Are you currently in a position where you need a college degree but didn’t graduate?  It could be that a degree is needed to move up in your company or maybe it’s time for a career change and a degree is needed to start a new job.  Regardless of your motivation for going back to school, you might be wondering how you’re going to get the job done.

Since there are now many online degree programs being offered by some truly great schools, many working adults turn to online programs as a way to finish what they started.  Although many of these programs are properly accredited and perfectly legit, there’s one type of program you should definitely stay away from.  This type of program is known as the “life experience degree.”

Understandably, life experience degrees sound very good to a lot of people.  The idea of being able to finish a degree based on nothing more than your previous work or other life experience sounds very appealing.  Unfortunately, the concept of the life experience degree is a scam.  There are no real schools that award college credit in this way.  Thankfully, it’s very easy to identify such a scam.  The “schools” that offer these degrees usually advertise that they will evaluate your credentials and experience (for a substantial fee, of course), and award a degree if everything is in order.  Of course, they never tell you that everything will always be in order.  They then take your money and give you a worthless piece of paper that looks like a diploma.

There is good news though.  There are some legitimate colleges and universities that will award college credit for many corporate or military training programs.  This is done through an organization known as the American Council on Education (ACE).  Surprisingly, most people are completely unaware that this is even possible, even though there are hundreds of schools that will accept such credit.

Checking into a school’s accreditation is one thing you can do to avoid being taken by a life experience degree scam.  Most legitimate schools in the United States, for example, hold what is known as “regional accreditation.”  There is the occasional exception though, like Full Sail University.  This school and other career schools like it are legit but don’t have regional accreditation.  Some have accused it of being a Full Sail University scam due to its lack of regional accreditation, but in reality it’s fine since it is considered a vocational or career school.

Prior to enrolling in any degree program with any school, take the time to check it out to make sure it’s legit.  This is especially true if it’s a school you are unfamiliar with.  And if you encounter a “school” that advertises life experiences degrees, take a pass on it.