Fastest/easiest RA credit

[Pats20]

So is there a consensus on which ra courses are the easiest and fastest ? I know easy and fast are subjective but any thoughts ? I’m going to have to take one more 3 credit elective if I don’t do calc through an ra source. Appreciate any input or advice.

[rachel83az]

Not necessarily fast (because most aren't self-paced), but easiest would have to be ASU. Most only take a couple hours per week to finish, though the courses are 8 weeks from start to finish.

If your budget is lower, pick something from ONU.

[carrythenothing]

TECEP or UExcel exams?

[rachel83az]

Most TECEPs and UExcels aren't really known for being "easy". If you're okay with a so-so grade, there are a couple UExcels that might work, though: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UExcel_Exams

[origamishuttle]

I think the traditional axiom applies somewhat: Easy, Fast, Cheap - Pick two.

However, as pointed out by Rachel, there are nuances to the different options. For example, I'm still not clear how fast TECEPs and UExcel exams are? When I started looking into TECEPs, it seems that you need to sign up for TESU and wait for the next session to start? That doesn't seem fast. And even one of the self-paced ASU courses, I had to wait months to access it, and now I've been waiting two weeks since completing it! As for easy, both TECEPs and UExcels, while they are relatively fast and cheap, there are widely varying levels of difficulty. So the ultimate answer is almost always "It depends..." Often it's a combination of ASU, ONU, TEL, TECEP, UExcel, etc.

[Ideas]

When I started looking into TECEPs, it seems that you need to sign up for TESU and wait for the next session to start? That doesn't seem fast.

Yes, you have to wait. But since they have starts every 4 weeks or so, sometimes the wait isn't long.

[rachel83az]

On reflection, when someone is asking for "the fastest", clarification is needed for what they mean by that. Calendar time vs. study time.

For instance: ASU courses take 8 calendar weeks, and you have to wait for a semester to start, but you're probably only investing 8-30 hours in most of their classes.

TECEPs and UExcels are (almost) instant in that you can take the exams quite soon after registering. But, depending on the exact exam, it's not unusual to have to study 30+ hours for a single exam. The Network Technology TECEP is a notorious example of this.

So, do you want "fastest" in that it doesn't interrupt your other studies (ASU) or do you want "fastest" to enable you to graduate sooner (UExcels/TECEPs)?

[Pats20]

True. I guess as much info as can be provided would be very helpful. For example :
Ra course = 8 weeks long , register and Start dates every 8 weeks. , 5-10 hours per week commitment.

Ra course = self paced. Register and begin immediately, 5-10 hours per week commitment, should be reasonable to be able to complete at this pace in 1 month.

[origamishuttle]

TECEPs and UExcels are (almost) instant in that you can take the exams quite soon after registering.

Yes, you have to wait. But since they have starts every 4 weeks or so, sometimes the wait isn't long.

This provides some much-needed calibration. In the world of RA credits, 4 weeks = instant / quite soon.

[bjcheung77]

Sometimes, with RA credit requirements, it may be easier to just complete a TECEP/UEXCEL exam to overwrite an existing course. You can make up the course credit by taking alternative courses using ACE recommended for credit courses at various providers. Example, CIS 107 TECEP will overwrite the Sophia.org Intro to IT, you can take other courses and exams in place of that, say CLEP Info Systems comes in as COS-101.