Language Testing for College Credit

Many opportunities exist for individuals pursuing a college degree who are proficient in more than one world language. From being able to communicate with speakers of other languages and understanding other cultures to enjoying many career opportunities not available to monolingual speakers, being bilingual or multilingual offers many amazing opportunities. Your language skills can also earn you college credits. Five of ACTFL's language assessments have been favorably reviewed by the American Council on Education (ACE) for college credit. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of getting an official certificate to help you take the next step toward your goals. 

The Benefits of Getting College Credit for Language Skills

Many positive reasons exist for participating in language testing for college credit, including:

• Achieve placement in the right college courses: Testing for college credit before enrolling in college classes ensures you get placed in the correct class for your skill level. If you're already proficient in a world language, you deserve a seat in a more advanced world language class. Earning certification through ACTFL tests can ensure your college or university recognizes your existing world language proficiency.
• Experience study abroad opportunities: Studying abroad is an enriching opportunity, both academically and culturally. You can help your chances of experiencing a study abroad opportunity by proving your world language proficiency and testing for college credit. 
• Have more credits at the start of college: It's a great benefit to enter college with completed credits already on your transcript. You can earn these credits before entering a college or university by taking world language proficiency tests. Having credits can save you time and money on your way toward completing your educational goals, as you can potentially graduate early. 

Where to Learn a New Language

People learn a new language in many different ways. Some of the most common mediums include academic settings. People around the world learn languages by participating in traditional academic classes. These classes can be in grade school, secondary school, college, or even in private tutoring lessons. 

People also learn world languages in heritage settings, which refer to homes where multiple languages are spoken or taught. These settings encourage children to become proficient in all represented languages within the home, which is a valuable skill many people take into college and beyond.

One can also gain proficiency in a world language by traveling to other parts of the world and spending extended time in areas with speakers of that language. Immersing oneself in a world language is an excellent way to gain proficiency over time. 

Some people achieve proficiency in a world language by engaging in self-guided education as well. Possible resources include websites, videos, audio lessons, and apps. 

How to Earn College Credit for World Languages

There are a variety of ways to earn college credits for your language skills. In many traditional settings, language learners can earn college credits by participating in dual enrollment programs while in high school or by taking assessments like Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. Scores on those common exams correlate with specific numbers of college credits that can then lead to course placement and transcript hours.

One drawback to these options is that they may be limited to only a small number of world languages. Or, they may require completion of coursework that is not available through your school or program or that doesn't fit into your busy schedule. This is where ACTFL world language assessments are an ideal solution. ACTFL is a leader in language proficiency tests, offering them in over 120 world languages. In addition to measuring proficiency acquired through traditional academic environments, ACTFL assessments recognize competency gained through non-traditional settings, regardless of where or how the language was learned. 

ACTFL assessments are an affordable and convenient path to earning college credit by examination for your world language skills. You can purchase your preferred test here on LTI's site and schedule it at your convenience with one of our secure remote proctoring providers. This allows college bound users like you to test and earn college credit anytime from anywhere in the world with a strong internet connection available. 

The American Council on Education is the “major coordinating body for the nation’s colleges and universities” and that assists students in earning credit for prior learning. ACE has evaluated five ACTFL assessments and provided credit recommendations for them that are accepted by educational institutions of all types across the US and abroad. Depending on your test scores, you can earn up to 12 credits for each test you take. 

The most recent ACE review was completed in June 2020 and provides the following credit recommendations:

The American Council on Education's College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT®) has evaluated five (5) of ACTFL's assessments. For more information, visit the ACE CREDIT website at www.acenet.edu/credit.

LD = Lower Division Credits

UD = Upper Division Credits

For more information on the ACTFL Testing Program, visit here. 

Dates Offered: 6/1/2020 - 5/31/2023

LTI® is the exclusive licensee of ACTFL language proficiency tests. These tests include the Reading Proficiency Test (RPT), the Listening Proficiency Test (LPT), the Writing Proficiency Test (WPT), the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), and the Oral Proficiency Interview — Computer (OPIc). Each test focuses on a specific communication skill in your chosen language and provides an official certificate of your rating on the ACTFL Proficiency Scale. As an added benefit, when you certify your skills through an ACTFL assessment, you will also receive a digital Credly badge to share on social media and with future potential employers to showcase your language skills. 

You can register for the ACTFL language proficiency assessment of your choosing through LTI's website and take your next step toward earning college credit for your existing second language proficiency. 

Test Your World Language Proficiency With ACTFL Assessments Through LTI Today

If you are ready to begin your journey toward obtaining college credit for your world language skills, LTI is ready to help. 

Experience the benefits of obtaining college credit by examination and using ACE's transcript services, and choose LTI to help you get there. Learn more about the ACTFL tests we offer in a variety of languages so you can prove your proficiency and achieve your goals.