Int'l Student- New to CLEP, DSST, STRAIGHTERLINE etc- & can't decide

[EI2HCB]

Yasser,

Theres a lot of questions in your post. Lets start with availability to take CLEP tests which are different than Pearson. If you can call the college board in the United States they'll be able to tell you who to contact in Dubai or UAE so you can take the test, their number is 1800-257-9558 if you cannot connect to a U.S 1800 number from UAE I'll arrange a conference call through my Skype so you can discuss this at some future time. DSST exams shouldn't be an issue as you'll be able to do them in Dubai at the Pearson centers. CLEP are sometimes available in U.S Military installations to some people. The Naval base in Yemen might be worth looking into although with current tensions there non U.S nationals may not have access.

transferring your CLEP results usually uses a U.S social security number although I know some folks from Japan have been able to do those tests. If the middle east doesn't have a CLEP center there's a private school in Switzerland that acts as a testing center that isn't connected to the U.S military.

Are you planning to graduate with a BA in the States then your English education will count significantly towards this. However your CLEP/DSST or Excelsior credits won't transfer to the U.K only classes actually taken at an American College. I'll discuss this later as the policy for Excelsior is due to change in a few weeks regarding international students. You will have to submit your foreign courses to a U.S college at the beginning so they can then examine them and grant you credit this takes about three months work to do.
So you have a choice continue with your British Education (sorry Alba ) or move it to a totally American Education. I know in the middle east British used to be considered better than American but you'll have to decided on that one.

Alba TV has transferred in Scottish education and gotten a good amount of credit in exchange so you'll be both similar cases. Although I think he lives in the U.S like I do.
Straighterline and other options attain credit through what is known as the ACE system which works well for many American students or foreign students but it also isn't transferrable to outside of the United States. Credit by exam (CBE) in this way is beneficial if you want to gain an American Education ending in a BA which is then transferable for an MBA or further education. CBE its not beneficial for foreign students who wish to add to their foreign education as it has legality only in the United States and certain schools in Canada. Straigherline use a proctor which means you give access to your computer and someone watches you as you complete your exams so they also hold ACE value while transferring directly into Excelsior and some others too.