This is a sponsored conversation on behalf of Study.com. All thoughts are my own.

My husband often says he wishes he could go back to school. If money were no object, he'd surely be a lifelong learner. In fact, with a bachelor's and master's degree under his belt, he's expressed interest in obtaining a doctoral degree and has also mentioned working toward certifications and degrees in IT, in case he ever decides to change careers. A busy mom, even I have had days where I've longed for the opportunity to go back to school and receive a marketing or communications degree... but who has the time... and who has the money?

When I was growing up, the concept of higher education seemed simple- you worked hard, graduated high school, applied to colleges, and if accepted, attended the one you deemed the best fit for your educational needs. If you weren't ready to attend a traditional four-year college, you either started out in a community college or went right into the workforce. My, how things have changed.

These days, many students receive their education online. Just the other day, a friend of mine was telling me about her efforts to homeschool her middle school aged son so he could do more traveling with her. She also thought it would be a good opportunity for him to get used to learning online, which is becoming more and more the norm among students. Even high school students have the ability to work toward earning college credit online, and students of various ages who are pursuing higher education are able to do so on their own time, at their own pace.

Study.com makes it easy to work toward your degree on your own time.

I've gained a lot of knowledge about marketing and communications, having taken very few courses, if any at all. I'd love to be able to take that knowledge and turn it into college credit without having to take a traditional college course, per se,  putting in an entire semester's worth of time and work. My husband and I have both looked into CLEP exams, which give students college course credit without having to take the actual course, in most cases.

What are CLEPs?

CLEP exams measure a person's knowledge of college-level material for a specific subject. These exams can benefit continuing education students, military personnel, and college students.

Exams take between 90 to 120 minutes to complete and each one is $85. The test is free for men and women serving in the military.

Study.com recently launched their own CLEP Prep, which helps students prepare for the CLEP exams they want to take. By using Study.com's test prep guides and resources, students have an incredible opportunity to prepare for any CLEP exams they'd like to take and earn college credit.

How does Study.com's CLEP Prep help you prepare?

Study.com helps students become more than ready to take their CLEP exams. Students can study the way that best suits the way they like to learn, and their timetable or schedule. There are many options as to how you can use the CLEP Prep. Why take CLEPs? This may actually save you a good amount of time and money! If you're able to 'place out' of certain classes, you'll still earn credit for the course, and you'll be even closer to earning your degree without having spent all semester in the classroom or taking a full-blown online course.

Video Lessons

If you're a visual learner like I am, you will absolutely appreciate Study.com's test prep video lessons, which are taught by experts. You can search for the exact course you want to take a CLEP exam for, and go through a series of lessons, which will help you prepare for the exam. You can even take little tests at the end of the lessons to test your knowledge after the lesson has been completed. If you missed something or want a refresher, just go back and go through the lesson again- this is a great way to review or touch on certain areas before taking the actual CLEP exam. The videos are also short and sweet- most video lessons are around ten minutes each. Do you have ten minutes a day to devote to a lesson? I know I do!

Study Guides

I never would have made my way out of some of my college classes without handy study guides. Study.com's CLEP Prep offers 30+ study guides, which are available to use when you're prepping for your exams. No more spending thousands of dollars on textbooks that you won't be able to return and won't need to use again (I've been there, and I know how much it hurts the purse!). Savings galore! The study guide provides you with a syllabus for the course, as well as objectives, video lessons, and a course practice test to help you prep for the CLEP Exam!

Practice Questions & Practice Exams

One of the best ways for me to know that I'm prepared to take a test is to actually take a practice test (or a few). Testing my knowledge lets me know what I need to spend time studying if I happen to miss a few questions. It also gives me a good idea as to what types of questions might be on the actual CLEP Exam and lets me know what to expect. I'm not the best test taker in the world, so the extra practice and prep is a huge help for students like me. Study.com has thousands of practice questions and CLEP practice tests, which are yours for the taking when using their CLEP Prep.

How soon will you be ready to take the CLEP Exam?

Study.com's CLEP Prep makes it incredibly easy for you to study as much or as little as you want to, or are able to. Study at your own pace and take the exam when you're ready.

If you study a course 3 hours a day, 3 days a week, you should be ready to take the CLEP exam in 1 week. I listened to a testimonial by a gentleman who was able to study for and take on average 3-4 CLEP Exams per month, earning course credit for each one!

Think of it this way- if you were to take five courses per semester, each giving you 3 credit hours upon successful completion, you'll earn fifteen credit hours per semester. If you were to study for and take/pass 3 CLEP exams per month via Study.com for over the course of 4 months, you will have earned 27 credit hours during that time period. Not only will you save a ton of time, you'll also save a ton of money on tuition fees, books, and more!

What if CLEP doesn't cover a particular subject or course?

Study.com also offers DSST prep! There are differences between CLEP and DSST exams, so you should absolutely research both options and perhaps even speak with a counselor to find out which prep program is right for you. DSST exams cover six subject areas (there are 30 exams available) such as Physical Science, Technology, Humanities, Business, Math, and Social Science. It's a good idea to ask your counselor or advisor which credit the school will accept and how they will fit in with your degree program.

The DSST Prep from Study.com offers over 4,000 video lessons, 30+ DSST study guides, and thousands of practice test questions to help you prepare for your DSST exams. Just like the CLEP prep resources, you can work at your own pace, take your exam and earn your credits when you feel you're ready to do so! Take DSST practice tests to test your knowledge before you take an actual DSST exam. It will give you a taste of what you can expect from the actual exam.

If we can do it, so can you!

As my husband and I seriously start looking into what it would take for both of us to continue our education, my first stop will be at Study.com. The monthly fee for study materials, practice tests and lessons is absolutely worth it (in my opinion) in order to prep for CLEP exams which can help us earn college credit without ever stepping foot in a classroom. With two small kids who attend private schools, money is always tight. I love the ways Study.com works toward helping people with a passion for learning!

I have a household to run, a business to run, and a family to care for, but my dream of continuing my education as an adult is no longer far-fetched, thanks to Study.com.

Are you ready to make your dream of going back to school a reality? 

Head on over to Study.com to learn more about their CLEP Prep courses, practice tests, and resources. You can also get the Study.com App on Google Play or in the App Store.

Connect with Study.com on Facebook, Twitter & YouTube.

Look for Study.com in our 2018 Back to School Guide!

*CLEP exams are usually taken by students at designated CLEP testing centers. CLEP is a registered trademark of College Board, which is not affiliated with Study.com.

Have you ever thought of furthering your education? Study.com might be just what you're looking for! Let's chat about it in the comment thread or over on MBP social media.

Keep working toward your goals! I'll be here, cheering you on every step of the way!