when talking about validating. you need to also be clear on if you are thinking validating for credit, which is what I assume most people mean or simply not having to take a class.
Most things you will not validate for credit. You simply will not have to take the class, but will take the next higher class.
One of the english classes is one that actually can be validated. The trick however is you don't actually get the credit until after you take the class that comes after it.
For example. My son validated chem. But he didn't get any credit for it. Instead, he had to take Chem 222 instead of taking Chem 1 & 2. Likewise for Calculus. He didn't get any credit for Calc 1 & 2, but instead got to start out at Calc 3.