Alternative Options for Credit - Which one is more popular and recommended? POLL

[bjcheung77]

Hello Everyone,

Reading through several forum posts and have some conflicting points or debates on which provider/option of credit is more popular and recommended.
From my research, I can see the following few options, just polling which one you would use most if you had an option. For me, I would use mainly ACE.
As for schools, I will go with the Big 3 or the competency based degree providers, or one that will accept most alternative options for credit, if not all.

CLEP - Recognized by 2900+ Institutions
DSST - Recognized by 1900+ Institutions
ACE Credit - Recognized by 1900+ Institutions
NCCRS - Recognized by 1500+ Institutions
UEXCEL/ECE, TECEPS or CSU CBE - Exams transferable to many institutions
PLA - Offered at many institutions (internal process of evaluating credit)
Competency Based - Several institutions offer this type of credit
B&M or International Equivalent course for Transfer Credit

Just starting a poll to see if one or more are popular. I don't think there should be a 'stigma' for some of these.
I think for myself, again, I would like the ease of ACE/NCCRS testing for credit... no need to drive to a test site.
If it's accepted at so many colleges/institutions, I wouldn't mind it at all, as it's "accredited and recognized".

[sanantone]

CLEP and DSST probably should have been combined since they're similar, but students have to often use both. I can't vote because I wouldn't use one over the other in a lot of cases where there is no overlap.

[Nixi]

My main preference for any credit source is that it has to be online, and it has to have online proctoring if there are any proctored exams. The only exception to this is the Analyzing & Interpreting Literature CLEP—that was an easy, and fast 6 credits.

I didn’t vote in the poll, because whether the credits I’m taking are ACE-approved/NCCRS does not matter at all to me—all that matters is whether or not the university I’m going to accepts the credit source I’m completing courses/exams from.

[sanantone]

NCCRS and ACE probably should have been combined, too. Instead of brick and mortar versus competency-based, it probably should have been competency-based versus traditional, online courses since accreditation and format are more important than whether or not the school has a campus.

[dfrecore]

I didn't take the poll; I just like the fact that there are so many options available!!

[ajs1976]

I can't pick one. Whichever fills the requirements, is flexible, and cost effective. I look for the best option for me for the individual requirement.

[sanantone]

I know we can pick multiple options, but my responses would cancel each other out. It really does depend on the requirement I'm trying to fulfill. I prefer CLEP and DSST due to the ease of studying for them and not having to complete a bunch of assignments and quizzes, but there are many subjects not covered by those two and parking is a nightmare at my nearest testing center, currently. I also like taking TECEPs and CSU Global CBEs at home, but CSU Global CBEs are expensive and TECEPs have to be taken within terms. Uexcels are categorized with those two, but they have the disadvantage of being more expensive than most of the other options and having to be taken at a test center. I had to drive a long ways to get to a Pearson testing center. I do not prefer SL or any other self-paced course, in general, but I did choose them to avoid the hassle of taking the Public Speaking DSST and spending an inordinate amount of money on the Microbiology Uexcel. I would also use them for a subject in which I did not feel comfortable enough to do high-stakes testing. I did spend a whole lot of money on the A&P Uexcel because the SL and Study.com options had way too many quizzes. I haven't used Saylor yet, but it's not like the other ACE and NCCRS options. It's more like CLEP, DSST, TECEP, Uexcel, etc. without the wide acceptance.

[davewill]

Not sure why people are struggling. I simply choose the three I liked the best.

[cookderosa]

I picked CLEP because I like the acceptability of it among traditional colleges, it's a straightforward exam method, it's accessible by people who don't have a computer, it's inexpensive, and it has a nice representation of general education subjects.

I took / passed 11 CLEP exams which gave me 45 college credits at TESU.

I used many of the other options too, but CLEP was my favorite. I also have credit from ACE (FEMA), DSST, Credit for Courses Taught, distance learning transfer courses, and TESU courses.

[sanantone]

Not sure why people are struggling. I simply choose the three I looked the best.

Tests I prefer are categorized with a test I do not prefer.