Banking credits?

[mommyof8]

I am in the process of planning out the degree plans for my children and myself. Is it necessary to bank the credits earned after passing a test?
If not can someone please explain the process? How do you transfer the credit if its not banked after you take the test?

[rebel100]

DSST and CLEP hold scores for 20 years, you just request a transcript from them when your ready and they send it out. Costs $20

[mommyof8]

Rebel100 thanks so much for this info.
Now on to getting us ready for the tests.

[TayTay]

Hi, there! Welcome to the wonderful world of CLEPing!

Technically, "banking" credits is selecting the DO NOT SEND button, before the test. You are given the option to select your school, but I think the "do not send" option is first. I banked all my credits, before I enrolled at Thomas Edison State College. When I applied, I had all my CLEP transcripts (from my banking ) sent to TESC for a $20 fee (DSST has a $30 fee).

"Banking credits" is not an option on the exam. Like I mentioned, above, it's called DO NOT SEND (and yes, it's all capitalized). On my first test, I was looking for the "banking" option and could never find it, so I had to ask the administrator. If you ever have any questions, before or during the test, the administrators are there to help.

Hope that wasn't too confusing and helped some!

[TayTay]

DSST and CLEP hold scores for 20 years, you just request a transcript from them when your ready and they send it out. Costs $20

rebel100 beat me to it!!!

[clep3705]

Technically speaking, credit is not transferred. AP, CLEP, DSST do not grant credits, which is why there isn't anything to transfer. Credit is awarded by a college or university. If you don't have a college or university you are likely to attend soon, you don't need to do anything. Just take the tests. Once you get accepted at a school, you can order a CLEP transcript ($20) or a DSST transcript ($30) to be sent to your school. Your credits will be awarded after your school processes your transcript. This is not necessarily done upon the school's receipt of the transcript. You may have to ask them to process the transcript. You may have to pay fees to receive credit. You may need a certain number of hours completed at the school before they will award credit by exam - they may not process your transcript until that time. All of this depends on the school.

If your local community college has a free application and open enrollment, you should consider applying so that you are in their system. If you send score reports to them before you are in their system, they won't keep the scores on file. Once you are in their system, you can have your test scores sent to them when you take your tests. The point is that it doesn't cost anything to have your test's score sent to a school when you take the test. Don't waste a free score report if you can avoid it. When you pass a test, only the score for that test is sent to the school. If you want all previous scores to be sent to a school, you'll have to pay for a transcript.

For state supported colleges and universities in Texas, state law provides some interesting twists that could be useful.

[rebel100]

Fees have gone up.

[BGSU_Alum_86]

And for DSST exams you just leave the box blank that asks for the designated institution/score recipient. There is no "do not send" option.

Oh, and the CLEP system will be completely changing sometime this fall, so who knows what the terminology will be. All I know is the testing candidates will be able to fill out their individual test registration information ahead of actual testing time (on your own computer) which will include selecting your school or entering their mailing address for those not on the list, plus paying for the exam. This is supposed to save time on the test center's behalf, but I'll believe it when I see it! The test centers will still need to have candidates make appointments and pay any proctor fees.

[mommyof8]

Thanks everyone, we plan on using one of the big 3, more then likely TESC since we live in Jersey. My son does not want to go to a b&m school. He wants to finish asap.
Why prolong school when you can get a degree online in shorter time? My other kids will be doing the same.

[publius2k4]

Technically speaking, credit is not transferred. AP, CLEP, DSST do not grant credits, which is why there isn't anything to transfer.

Semantics.....it may not be "official" credit, but it's still transfer credit. It will show up on a transcript as credits transferred in.