Achieve Test Prep is an online education consulting company founded in 2008 to help busy working adults earn college credits faster through CLEP and DSST exam preparation. It’s not a college — it prepares students to pass exams that earn transferable credits at accredited schools.
Over 22,000 students have used Achieve. The program offers live weekly sessions, education advisor support, and a pass guarantee. Courses cover CLEP, DSST, NCLEX, and nursing entrance exams including TEAS, HESI, and PAX-RN.
This review covers how Achieve works, what it costs, what real students say, and how it compares to alternatives like Kaplan and Chegg — so you can decide if it’s the right fit for your goals.
What Is Achieve Test Prep?
Achieve Test Prep is an online test preparation company founded in 2008 that helps busy working adults earn college credits faster through CLEP and DSST exam preparation — it is not an accredited college, but a college education consultant. The distinction matters for any adult considering enrollment.
Achieve’s mission centers on making higher education accessible for people balancing jobs and family. The company provides college planning, live online test prep courses, tutoring, and ongoing support from Education Advisors throughout the process.
Over 22,000 students trust Achieve. The company operates from New York and has served adult learners since 2008. That 16-year track record separates it from newer test prep entrants in the market.
How Does Achieve Test Prep Work?
Achieve courses run as live online weekly sessions for 4-10 weeks, with all learners progressing through material together in a synchronous format — instructors and classmates provide real-time accountability that purely self-paced programs cannot replicate.
The credit pathway is straightforward. Students complete an Achieve course, then sit for a CLEP or DSST exam. Passing earns transferable college credit at the accredited school of the student’s choosing. No homework, quizzes, or traditional assignments are required.
Support is built into every step. Achieve Education Advisors help students identify the right courses. Instructors deliver live content. Mentors and tutors provide supplemental help. The layered support model targets adult learners who need structured guidance.
How Achieve Test Prep works step by step:
- Speak with an Achieve Education Advisor to identify the right test-out course options.
- Complete the Achieve test prep course over 4-10 weekly live sessions.
- Sit for the target CLEP or DSST exam at an independent testing center.
- Transfer the earned credits to an accredited college or university of your choice.
Is Achieve Test Prep Accredited?
No. Achieve Test Prep is not an accredited institution and does not issue degrees or college credit — it is a test preparation and consulting company that prepares students to earn credit through independent accredited exam programs. Achieve is transparent about this on all marketing materials.
The credit transfer process is what legitimizes the model. When a student passes a CLEP or DSST exam after Achieve prep, the credit is awarded by the accredited college or university where the student enrolls. The degree comes from that school — not from Achieve.
What Courses Does Achieve Test Prep Offer?
Achieve offers CLEP and DSST test prep courses across a wide range of subject areas, licensure exam prep for NCLEX and NBDHE, and nursing entrance exam prep for TEAS, HESI, and PAX-RN — making it one of the more comprehensive adult-focused credit prep platforms.
Beyond structured courses, Achieve provides on-demand tutoring, college entrance exam prep, and licensure exam tutoring. Students can access tutoring support alongside their main course enrollment to fill gaps in specific subject areas.
Achieve course categories:
- CLEP and DSST subject test prep (college credit by exam)
- NCLEX-RN licensure exam prep (registered nursing)
- NBDHE prep (dental hygiene licensure)
- TEAS, HESI, and PAX-RN (nursing school entrance exams)
- On-demand tutoring and college planning services
Does Achieve Test Prep Cover Nursing and Healthcare?
Yes. Achieve is particularly well-known for nursing program support, offering LPN to RN Bridge Programs, NCLEX-RN preparation, and customized RN and BSN bridge plans designed specifically for working healthcare professionals. Nursing is the company’s clearest specialty.
The LPN to RN path is structured and comprehensive. It covers education planning, testing out of general education prerequisites, credit transfer to an accredited nursing school, completion of nursing courses and clinicals, and NCLEX-RN preparation. Working LPNs can complete the path while maintaining full-time employment.
Achieve’s nursing instructors receive consistent praise. Students describe them as knowledgeable, exam-focused, and engaging. The instructor quality in the nursing track appears to be a key driver of the strong positive reviews in that program area.
What Exams Does Achieve Prepare You For?
Achieve prepares students for CLEP and DSST exams (which earn transferable college credit), NCLEX-RN and NBDHE licensure exams, and TEAS, HESI, and PAX-RN nursing entrance exams — covering the core testing needs of adult degree seekers and healthcare professionals.
CLEP and DSST exams are the foundation of the credit-by-exam model. The American Council on Education (ACE) recommends credit for passing scores, and thousands of accredited US colleges accept these credits. Achieve’s curriculum targets exactly what appears on each exam.
Courses are designed by curriculum experts who know the exam content inside and out. This focus eliminates traditional coursework extras — homework, quizzes, group projects — and replaces them with targeted preparation for the material that actually appears on the test.
How Much Does Achieve Test Prep Cost?
Achieve Test Prep pricing varies by program and is considered on the higher end by some reviewers — and exam registration fees for CLEP, DSST, and NCLEX exams are charged separately from the Achieve course program fee, adding to the total cost.
CLEP exams cost approximately $93 (USD) per test at accredited testing centers. DSST exams carry similar fees. These costs are in addition to Achieve’s program pricing and represent a meaningful budget consideration for students taking multiple exams.
Achieve does offer a refund policy. Specific terms vary by program, and students should confirm refund conditions with an Achieve advisor before enrolling. Pricing transparency at the point of enrollment is an area where some reviewers note room for improvement.
Does Achieve Test Prep Offer a Pass Guarantee?
Yes. Achieve Test Prep offers a pass guarantee for students who complete all program requirements — including attending all required live sessions and completing prescribed coursework — before sitting for their target exam. The guarantee is not unconditional.
The conditions matter. Students who miss sessions or skip required coursework may not qualify for the guarantee. Variable results in some programs suggest that outcome consistency depends significantly on how fully students engage with the structured prep process.
Does Achieve Test Prep Offer a Free Trial?
Yes. Achieve offers a free trial option that allows prospective students to experience the platform before committing to a full program, reducing the financial risk of enrollment for adults who are evaluating the product.
Prospective students can also speak with an Achieve Education Advisor as a first step. Advisors help identify the right courses based on the student’s degree program, career goals, and credit transfer targets. The consultation is a low-commitment entry point before purchasing.
What Do Achieve Test Prep Reviews Say?
Achieve Test Prep reviews show a generally positive pattern across Trustpilot, TrustIndex, and the Better Business Bureau, with particular praise for instructor quality, scheduling flexibility, and the structured support system for working adults.
And here’s what’s interesting: the consistency of reviews across platforms suggests authentic feedback from a large, active student base. Achieve collects reviews on Trustpilot, TrustIndex, BBB, and its own website — a multi-platform presence that adds credibility to the overall rating pattern.
What Are the Positive Achieve Test Prep Reviews?
Positive reviews consistently highlight instructor quality and the one-session-per-week format as the two most important benefits — students describe the live synchronous structure as keeping them accountable in a way that self-paced alternatives do not.
Flexibility earns strong praise from working adult reviewers. Students report successfully completing courses while holding full-time jobs and managing family responsibilities. The one-session-per-week commitment is frequently cited as the feature that made enrollment possible at all.
Nursing success stories dominate the high-praise category. Working nurses describe Achieve’s LPN to RN program as the pathway that made their career transition achievable. Student Erin’s story — documented on the Achieve website — is a representative example of the outcomes that generate 5-star reviews in the nursing track.
Top reasons students recommend Achieve:
- Live instructors who know exam content deeply
- One-session-per-week format fits full-time work schedules
- Education advisors provide personalized degree planning
- LPN to RN bridge program enables career advancement without stopping work
What Are the Common Complaints About Achieve Test Prep?
Negative Achieve reviews center on high program costs, unexpected separate exam fees, and initial confusion about the company’s role — some students do not realize Achieve is not a degree-granting institution until after enrollment. These complaints are consistent across platforms.
The cost structure generates the most friction. Students who budget for the Achieve program fee sometimes discover that CLEP, DSST, or NCLEX exam registration fees are additional. The total cost of achieving a specific credit goal can exceed initial expectations.
Variable results in some programs also appear in negative reviews. The pass guarantee requires full program completion. Students who miss live sessions or reduce engagement report less consistent outcomes — and some find the guarantee conditions difficult to meet.
Common Achieve Test Prep complaints:
- High program cost relative to self-study alternatives
- Exam fees are separate and not always clearly communicated upfront
- Scope misunderstanding: Achieve is not a degree-granting school
- Pass guarantee requires strict program completion to activate
Is Achieve Test Prep Legit?
Yes. Achieve Test Prep is a legitimate online education consulting company founded in 2008 that has served over 22,000 students and operates transparently by disclosing its non-accredited status on all marketing and enrollment materials.
The legitimacy of the credit pathway is independently verifiable. CLEP and DSST exams are administered by independent testing organizations. Credits are accepted at thousands of accredited US colleges. The ACE recommends credit for passing scores — Achieve’s role is preparation, not credit issuance.
Achieve maintains a public BBB profile, active Trustpilot and TrustIndex presence, and a publicly listed address at 228 Park Ave S, New York, NY. The company is reachable by phone (888.900.8380) and email, and has maintained operations for over 16 years.
Who Are Achieve Test Prep’s Instructors?
Achieve instructors are specialists in test preparation for specific CLEP, DSST, and licensure exams — they are not general subject teachers but exam-focused professionals who know the exact content and format of the test students are preparing for.
Curriculum design backs up the instructor expertise. Achieve’s course materials are built by curriculum experts who analyze exam content to identify what actually appears on each test. This targeted design reduces study time without reducing the probability of a passing score.
What Are the Alternatives to Achieve Test Prep?
Primary alternatives to Achieve include Kaplan (structured test prep for professional exams), Chegg (on-demand tutoring marketplace), Wyzant (freelance tutor platform), Tutor.com, and University Tutors — each targeting a different type of adult learner need.
Achieve’s synchronous live-instruction model with advisor support is distinct from the marketplace or self-paced alternatives. The structured cohort approach — everyone moving through material together — is uncommon among competitors and is either an advantage or a constraint depending on the student’s schedule.
Achieve Test Prep vs alternatives:
| Platform | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Achieve Test Prep | Structured credit-by-exam prep | Working adults seeking faster degree completion |
| Kaplan | Structured test prep | Pre-professional exam takers (MCAT, GRE, bar) |
| Chegg | On-demand tutoring marketplace | Students needing ad-hoc homework help |
| Wyzant | Freelance tutor marketplace | Students wanting one-on-one subject tutoring |
| Tutor.com | On-demand tutoring | Quick subject help, lower commitment |
How Does Achieve Compare to Kaplan?
Achieve and Kaplan serve fundamentally different audiences — Kaplan focuses on pre-professional licensing exams (MCAT, GRE, GMAT, bar exam) for students in academic programs, while Achieve targets working adults who need credit-by-exam pathways for faster degree completion.
Both offer live instruction options. Kaplan provides broader self-paced flexibility and a wider professional exam catalog. Achieve’s advisor-driven model offers more personalized degree planning support, which is particularly valuable for students who are unfamiliar with the CLEP and DSST credit systems.
How Does Achieve Compare to Chegg?
Achieve and Chegg operate on different models entirely — Chegg is an on-demand tutoring marketplace where students select individual tutors for specific subjects, while Achieve is a structured test prep program with cohort-based live instruction and integrated education advising.
The choice depends on the student’s need. Chegg suits students who need ad-hoc help with coursework or specific subjects. Achieve suits working adults who need a guided, structured path to earn college credits through the CLEP and DSST exam system. The two products are not direct substitutes.
Is Achieve Test Prep Worth It?
For working adults who need a structured, advisor-supported path to earn college credits faster, Achieve Test Prep is a strong, legitimate option — particularly for nursing and healthcare professionals who benefit from the LPN to RN bridge program and NCLEX preparation support. The 16-year track record and 22,000+ student base support the product’s core claims.
The limitations are real. High program costs, separate exam fees, and the non-accredited status require careful evaluation before enrolling. The pass guarantee requires full program completion to activate. Students who cannot commit to weekly live sessions may not see the same results as fully engaged peers.
Who Is Achieve Test Prep Best For?
Achieve Test Prep is best suited for working adults balancing full-time employment and family responsibilities who need flexible, structured test prep for CLEP, DSST, NCLEX, or nursing entrance exams — and who value advisor-guided degree planning over self-directed study.
LPNs seeking the RN credential represent the highest-value use case. Achieve’s LPN to RN Bridge Program combines credit-by-exam pathways with nursing-specific licensure exam preparation in a model built specifically for the schedule and career constraints of working healthcare professionals.
Should You Try Achieve Test Prep?
Yes — with one condition. Students who can commit to one weekly live session, complete all program requirements, and budget for separate exam registration fees will get the most value from Achieve’s structured prep model and are most likely to activate the pass guarantee.
Students who expect Achieve to function as a degree-granting institution, or who cannot attend synchronous live sessions, should reconsider. The program’s value is built on the structured live format and advisor support — removing those elements reduces Achieve to a cost center rather than an accelerator.