Over the recent years, nursing schools across the country have seen a surge in enrollment. While some students enrolling in nursing school are traditional college students who have chosen nursing as their lifelong career, many nursing students are adults wishing to make a career change. In spite of coming from various ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds, nursing students are often similar in that they are attracted to nursing based on the flexibility of the career, competitive pay, and job security.

With the current economic downturn, a career offering job security is hard to find. In spite of the present economic downturn, nursing continues to be a “recession-proof” job and nurses remain in high demand. In addition to offering job security and financial benefits, nursing offers the opportunity for a very rewarding career through providing help to the sick as well as promoting health in well populations. The sooner an individual can complete course pre-requisites and finish nursing school, the sooner he or she can enter the nursing career. Individuals wishing to pursue a career in nursing can choose to earn a bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree. Both baccalaureate and associate degree nursing programs require students to obtain certain pre-requisite degree requirements prior to beginning nursing school. Nursing students may be surprised to learn that there are often cost and time-saving ways to earn some of these pre-requisite course requirements. CLEP, College Level Examination Program, are one such way that nursing students can use to save both time and money.

CLEP, College Level Examination Program, offers a way for nursing students, and college students in general, to earn credits through demonstrating college-level proficiency on a standardized exam. Most CLEP exams are multiple choice, computerized, and 90 minutes long. There are thirty-four different CLEP exams offered in subjects such as English, science, math, and social sciences. Credits earned through CLEP exams will often apply toward nursing school prerequisites. For example if a nursing school requires students to take Introductory Psychology as a prerequisite to entering the nursing program, the nursing student may have the option of taking the Introductory Psychology CLEP test in order to earn the required credits. By completing many of their nursing degree prerequisites using CLEP exams, students may be able to apply to and enter their desired nursing program sooner. Less time spent in class can result in more time spent earning money working as a nurse. In addition, with each CLEP test costing less than $100 to take, the savings compared to taking the actual college class are obvious!

Many nursing students would welcome a way to enter their college’s nursing program sooner or to save money while attending college, but are unsure how to take advantage of programs such as CLEP. The College Board’s website, www.collegeboard.com, can provide students with information about CLEP exams, including which exams are available, CLEP testing center locations, and how to prepare for CLEP exams. Students wishing to take CLEP exams, including students who have little background knowledge of a subject, are often able to prepare for a CLEP test in as little time as a few days or a few weeks. Students can use a wide variety of CLEP test study resources including online study systems, CLEP test study guides, practice CLEP tests, and college textbooks. Students are encouraged to talk to their college academic advisor prior to taking a CLEP test in order to learn about their specific college’s CLEP policies. With over 2,900 colleges and universities accepting CLEP exams, many nursing students will find that their school will allow them to meet certain prerequisite requirements using CLEP.

About US: CLEP exams are an amazing way for nursing students to save both time and money and get one step closer to entering the exciting, lucrative, and rewarding career of nursing.

by SPEEDY PREP