Time limit on cert credit for WGU?

[reylok]

I was wondering if I made a list of all the certs required for a degree at WGU, and then plugged away at them as I had time and money, how long could I go before I actually had to apply to WGU and still get credit for the certs? I know there is a limit to how many you can transfer in. If I took the A+, Network+, Security+, and maybe some classes at sophia/study.com/SL, I could get a lot of credits before joining WGU.  Are the certs good for 2-3 years? 5 or 10 years? I am mostly talking about the technical certs.

[jsd]

It depends on the cert. For most CompTIA certs (the ones you listed), it'll be 3 years. Even if you keep them active and renew them beyond that, WGU will not accept them for credit if they're older than 5 years, even if active.

[bjcheung77]

Wait, why would you want to take the certs and transfer them in? WGU should provide you vouchers for taking their similar courses for exams, that's the only reason I recommend WGU is for their IT degrees (or now their Business degrees as they have ACBSP). You should only focus on the Sophia.org courses to get your General Education credits completed, and anything that's transferrable from StraighterLine/Study.com after your Sophia.org courses. SKIP THE TECHNICAL CERTS - WGU PAYS FOR YOU, if you get the certs first, yes you get the credit but it's like double paying for nothing!

Oh, and here are my answers to your questions on this thread, I was answering it and had another tab open for this for some reason, here goes: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...ree?page=2

reylok - Anyone have any responses for three of my original questions?

1) Is APU respected? (it seems to be loved by its students)
When I applied to them (and a whole lot of other schools), they were on my list because they seem to be a good school, they had DEAC accreditation and decided to go for Regional Accreditation plus programmatic accreditation for their programs. If you compare them with other unranked schools, they are equally respected or recognized.

2) Are there any cons about APU I should know?
I applied to about 6 or 7 schools before ultimately deciding on TESU a few years ago. The only reason I didn't take them is because of the number of credits you can maximize with transfer credit (ACE). If you are military, they are all the same pricing for the Big 3, essentially $250/credit or APU/Brandman/WGU that uses the competency-based degree option at a set flat term fee.

3) Anyone here go to APU, or get this degree?
Not yet, but their Biology classes are the final courses I need for my BA Biology. I have planned a few as I just need the Upper-Level requirements to be done.

[dfrecore]

I can see studying for certs on your own time to not eat up your enrollment time at WGU - but why would you get the certs? WGU will let you get them for free! At least, the ones they list for each degree. If you are looking at other ones, then I guess you could do that.

[reylok]

Wait, why would you want to take the certs and transfer them in?  WGU should provide you vouchers for taking their similar courses for exams, that's the only reason I recommend WGU is for their IT degrees (or now their Business degrees as they have ACBSP).  You should only focus on the Sophia.org courses to get your General Education credits completed, and anything that's transferrable from StraighterLine/Study.com after your Sophia.org courses.  SKIP THE TECHNICAL CERTS - WGU PAYS FOR YOU, if you get the certs first, yes you get the credit but it's like double paying for nothing!

Oh, and here are my answers to your questions on this thread, I was answering it and had another tab open for this for some reason, here goes:  https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...ree?page=2

reylok - Anyone have any responses for three of my original questions?

1) Is APU respected? (it seems to be loved by its students)
When I applied to them (and a whole lot of other schools), they were on my list because they seem to be a good school, they had DEAC accreditation and decided to go for Regional Accreditation plus programmatic accreditation for their programs.  If you compare them with other unranked schools, they are equally respected or recognized.

2) Are there any cons about APU I should know?
I applied to about 6 or 7 schools before ultimately deciding on TESU a few years ago.  The only reason I didn't take them is because of the number of credits you can maximize with transfer credit (ACE).  If you are military, they are all the same pricing for the Big 3, essentially $250/credit or APU/Brandman/WGU that uses the competency-based degree option at a set flat term fee.

3) Anyone here go to APU, or get this degree?
Not yet, but their Biology classes are the final courses I need for my BA Biology.  I have planned a few as I just need the Upper-Level requirements to be done.

I was thinking of taking the certs before enrolling, in case some life-problem interfered with my ability to study once enrolled. If I took them myself, I could work at my own pace, for better or worse.  Once I joined WGU, I wouldn't need to pay for the certs again, I would skip them and just take the remaining classes. It seems less risky to take one class at a time, rather than signup for 6 months at a time. I just got furloughed, and my salary is now my unemployment.  If I become homeless or have to move, that will be another life-problem.