Are alternative credits only an American thing?

[debrag]

The UK has national qualification frameworks. Europe has the European Qualification Framework. These have some similarities to the alt credit framework of ACE, NCCRS, CLEP, etc.

Other countries have systems or practices of credentials from outside degree-granting institutions laddering into degree programs.

The alt credit programs discussed on DF are almost wholly designed for destination degrees in the US. Their acceptance to destination degrees outside the US hasn't been tested all that much.

These are usually used instead of a degree, an equivalent. You may be able to skip 1st year in some cases. Also formal qualifications nothing like ACE unfortunately.