Sophia Learning

 Online college-level courses for $99 a month

Try any Sophia course for free (through the first challenge of a unit). These courses are designed to transfer to 100+ partner colleges and have been reviewed for credit at more than 2,900 other colleges and universities.

How Sophia works

Sign an Articulation Agreement: Join a growing network of 80+ colleges and universities that have partnered with Sophia to accept our courses for credit. Our partnership helps empower students to complete their gen ed course requirements through our flexible, cost-effective platform, ensuring a seamless transition into your institution’s degree programs..

https://www.sophia.org/ 

Joint Services Transcript

 If you have ever served in the military, you have a transcript which can provide college credit. The form and format are already approved for registrars at any college to add the courses to your transcripts.

https://jst.doded.mil/jst/

UPI Study

 Self-paced online courses you can transfer to your university — at a fraction of traditional tuition costs. 

https://www.upistudy.com/

 UPI Study offers NCCRS- and ACE-recommended college courses that can transfer to many U.S. universities, allowing learners to save time, reduce tuition costs, and stay on track to graduation. Our flexible, online format lets students balance education with work, family, and personal commitments—without rigid schedules or semesters.

Whether you’re returning to college, accelerating your degree, or lowering the cost of higher education, UPI Study provides a smarter, more affordable pathway to a college degree.

Academic Portfolio Examples

 This site does a good, step-by-step job of explaining the content of an academic portfolio for credit process. They take you through the considerations and limits with good, solid examples.

https://www.stu.edu/news/how-to-turn-work-and-life-experience-into-college-credit/ 

Internship-Marriott

 One example is Marriott, they state:

Here at Marriott, we offer many opportunities for those just starting their careers, including on-property internships and apprenticeships around the world at our thousands of hotels, as well as a specific HQ Fellowship/Internship Program at our corporate headquarters just outside of Washington, DC.

https://life.marriott.com/topic/early-career/interns-fellows/ 

Very often companies will offer tuition assistance once you are accepted as a full time employee, this is an avenue worth exploring. 

Work Exchange

A great way to add international experience to a professional and academic portfolio! 

 WorkAway: Our ultimate aim is to build a community of global travellers who want to see the world whilst contributing and giving back to the places they visit. 

https://www.workaway.info/ 

WorldPackers: We are the safest community for travel and volunteering. Connect with millions of conscientious travelers and welcoming hosts around the world and have transformative experiences.

https://www.worldpackers.com/search 

GoOverseas: 

A gap year work exchange allows you to travel the world with all your living expenses taken care of -- and you may even make money while you're at it!

In exchange for your labor, you'll often get accommodation, free meals, Wi-Fi, laundry, and other similar benefits. The possibilities for escaping the 9-5 grind are endless: you can be an au pair, work in a hostel, and be a part of the agriculture process on a farm, to name a few.

https://www.gooverseas.com/gap-year/work-exchanges 

Modern States Education Alliance

Modern States Education Alliance™ is dedicated to making a high quality college education accessible and affordable for any person who seeks one, regardless of wealth, nationality, or background. We believe that education is a basic human right and fundamental to making the American dream accessible to all.

https://modernstates.org/course/ 

Yale Open Courses

 About Yale Open Courses: Each course includes a full set of class lectures produced in high-quality video accompanied by such other course materials as syllabi, suggested readings, exams, and problem sets. The lectures are available as downloadable videos, and an audio-only version is also offered. In addition, searchable transcripts of each lecture are provided. Please note that we have recently removed Craig Wright's, "Introduction To Classical Music," and Ian Shapiro's, "Moral Foundations of Political Philosophy," from this site. Both courses have been updated and are now available through the Coursera platform. Please visit Yale's home on Coursera to enroll in all of our courses for free. 

https://oyc.yale.edu/courses

Many courses are listed, build your portfolio or study for a CLEP, DSST or other exam.

The U.S. Department of State Study Abroad

The U.S. Department of State programs offer funding to study abroad. This experience can translate into far more than credit towards your education. 

The U.S. Department of State offers many programs for American citizens wishing to go abroad for cultural, educational, or professional exchange. This website provides the information you need to get started. 

https://exchanges.state.gov/us 

Volunteer in Health Care

Free and charitable clinics and charitable pharmacies rely on volunteers to be able to provide needed healthcare to medically underserved people in their communities. The spirit of volunteerism and giving back is a truly rewarding experience, one that is exemplified in clinics throughout the country.

https://nafcclinics.org/get-involved/volunteer/

This opportunity can be an excellent internship or portfolio experience.  

Peace Corps

 Fill your resume and portfolio with something which makes a difference.

 For 65 years, Peace Corps Volunteers have partnered with community members in more than 140 countries—putting their experience, skills, grit, and purpose to work on locally led projects. It’s been called the toughest job you’ll ever love. Tough because it asks so much of you. And the love part comes from knowing your work can transform lives and build bridges across cultures.

https://www.peacecorps.gov/serve/ 

Teach for Tomorrow 

Work with schools and communities to support learning in math, science, English, and literacy.

https://www.peacecorps.gov/ways-to-serve/service-assignments/browse-opportunities/peace-corps-volunteer/?sectors=3

Volunteer for NPS

 Building a portfolio, for college and for professional purposes can be hard. This suggestion makes it easier. :)

 Each year, the NPS recruits volunteers to serve as modern-day “keepers” at a handful of historic lighthouses, living and working inside—or just beside—these monuments to another age. 

https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/national-parks/volunteer-lighthouse-keeper-national-park-service/ 

 

Teaching Certificate (TEFL) Online Free

Teacher Record offers a free training course to get certified in TEFL 

https://teacherrecord.com/tefl-certificate/1000 

 The aim of 120-Hour TEFL Course is designed to cover every aspect of teaching English from planning your first lesson to applying for your first Job abroad

Sites like https://www.eslcafe.com/ and https://www.tefl.com/ have listings of jobs all over the world that pay you to teach English. Look for the online learning lists. If you enjoy the work, they have placements all over the world, you can explore the planet while still working.

Certified Safety Professionals Exams

https://www.bcsp.org/credentials-at-a-glance

 The CHST program recognizes that many employers assign responsibility for construction SH&E functions to those with critical roles in leading workers. Many construction safety practitioners use the CHST as a path to greater roles in SH&E practice.

50% off of MIOSHA Training scholarships: https://mioshamti.apps.lara.state.mi.us/ 

OSHA Free Training materials: https://www.osha.gov/training/library/materials 

This is excellent portfolio material for construction and manufacturing professionals. It is instant resume material and a strong skill set.

Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service

 https://teex.org/resources/earn-college-credit/

The site states: You may be eligible to receive a digital badge and your TEEX training may be eligible for college credit. Over the years, TEEX has had over 100 of its courses reviewed by the American Council on Education (ACE). More than 2,000 colleges and universities consider ACE Credit recommendation in determining the applicability of coursework to their courses and degree programs. Visit the ACE web page for more information about badges, ACE Credit, and Joint Services Credit for military personnel.