Find an appropriate online certificate program in your field that grants course credit reductions for work experience. Many community colleges with distance learning programs, as well as online universities, offer credit reductions for demonstrated professional experience. (For example, Globe University, a Minnesota-based business school, offers online programs with reduced credit burdens for those with professional business experience.)
Acquire a certificate or letter of experience from your current employer (or past employers). This certificate, which resembles a reference letter, should be written by an employer on a company letterhead, and should detail the skills and experiences you attained on the job. Such a certificate presents evidence of your professional work experience to an academic institution.
Complete the required demonstration-of-experience forms and paperwork provided by the certificate-granting institution at which you plan to enroll. Most schools evaluate whether you warrant a credit reduction by examining both the completed forms and your certificate or letter of experience.
Enroll in the remaining required courses and complete them in good standing. In the event a certificate program is willing to grant you a full credit exemption based solely on your work experience, be sure to prepare for any final examinations or projects that may be required to complete the online certificate program.
After completing all the necessary online certificate requirements, declare your intention of completion, a necessary final step for many programs before certificates can be released and granted.