It’s true that having a degree from a university is very important for a successful career. But for people who are already working may find it difficult to stop doing what they are currently doing and go back to college or university for a new degree or a certificate. Here life experience degrees or work experience degrees help!
What Are Life Experience Degrees?
Universal Acceptance
Accreditation and Life Experience Degrees
How to obtain a life experience degree?
Pros & Cons of Getting a Life Experience Degree
Top Ten Universities Offering Life Experience Degree Programs
What Are Life Experience Degrees?
Life experience degrees or work experience degree are degrees that individuals can obtain through their past experiences in a related field. These degrees are specially designed for adults and professionals who have an ample amount of experience in their respective fields but due to various reasons could not get a professional degree.
It’s for those career-oriented individuals who need to switch their jobs but don’t have a degree to support their change. It’s for those students who leave their educational path mid-way to pursue jobs and want to enhance their career with a degree.
The concept of ‘Degrees on the basis of Life Experience or Work Experience’ originated in 1987 and was evolved from the philosophy of getting some course credits on the basis of experience as offered by the top schools of United States of America.
These degrees are excellent resume builders and by getting one relevant experience based degree, you will be able to prove yourself with the desired job or a promotion. It is a big prospect for international students who want to earn their degree from their home without traveling all over to any other country or state.
Earning this degree is highly flexible and time saving, as you won’t need to attend any classes, take exams, get admission, or study books it is purely earned on your professional experience in your academic career or past job or training in military, personal hobbies or vocational training.
Universal Acceptance
Although Life Experience Degrees or Work Experience Degrees is a form of online education that provides opportunity to career acceleration which would otherwise be impossible for thousands of competent working individuals. However, its not as good as it sounds. There is a deception associated with the program offered by some online institutes. Lately a large number of cases have been reported online in which individuals after earning their desired life experience degree or work experience degree found out that their degrees were not accepted because they were not received from an accredited institution.
Accreditation and Life Experience Degrees
Obtaining an accredited degree or continuing your education at an accredited school maybe one of the factors that could land you the job of your dreams. Universities that seek out the proper accreditation in their region, have taken it upon themselves to secure a standard of quality.
To develop guidelines and perform evaluations, there are a few agencies that work on national and regional level and are termed as Accrediting associations. It is imperative to understand that accreditation confirms that the degree providing institute meets a set of national standards that ensures the quality of the program. Some of the online universities and their affiliated colleges that are associated with these ruling accrediting committees provide authentic and accredited degrees.
Not having recognized and accredited degree by any accrediting organizations may cause one to lose one’s money, effort and time. To avoid this situation, it is critical on the part of individual to ascertain degree providing institute’s affiliation with a recognized educational ruling body, and also check accreditation of life experience degree or experience degree before deciding to go for it.
How to obtain a life experience degree?
You can apply for a life experience degrees or experience degrees to help boost your resume. Many times, companies will only hire people who have specific degrees for a job. If you are not ready to take years of schooling for a degree, you may be able to qualify for life experience degrees. Each course credit necessary for completion has a detailed description of the skills and knowledge necessary for acceptance. These degrees are delivered within a matter of two weeks.
Pros & Cons of Getting a Life Experience Degree
| Pros: |
 |
 Prospective raise in salary |
| Competitive edge over other people who are applying for the same job |
| Become eligible for teaching at a lower-division college level or administrating at a school (depending upon the focus of your degree) |
| Fast and Comprehensive education programs through the internet without hassles of college attendance |
| What is credit and how can I earn it? |
| An income raise by the number of graduate credits even before you get your life experience based diploma, if you are a teacher or an administrator |
| Continue to work full-time and spend time with your family while earning your degree. |
| Cons: |
|
| The biggest disadvantage of getting a life experience degree may be that the educational institution or your employer may not accept your degree and the institution from which it is taken. |
| School is expensive and your salary increase may not be able to pay back your tuition for many years |
Perceptions/Reputation -- while slowly changing as more and more mainstream colleges and universities embrace distance learning, there still is a stigma
attached to distance education and life experience degrees. |
| One of biggest issues in getting a life experience degree is whether the degree is received from an accredited institution. If its not, then it’s a wastage of your money and time. |
Top Ten Universities Offering Life Experience Degree Programs
| Walden University |
| Belford University |
| Breyer State University |
| Bronte International University |
| Concordia College & University |
| Redding university |
| Rochville University |
| Ashwood University |
| Suffield University |
|
