The University of Phoenix is one of the largest online programs in the country. Before the advent of the Internet they offered correspondence courses. They are accredited, and offer classes on their many campuses across the country as well as online. Classes are small, and schedules are flexible (See Reference 1).
At Thomas Edison College, as with any reputable institution, earning credit for life experience involves several methods of demonstrating knowledge: testing; prior learning assessment; licenses and certifications; military training; and professional training (See Reference 2).
Charter Oak offers a three-credit course in which a student constructs a prior learning portfolio that is then assessed by the faculty. Each portfolio is aimed at a specific subject, and contains a personal narrative written by the student and documentary evidence of his life experience. The school doesn't limit the number of credits that can be obtained this way, and the process takes two to four months. Blocks of credit aren't awarded, and each portfolio only addresses a specific topic. However, with written approval from the Assessment Coordinator a student can sometimes acquire credit for serial courses, such as more than one level of a language. An assessment fee is required in addition to the tuition for the course (See Reference 3).