Returning to school might seem like going backwards to some adults in the work place, but many institutions of advanced learning recognize their experience in the work place as a valid way to learn. Rather than having them start from scratch in every subject, they allow them to test out of some of the core classes common to any degree program. It gives returning students an opportunity to skip classes they do not need, and it can give them a burst of confidence to know their experience has value.
Opting out of classes through testing is a good way to acquire a degree in less time, and counselors often make sure to explain the program to adult students returning to the classroom. They see it as a way to give them opportunities to spend their time in the classes that matter most to their degree program, and they are acknowledging these students have learned outside the classroom.
