Methods of Earning Credit

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At Thomas Edison State University (TESU), we recognize many diverse forms of education as college-level experience. Your work experience, professional training or military service provide unique, transformative learning opportunities you can't find in a classroom. So why shouldn't they qualify as college credit? We believe it can. Explore all the ways you can leverage your experiences in and out of the classroom toward a college degree with our many methods of earning credit.

The Path to a Degree Starts in Many Places

We recognize that your career and military experiences have given you college-level knowledge. At TESU, we evaluate your this knowledge and professional experience to see if they can be translated into college credit — saving you time and money towards your degree. Get an overview of the ways to earn credit— all designed around the needs of adult learners like you.

Ways to Earn Credit

At TESU, you may be able to turn your hard-earned experiences from work, military service or professional training into credits towards your college degree. Discover all the ways you can benefit from our generous transfer credit policy, saving you time and money and putting you on a shorter path to graduation.
  • Transfer Credits

    If you earned college credit from another institution, you may be able to transfer those credits to TESU. Whether you earned college credit during high school, at a community college or at a university, we make the credit transfer process simple for you.

    Transfer Credits to TESU
  • Professional Training

    You can earn credit for professional training programs you have completed. The training must be evaluated by TESU's Office of Professional Learning Reviews, a member of the Consortium for the Assessment of College Equivalency (CACE), the American Council on Education's College Credit Recommendation Service or the National College Credit Recommendation Service.

    Professional Learning Review (PLR)

    Our Office of Professional Learning Reviews can assess your training(s), certifications and licenses to determine their credit equivalency at TESU. Learn more about the process

    Earn Credit for Training
  • Portfolio Assessments

    Many adults come to TESU with knowledge in multiple subject areas that they can apply toward their degrees. You can develop a portfolio that demonstrates this knowledge and earn credit for it through our Portfolio Assessment. There are several options for developing a portfolio.

    Undergraduate Portfolio

    As an undergraduate student, the best way to develop your portfolio is to take PLA-1000 (Introduction to Prior Learning Assessment) and PLA-2000 (Introduction to Portfolio Assessment). You will learn about the options for getting your learning assessed, as well as how to develop a portfolio for undergraduate credit.

    Graduate Portfolio

    A graduate level prior learning assessment affords you the opportunity to earn credit for graduate level knowledge acquired through work, corporate, military or industry training, workforce development programs, in-depth professional research and other learning experiences.

    Learn More About Portfolios
  • Credit-by-Exam Programs

    At TESU, you can earn credit by taking a final exam without taking the course through our Thomas Edison Credit-by-Examination Program (TECEP®). We also accept credit earned from other testing programs, such as CLEP® and DSST®. TECEP® exams provide some brush-up content for you to refresh your knowledge base, followed by an assessment which will determine your level of content mastery. This style of Credit for Prior Learning is a pass/fail assessment.

    Explore Credit-by-Exam Programs
  • Online Courses

    Earn college credit by taking online courses offered by the Saylor Foundation at no cost. Apply what you learned by completing a portfolio assessment, TECEP® exam or another credit-by-exam program aligned with the open course.

    Take Free Online Courses
  • e-Pack® Courses

    e-Pack® courses are available in select subjects and are designed for independent learners who can thrive in a self-paced learning environment without the structure of assignment due dates or mentor interaction.

    When you take an e-Pack® course, you prepare for a comprehensive final exam through self-guided online learning materials, quizzes, and automated feedback. Ideal for learners with some prior knowledge of a subject, e-Pack® courses provide a unique option to take the final exam before the end of the 12-week semester. This offers you the opportunity to accelerate your progress and reach your academic goals on your own terms.

    Explore e-Pack® Courses
  • Credit for Military Training

    Your military experience can earn you college credit. The credit you can earn will depend on the military training documented in your Joint Service Transcripts (JST), and any transcripts from the Community College of the Air Force or the Coast Guard Institute. For service members who left the military before 1986, a DD-214 form is required to assess the credits you may have earned.

    Earn Credit for Military Training
  • edX MicroBachelors Credit

    TESU and the edX MicroBachelors programs allow you to earn credits through relevant, industry-demanding online courses in a variety of fields. edX credits are fully transferable to TESU, and because they're one of the most affordable ways to complete college courses, you can save even more on your TESU degree.

    Explore edX MicroBachelors Options

We're Here to Help

TESU is here to help you maximize the credits you've already earned, no matter how you earned them. Reach out to our team of expert admissions counselors for personalized assistance in determining your best options for getting ahead.

Speak with an Admissions Counselor