When a person is given a work or life experience degree this means that he has demonstrated excellence in his field of work and has shown that he has vast knowledge, intelligence and top-notch skills in this specific area. However, the institution must first evaluate the person's work and life experience before bestowing academic credits or degrees.
When one is applying for a life experience or work experience degree, that person's prior learning is assessed by the school's faculty. Prior learning involves job experience; educational achievements; military training; community service; professional and nonprofessional activities; volunteer activities; independent reading and research projects; certifications and workshop and training attendance in the person's field of work.
Work experience and life experience degrees are frequently earned by older people who have not gotten a professional degree the conventional way. They have however, shown through their work history and performance that they are experienced in their field. This is sometimes considered worthy of academic credit. This approach to obtaining a degree first appeared in 1987 and is based on the premise that life experience is enough in some cases to equal college credit.
The advantage of getting this type of degree is that it may boost your salary and make you eligible for jobs that were previously not open to you. The disadvantage of life or work experience degrees is that not all employers or universities accept them. If the degree is not obtained from an accredited institution it is a waste of your time and money. Do your research before signing up with a particular institution. Furthermore, there remains a bit of a stigma toward long-distance learning and this type of degree may not carry the weight that a conventionally earned degree does.
Some life and work experience degrees are bogus so don't be duped into signing up for a program that is not accredited and won't be recognized by your employer or another school. Generally, life- or work-experience credits only apply to the acquisition of an associate or bachelor's degree and not a master's degree.