To find out how you can potentially leverage your life experience for college credit, you should inquire with:
* Colleges and Universities Directly: Contact the admissions or registrar's office of colleges and universities you're interested in attending. Many institutions have programs for prior learning assessment (PLA), which evaluates your skills and experience to determine if they warrant college credit. Some might even have specific programs for adult learners or those with non-traditional backgrounds. Look for terms like "prior learning assessment," "credit for life experience," "experiential learning," or "portfolio assessment" on their websites.
* Regional Accrediting Agencies: While not directly offering degrees based on life experience, these agencies accredit colleges and universities. If you find a college claiming to offer a "life experience degree," verify their accreditation with the appropriate regional agency (e.g., WASC, SACSCOC, HLC, etc.) in the US. This will help ensure the institution is legitimate. You can find a list of regional accrediting agencies on the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) website.
* Organizations Offering PLA Services: Some organizations specialize in helping individuals document and assess their prior learning for college credit. These services often require a fee. Research such organizations carefully to avoid scams.
Important Considerations:
* Legitimacy: Be extremely wary of any program that promises a quick and easy "life experience degree" without rigorous evaluation. Reputable institutions will require evidence and documentation to support your claims.
* Transferability: Credits earned through PLA may not always transfer easily to other institutions. Confirm transferability before investing significant time and resources.
* Cost: PLA processes can sometimes involve fees for evaluation.
* Time Commitment: Even with prior learning assessment, you will likely still need to complete some coursework to earn a degree.
In short, focus your search on institutions and programs offering *prior learning assessment* rather than "life experience degrees." This is a far more accurate and reliable path to academic credit based on your experience.