Achieve Test Prep

What Achieve Test Prep does

Achieve Test Prep is a privately held, for-profit education company founded in 2008 and headquartered in Newark, New Jersey, operating in the U.S. across all 50 states. The company provides online test preparation and career-pathway services primarily targeting working nurses and healthcare professionals seeking degree advancement. Its primary customer segments are Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs/LVNs) and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) pursuing Registered Nurse credentials through bridge programs, with secondary segments including paramedics, EMTs, medical assistants, surgical technicians, dental professionals, and high school students seeking college credit. Mark Olynyk is the founder and CEO. The company has no disclosed outside funding, indicating it has grown organically.

The company's core product is structured preparation for credit-by-exam testing (CLEP and DSST), which enables students to earn transferable college credits accepted by more than 2,900 accredited colleges in as little as 5 weeks versus a traditional 16-week semester. This is complemented by specialized exam preparation for nursing entrance exams (TEAS, HESI, PAX, KAPLAN), nursing licensure (NCLEX-PN, NCLEX-RN), dental hygiene exams (ATDH, NBDHE), and a suite of career-pathway bridge programs including LPN to RN, LPN to BSN, CNA to RN, RN to BSN, LPN to Nurse Practitioner, and several healthcare-to-RN tracks. The technical platform combines a self-serve Prep Portal, a Moodle-based learning management system delivering live instructor-led synchronous classes, on-demand 1:1 tutoring, and customer support powered by Kustomer.

Achieve Test Prep operates a subscription-based revenue model with customized monthly pricing, where Education Advisors guide prospective students through personalized bridge planning and program enrollment. The go-to-market motion blends product-led discovery through its website and free 20-minute webinars with inside-sales conversion by advisors, supplemented by state-specific landing pages covering all 50 U.S. states, 100+ blog articles, organic social on Facebook/Instagram/YouTube, and social proof via customer testimonials. Tutoring services are billed as professional services on top of subscription course enrollment. Distribution is exclusively online; the company does not operate physical locations, and clinical components are provided by partner colleges.

Name

Achieve Test Prep

Legal name

Achieve Test Prep

Website

https://achievetestprep.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Achieve Test Prep is an online education company providing credit-by-exam preparation (CLEP/DSST) and nursing bridge programs to working healthcare professionals. It helps LPNs, CNAs, and similar practitioners earn transferable college credits and advance to RN credentials through live instructor-led courses and on-demand tutoring.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Test Preparation and Nursing Bridge Education Services

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDANABAF

Advanced Placement & College Credit Exams (CLEP/DSST) Prep

Education/Tutoring & Test Preparation/Test Preparation (Standardized & Entrance Exams)

SECONDARYEDANAGAH

Test Prep Tutoring Platforms (SAT/ACT/GRE/GMAT, etc.)

Education/Tutoring & Test Preparation/Online/Virtual Tutoring Platforms & Marketplaces

SECONDARYEDAFAIAJ

Certification & Exam Prep Course Marketplaces

Education/Education Technology (EdTech) & Digital Learning/Education Marketplaces & Course Platforms (MOOCs, Cohort-Based, Creator Platforms)

Keywords

• Test preparation services
• Nursing bridge programs
• Credit by exam prep
• Online learning platform
• Healthcare career education

Headquarters

HQ city

Newark

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Test Prep Course Enrollment: Online test preparation courses for CLEP, DSST, TEAS, HESI, NCLEX, and other professional certification exams. Students pay for structured prep courses with live instruction, study materials, and tutoring support.
2. Bridge Program Services: Comprehensive nursing bridge program services including education planning, prerequisite test-out options, TEAS/HESI preparation, tutoring, and NCLEX readiness. Monthly payment plans available for affordability.
3. Tutoring Services: On-demand 1:1 tutoring for both test prep courses and accredited nursing school core courses, provided throughout the student's educational journey.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Achieve Test Prep is an online education company that prepares students to earn transferable college credit by passing standardized CLEP and DSST exams, enabling them to test out of college courses in as little as 5 weeks. The company delivers live, instructor-led online classes, on-demand 1:1 tutoring, and bridge program planning for LPN/LVN to RN/BSN transitions, nursing entrance exam prep (TEAS, HESI), NCLEX licensure prep, and dental hygiene exam prep (ATDH, NBDHE). Services are sold directly to individual students nationwide via subscription-based course enrollment with monthly payment options and a 100% exam fee reimbursement upon 85% course completion.

Product overview

Achieve Test Prep is a test preparation company offering credit-by-exam services and nursing bridge programs. The core product is its Credit by Exam (CLEP & DSST) preparation service, which allows students to test out of college courses and earn transferable credits in as little as 5 weeks. This core service is complemented by specialized exam prep for nursing entrance exams (TEAS, HESI, PAX, KAPLAN), nursing licensure exams (NCLEX-PN, NCLEX-RN), and dental exams (ATDH, NBDHE). The company also offers multiple Nursing Bridge Programs including LPN to RN, LPN to BSN, CNA to RN, RN to BSN, Entry to Nursing, and LPN to Nurse Practitioner, as well as Healthcare Bridge Programs (Paramedic to RN, EMT to RN, Medical Assistant to RN, Surgical Tech to RN), a Dental Hygienist Program, and General Studies Programs (Business, Marketing, IT/Computer Science, High School CLEP). Supporting services include Tutoring & Mentoring, College Planning, Credit Transfer guidance, and free informational webinars. The platform delivers live, instructor-led online courses through integrations with Moodle LMS, with customer support provided via Kustomer platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• College Bridge: Online platform for nursing bridge programs with program registration and information pages (college-bridge.achievetestprep.com)

Products and services

• Credit by Exam (CLEP & DSST) Prep Test preparation courses enabling students to test out of college courses by passing CLEP or DSST exams, earning transferable college credits in as little as 5 weeks. Designed for busy working adults seeking to save time and money on general education requirements.
• TEAS, HESI PAX, KAPLAN Exam Prep Nursing entrance exam preparation courses for TEAS, HESI, PAX, and Kaplan exams designed to help students gain admission to nursing school.
• NCLEX-PN & NCLEX-RN Prep Nursing licensing exam preparation courses focused on frequently tested content to help students pass the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN exam on the first attempt.
• ATDH & NBDHE Dental Exam Prep Dental career exam preparation for ATDH (Advanced Test for Dental Hygiene) and NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Examination) for students pursuing dental hygiene careers.
• LPN to RN Bridge Program Online bridge program for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to become Registered Nurses (RNs), featuring live instructor-led classes, TEAS/HESI entrance exam prep, and NCLEX readiness preparation.
• LPN to BSN Bridge Program Accelerated bridge program allowing LPNs to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, including prerequisite prep, core nursing courses, clinicals, and NCLEX-RN exam preparation.
• CNA to RN Bridge Program Bridge program for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) to become Registered Nurses (RNs), offering general education prep, entrance exam prep, and NCLEX-RN preparation.
• RN to BSN Bridge Program Program for registered nurses to earn a BSN degree, including prerequisite prep via CLEP/DSST, entrance exam prep, on-demand tutoring, and NCLEX-RN prep.
• Paramedic to RN Bridge Program Bridge program for paramedics to transition into registered nursing careers, including prerequisite prep and NCLEX-RN preparation.
• EMT to RN Bridge Program Bridge program for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) to become Registered Nurses (RNs), including prerequisite prep and NCLEX-RN preparation.
• Medical Assistant to RN Bridge Program Bridge program for medical assistants to transition into registered nursing careers, including prerequisite prep and NCLEX-RN preparation.
• Surgical Tech to RN Bridge Program Bridge program for surgical technicians to transition into registered nursing careers, including prerequisite prep and NCLEX-RN preparation.
• Entry to Nursing Program Starting point for individuals entering the nursing field, providing pathway planning and exam preparation support for those without prior nursing credentials.
• LPN to Nurse Practitioner Program Advanced nursing pathway for LPNs pursuing nurse practitioner credentials, including prerequisite prep, core nursing courses, and advanced licensure readiness.
• Dental Hygienist Program Online program for dental hygiene careers with expert instructor-led classes and exam preparation for ATDH and NBDHE licensing exams.
• Healthcare Administration Program Career pathway in healthcare administration for students seeking management roles in healthcare settings, including prerequisite prep and bridge planning.
• High School Student CLEP Program Program for high school students to earn college credits through CLEP exams without risking their GPA, providing an alternative to AP exam pathways.
• Tutoring & Mentoring Services One-on-one on-demand tutoring and mentoring support for both test prep courses and accredited nursing school core courses, provided throughout the student's educational journey.

Quantifiable outcome

• Save 8 weeks per course compared to traditional 16-week semester
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• WellcoachesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWellcoaches partnership announced to expand wellness and coaching-related educational offerings. Partnership enables Achieve to offer additional career pathways in health coaching alongside nursing bridge programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Study.com: Subscription-based test prep and credit-by-exam platform offering CLEP, DSST, and TEAS prep among many other exams. Competes for the same adult-learner funnel and overlaps directly on credit-by-exam.
• Archer Review: Nursing-focused test prep company offering NCLEX-RN/PN and nursing school course review (including TEAS/HESI). Direct competitor for the same nursing student audience that anchors Achieve's customer base.
• Modern States: Non-profit offering free CLEP and DSST prep courses with exam-voucher reimbursement. Directly competes with Achieve on the credit-by-exam value proposition for the same target customer (busy adult learners seeking transferable college credits).
• Hurst Review Services: Established NCLEX prep provider with live and on-demand review courses. Overlaps directly with Achieve's NCLEX-RN/PN prep offerings for nursing licensure candidates.
• UWorld: Question-bank and adaptive-learning platform widely used for NCLEX-RN/PN prep. Direct competitor in the nursing licensure exam-prep segment that Achieve serves via its NCLEX product line.
• Peterson's: Long-standing test prep and college planning publisher offering prep for CLEP, DSST, GRE, GMAT, nursing exams, and credit-by-exam pathways. Comparable to Achieve as a multi-exam prep and college-planning resource.
• Mometrix Test Preparation: Test prep publisher offering study guides, video lessons, and practice tests across CLEP, DSST, TEAS, HESI, NCLEX, and many other exams. Overlaps with Achieve's full exam-prep catalog, especially nursing entrance and licensure exams.

Broad incumbents

• The Princeton Review: Major incumbent test prep brand offering courses across SAT/ACT, GRE, GMAT, MCAT, LSAT, and nursing/dental exams. Broad incumbent in the same overall test-prep category though not credit-by-exam specialized.
• Varsity Tutors: Live-instructor tutoring and test prep platform serving K-12 through adult learners with offerings that overlap Achieve's tutoring and exam prep categories. Operates at significantly larger scale as part of Nerdy Inc.
• Kaplan: Large incumbent test prep and continuing-education provider with offerings across NCLEX, TEAS, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, and credit-by-exam. Competes broadly with Achieve across multiple exam categories but as part of a much larger portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AchieveTestPrep
• Facebookfacebook.com/AchieveTestPrep
• Instagraminstagram.com/achieve.test.prep
• Xx.com/ATPCollegePrep
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/achievetestprep

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Achieve Test Prep