I would strongly encourage you to make an appointment with a counselor at your local community college and ask these questions. Have them all written down so you don’t forget any. Some of the advice you’ve been given here is accurate for some colleges, but might not be accurate for the specific college you are looking at. You really need to ask the college that you want to attend.
CLEPs are a fabulous option, but only if the school you end up at will accept them. Ask the school directly.