Need Advice for New Guy

[OtherSyde]

So a new guy came to my command a few months ago here on Pearl Harbor, and he wants to be an Radiology Tech. First, he has to get your basic AAS degree though, before he can start on Radiology-specific schooling. He's talked to several colleges and they keep trying to railroad him into an entire year or two of study just for a basic AAS that mostly only covers a re-hash of rudimentary High School crap. They just want to do this so they can get paid a nice long, steady stream of his military TA money, not caring that it's basically a two-year waste of time for him and doesn't even apply directly to his desired career field. He seems to be interested in TESC, and I just want to get him through his AAS as fast as possible so he can start working on the certificates and schooling in the subject he's really interested in (Radiology), and later his Bachelors of whatever.

I took him to the testing office on base and had him take (and pass) English Comp Modular and Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, so he's got those two out of the way (12 credits), and has a few elective credits from his SMART Transcripts since he's an IT in the Navy.

So my question is, has anyone here gone for a typical AAS at TESC and knocked it out quickly?

Do they have a residency rule?

Can you help me out with an efficient degree plan to CLEP through it as quickly as possible? I got the run-around on college stuff for a long time, and now I'm only just getting my BA at 29 (mostly thanks to CLEP/DSST and this forum/InstantCert over the last 6 months or so), so I want to help this sailor get to his goal a lot faster and more efficiently. Any input input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[af2012]

There is no residency rule. I would suggest that he go for the AAS in Environmental Safety & Security Technologies, it's the easiest & I don't see a Capstone requirement like a few other people have been talking about. Between the ALEKS, CLEP's & DSST's and the free FEMA's, he should be able to knock it out in no time.

Thomas Edison State College: Environmental, Safety & Security Technologies

Since he's already taken the College Comp Modular & the Analyzing & Int. Lit. CLEPs, I would suggest he go for the Humanities CLEP & Social Science & History CLEP (both of those are 6 credits each but you only need 3 credits of each to complete the Humanities slot & Social Sciences slot. The overflow from both will get put into General Ed Electives (which you only need 6 credits). Next go for American Lit & English Lit, both are worth 6 credits each & will get put into free electives (that is if he doesn't get credit from his SMART transcripts, if he does then just modify which tests to take.) Next do 21 FEMAs that will complete your Core requirements. Lastly, do the ALEKS Intermediate Algebra to fill out the math requirement.

Hope this helps!

Amy

Here's what it will look like:

A: English Composition
> Complete one full year of English Composition with a grade of C or better.
Group 1 Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes

______ CLEP COLLEGE COMP WITH ESSAY _________ 6 credits

B: Humanities
> Complete 3 semester hours of humanities.
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes

_______CLEP HUMANITIES___________________________ 3 credits

C: Social Science
> Complete 3 semester hours of social science.
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes

___CLEP - SOCIAL SCIENCES & HISTORY_______________ 3 credits

D: College Mathematics
> Complete 3 semester hours of college mathematics.

_____ALEKS INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA ________________ 3 credits

E: General Educ. Elect.
> Complete 6 semester hours from humanities, social science or natural science.
Semester Hours Completed: 6.00
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes

___CLEP HUMANITIES (overflow)____________________________ 3 credits
___CLEP - SOCIAL SCIENCES & HISTORY (overflow)___________ 3 credits

================================================================================
Career Track: Envir, Safety & Sec Tech (21)
> Courses from COP COS CAP CIS derived from occupational training are applicable.
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes

______USE FEMA COURSES TO FILL UP 21 CREDITS_____

================================================================================
Free Electives (18 SH)
> Complete 18 semester hours in any area.
Semester Hours Completed: 18.00
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes

______CLEP - AMERICAN LIT___________________________ 6 credits
______CLEP - ENGLISH LIT____________________________ 6 credits
______CLEP Analyzing & Interpreting Literature ____________ 6 credits

[cookderosa]

Let's be sure we are talking about the same thing. You said AAS, is that exactly what you mean? Typically, the AA and AS are general education only 2-year degrees. Career degrees are AAS degrees and contain only about 15 gen eds.

So, contrary to what seems to make sense, an AAS (also called an AOS) can not usually be knocked out quickly. In fact, the AAS is likely going to take a full 2 years. Your friend CAN knock out an AA at TESC quickly using CLEP/DSST exclusively.

If you'd share the name or link of the program he's looking at it might be more helpful.

[OtherSyde]

He needs an Associates of Applied Science (is that an AS? or and AAS? I never knew anything about Associates degrees...) in something (anything). It doesn't need to have anything to do with Radiology, it's just a check-in-the-box prerequisite he needs before he can start taking official ARRT accredited radiology programs.

Any experience in this would be greatly helpful. Thanks!

[sanantone]

Let's be sure we are talking about the same thing. You said AAS, is that exactly what you mean? Typically, the AA and AS are general education only 2-year degrees. Career degrees are AAS degrees and contain only about 15 gen eds.

So, contrary to what seems to make sense, an AAS (also called an AOS) can not usually be knocked out quickly. In fact, the AAS is likely going to take a full 2 years. Your friend CAN knock out an AA at TESC quickly using CLEP/DSST exclusively.

If you'd share the name or link of the program he's looking at it might be more helpful.

An AAS at TESC can be knocked out quickly, especially if it's in Environmental, Safety & Security Technologies. It can be completely filled with FEMAs and the DSSTs for Intro to CJ and LE. One could even use some of the science and computer science exams. With Penn Foster, an AAS in CJ can be knocked out quickly too.

Outside of the Big 3, it is not unreasonable for colleges to expect any associates program to take 18 months to 2 years.

[cookderosa]

An AAS at TESC can be knocked out quickly, especially if it's in Environmental, Safety & Security Technologies. It can be completely filled with FEMAs and the DSSTs for Intro to CJ and LE. One could even use some of the science and computer science exams. With Penn Foster, an AAS in CJ can be knocked out quickly too.

Outside of the Big 3, it is not unreasonable for colleges to expect any associates program to take 18 months to 2 years.

That doesn't make sense. There is no way this guy can use an AAS to get into a Rad Tech program. There is no such thing as an AAS check the box degree- that's the complete opposite of an AAS. Yes, at TESC you "can" get an AAS using FEMA, but I think that's a complete waste of time because somewhere, somehow this is wrong. Sorry, I can't give advice except to say that earning an AAS at TESC will likely be a complete waste of time.

What you're saying is just as if you said "my friend needs a check the box plumbing degree so he can get into a singing degree program." If you link me to exactly the program he is trying for, I can try and sort out what's going on.

[Pjbarney]

https://www.arrt.org/Certification/Acade...equirement

I don't personally have experience with this, but I think you and your friend should research a bit more. It appears, if I'm reading correctly (and I just skimmed) any associate degree will do, and a degree is not required until 2015, for licensing. Maybe an associate degree is for a particular rad tech learning institution?

I should add, the licensing reqs. vary by state, but as of now, one can still get a license with a certificate.

[cookderosa]

https://www.arrt.org/Certification/Acade...equirement

I don't personally have experience with this, but I think you and your friend should research a bit more. It appears, if I'm reading correctly (and I just skimmed) any associate degree will do, and a degree is not required until 2015, for licensing. Maybe an associate degree is for a particular rad tech learning institution?

I should add, the licensing reqs. vary by state, but as of now, one can still get a license with a certificate.

Ok. So, what that means, is that in order to be licensed he doesn't need a "rad tech" degree specifically, but he does need rad tech training. This can be through a hospital based program. Once upon a time, nurses were trained that way.

So, if he is applying to a rad tech degree program, he will earn his AAS when he graduates from the program, not before entering. Nassau Community College - College Catalog - Radiation Therapy Technology (A.A.S.)

If he is applying to for rad tech certification, then he should have already completed his training in an approved program.

If he got his rad tech training in the military, he needs his METC program director to authorize his training, AND he needs 15 gen ed credits. (it does not say if CLEP is accepted, he should ask his METC director)

In any event, the licensing link provided requires the candidate attend and complete an approved program. TESC is not a provider.

If there is a military requirement that needs him to earn a specific amount of credit before starting training, then that is written down somewhere and should be linked here so it can all be sorted out.

Hope that's helpful.

[frankiebleyes]

Having been one of those hospital trained nursing program graduates I think I understand what is going on with your friend. Jennifer has definitely directed you in the right path, make sure that CLEP can be used for any needed credits. As far as any Associates in Applied Science program working for some medical fields, it usually is not the case. Nursing for instance at my local community college where I am currently training some students in clinical requires pre-requisites including College Level Math (and in radiation they usually require higher math due to the math calculations required). He most likely will need anatomy as well. Excuse me if i misunderstand the degree your friend is trying to graduate from, I think he wants to become a radiologist in the medical field. If I am in error please ignore my comments.

[OtherSyde]

OK I think I get it now. Any associates will do. Then he does Radiology schooling.

But now we're at the college office and the TESC rep keeps trying to tell us that TESC has a 12-credit minimum residency rule. Never heard of this before, I thought TESC was one of the few with no residency requirement? Is this a new TESC policy? Or just BS to tray and get him to attend more classes there?