpful information here for us new folks...thanks very much to everyone who contributed. So I guess TESC is limited to 25 FEMA credits. I thought I had read somewhere on this forum they would allow 27. Glad I found out it was 25 before I took and expected credit for two others. :coolgleam:

[Lindagerr]

on FEMA TESC will take anywhere from 1 -25 credits depending on what degree you are doing and what free electives you have open. TESC does not like to advertise the fact they take FEMA credits, so the best available resources are usually people like BB who have done the work.

On ALEKS TESC did give me credit for Begining Algebra, I took it as a refresher because I hadn't had a college math class in over 20 years. I am taking ALEKs Intermediate Algebra now and I would say it was a better idea to do this one if you want or need to go on to higher courses or if you just want a decent understanding of Algebra.

[BrandeX]

I wouldn't say it's really hidden or anything. Typing in "fema" in the search box at the top of any TESC web page, will give you Thomas Edison State College | Other Licenses and Certifications as result 3. At the bottom of the list is the EMI courses and where it states they give you up to 25 credits max.

[rickyjo]

You know, the updates worry me. Will they still be taking slightly outmoded courses that I took a year or two ago? I would hate to have to go back and do a bunch of these again.

[cjzande]

@bricabrac & Lindagerr: Thanks for the info re: the algebra. My son is 15 and pretty good at math overall, so I've told him he could take the intermediate algebra if he really wants, but that it's not necessarily a requirement, since he's wanting to get a degree in either history or liberal arts. Still, I think he'll just go with intermediate and then maybe even take college algebra, just for his own satisfaction. That seems to be the way he's leaning.

@rickyjo: Hopefully that won't be a problem for anyone. I'm thinking if TESC keeps older courses that aren't even available anymore on their list, they'll also accept your completion of previous versions of the courses. *crossesfingers*