Apply to colleges that offer degree credit for life experience. According to Get Educated, of the Internet's most reliable sources for information regarding online and other non-conventional schools and degree programs, there are four schools nationwide that offer legitimate degree programs that include credit for work experience: Excelsior College in New York, Thomas Edison State College in New Jersey, Charter Oak State College in New Britain Connecticut and Western Governors University. These schools are all regionally accredited schools and offer a variety of different options for converting life experience to degree credit. Other schools offering these type of programs are likely to be "diploma mills" that basically sell you a degree and try to legitimize it by basing it on work experience.
Apply to each school and determine which school has the best options for you. Thomas Edison State College offers several different ways to convert work experience to degree credit. The college will let you test out of courses where your work experience may have given you significant knowledge to do so. You can also obtain credit for military experience, professional training, licenses and certification and through a process of working with a mentor to determine your knowledge level.
Western Governors University offers a different approach. Its competency-based approach allows you to test out of courses and demonstrate that you have the proper level of competency in the field to receive credit.
Charter Oak State College allows you to convert work experience into college credit by testing, portfolio assessment and by credit recommendation obtained through the American Council on Education. These approaches are also used by Excelsior College.
Complete the necessary assessments to determine how much college credit you will receive for your work experience. If you attend one of the schools that offer multiple ways to convert your work experience to degree credit, take advantage of as many of the options as possible. Put together a detailed resume charting every aspect of your work history. Also take every possible exam that is reasonable for you to take. Even if you only have a minor background in one of the fields in which you can test, take the exam to determine if you can obtain some level of credit.