what is the maximum number of course credits students can receive for taking clep exams

by Rodrick Barton DDS 10 min read

CLEP exams allow students to demonstrate knowledge they have obtained through independent study or prior life, work, or cultural experiences. Students can earn between 3 and 12 college credits through earning a satisfactory score on their CLEP exams.

How many colleges in the US accept CLEP credits?

There are more than 2,900 colleges and universities in the United States that are known to accept CLEP credits. CLEP is an abbreviation that stands for College Level Examination Program.

How many CLEP exams are there?

CLEP is a credit-by-examination program offering 34 exams you can take to earn credits that are accepted at 2,900 colleges and universities. This is a list of CLEP exams sorted by subject area, followed by the credits offered for each exam.

Do CLEP credits count toward the CPA exam requirements?

Credits earned via CLEP or another prior learning assessment may not count toward that requirement. In New York, for example, only certain CLEP credits are recognized by the State Education Department. In other states, certain prior learning credits do not count toward the minimum number of hours needed to take the certified public accountant exam.

How much does it cost to take CLEP classes?

When averaging the costs of credit hours at public and private community colleges and four-year institutions, the median cost for a three-hour class in 2017 was $1,782. Conversely, each CLEP exam costs $85.

How many credits can you get from CLEP exams?

For each of the exams taken and passed, students can earn between three and 12 college credits. Depending on the required general education courses at the college of their choice, students could bypass most of their entire first year of introductory courses.

How many credits is each CLEP exam worth?

With a passing score on one CLEP exam, you could earn three or more college credits at 2,900 U.S. colleges and universities.

How many CLEP credits do most colleges accept?

Credit is approved for 20 CLEP exams. However, a student may not earn more than 32 semester hours of credit through CLEP exams.

What is the highest CLEP score possible?

80that ranges from 20, the lowest, to 80, the highest. This scaled score is the score that appears on your score report. The scores that appear in the table shown are the credit- granting scores recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE).

How many points is CLEP out of?

The scaled score is the result of the raw score conversion process. The CLEP score range is from 20 to 80, and the test scores are presented on the test taker's score report.

What is CLEP college credit?

​The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a credit-by-examination program that measures a student's level of comprehension of introductory college-level material and consecutively earn college credit. The CSU requires a passing score of at least 50 on the CLEP exam.

Does Harvard accept CLEP?

Credit by Examination We do not accept all CLEP exams, so check with an advisor before registering for one. The minimum acceptable score is 56. Harvard Extension School does not accept all ACE-approved credit.

Does CLEP count towards GPA?

CLEP exams have no effect on your grade point average—all they do is allow you to receive course credit. That means any passing grade on a CLEP test earns you the same amount of college credit—no matter if you get a “C” or an “A” on the exam.

Do Ivy League schools accept CLEP exams?

At this time, many of the highest-ranked institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Brown do not accept CLEP exams. Visit the College Board website and use the official CLEP search tool to see if the schools you're considering made the list. Looking for help on your college journey?

How hard is it to get a 50 on CLEP?

Generally, only 50 out of 80 is needed to pass a CLEP exam, which comes out to a grade of 63%. The catch is that a CLEP test will appear as a “P” for “pass” on your transcript whether you get a 50 or an 80. Since CLEP exams cover such a broad range of concepts, you are not expected to pass with flying colors.

What is a 50 on CLEP?

The American Council on Education (ACE) recommends a credit-granting score of 50 for each CLEP exam. This is a scaled score, equivalent to earning a C in the relevant course.

What percentage of people pass CLEP exams?

Easiest and Hardest CLEP ExamsExamCivilian Pass Rate (2017)Military Pass Rate (2019)College Composition Modular83%82%College Composition81%74%Introductory Sociology80%64%Principles of Marketing79%54%29 more rows•Jun 3, 2020

What are CLEP exams?

Put simply, CLEP exams allow degree seekers with prior knowledge of introductory college topics the opportunity to take an exam demonstrating their...

What are the benefits of taking a CLEP exam?

CLEP exams are beneficial to students of many different backgrounds and interests, and appeal to numerous motives. Here’s how taking one or more CL...

Which schools accept it?

Before signing up and taking any CLEP exams, students should first check with their current or prospective school to make sure it accepts CLEP cred...

WHAT TOPICS ARE COVERED BY CLEP EXAMS?

The 35 CLEP exams currently offered by College Board are divided into five categories:

HOW MANY CREDITS CAN YOU EARN?

For each of the exams taken and passed, students can earn between three and 12 college credits. Depending on the required general education courses...

WHAT IS THE TEST FORMAT?

These days, all CLEP exams are completed via computer, making it easy for students to experience a streamlined process and get their test results q...

HOW ARE CLEP EXAMS SCORED?

Regardless of subject area, all tests are scored on a scale of 20 to 80. To calculate these scores, College Board identifies both a raw score and a...

How much does a CLEP exam cost?

These exams typically cost $89, and this fee is usually non-returnable.

What colleges accept CLEP credits?

There are quite a few universities and colleges in the United States that accept CLEP credits, but some schools accept more credits than others. Some of the schools that accept the highest number of CLEP credits include: 1 Purdue University - unlimited credits can be transferred as long as students take at least 32 credits at this university 2 University of Massachusetts - 75 credits can transfer 3 University of Arizona - 60 units can transfer

What does CLEP stand for?

CLEP is an abbreviation that stands for College Level Examination Program.

How many credits can you transfer to Purdue University?

Purdue University - unlimited credits can be transferred as long as students take at least 32 credits at this university. University of Massachusetts - 75 credits can transfer. University of Arizona - 60 units can transfer.

How many Clep exams are there?

CLEP is a credit-by-examination program offering 34 exams you can take to earn credits that are accepted at 2,900 colleges and universities. This is a list of CLEP exams sorted by subject area, followed by the credits offered for each exam.

What is the minimum score for CLEP?

CLEP exams offer a scaled score range of 20 to 80. The recommended minimum passing score to earn college credits is 50 for most exams; however, each institution is allowed to set its own minimum passing score for granting credits. For help studying for your CLEP exams, check out Study.com CLEP courses, study guides, and practice tests.

How to register for CLEP exam?

To register for a CLEP exam, select an exam either from the CLEP registration page or an individual exam page, then use the My Account portal to submit your payment. If you cannot identify a preferred test center in the My Account portal during registration, you can use the Find a Test Center tool at clep.collegeboard.org to locate one in your area. After finding a test center, contact it directly to schedule the date and time to take your exam.

What is a CLEP exam?

CLEP Exams cover the subject matter areas of composition and literature, world languages, history and social sciences, science and mathematics, and business. The Spanish language section has a new test that evaluates a student's Spanish language knowledge with writing. Some links to CLEP courses are provided in the lists.

How many credits are needed for the World Languages exam?

Note: World Languages exams are worth 6 credits for the Level 1 portion and 9 credits for the Level 2 portion.

How much does a CLEP exam cost?

Regardless of the subject test taken, all CLEP exams cost $85 and can be paid and registered for via the College Board website. Once registered, examinees must contact their local testing center to arrange a date and time to sit the exam.

How to prepare for CLEP exam?

The level of mastery a student has of a particular subject will greatly dictate how much studying is needed before sitting the exam. Here are some of the best ways to prepare: 1 Take the exam right away#N#If a student is still in high school while working toward CLEP credits, it may be possible for them to gain the knowledge needed to sit the exam and pass without much studying. This is especially true for common classes taught at the high school level that are also available as CLEP exams, including English literature, psychology, U.S. history or biology. 2 Take a course#N#Modern States, a non-profit dedicated to college access for all, provides free online CLEP prep courses in partnership with edX. Sign up for more than 30 free courses on their website. 3 Use practice exams#N#In addition to CLEP workbooks that can be purchased, there are many websites that offer free practice tests to help students pinpoint their weak spots and tailor their studying moving forward. Taking a practice test could also help them realize they have enough knowledge already and can move straight to the exam.

How many Clep testing centers are there in the US?

CLEP exams are currently offered at more than 1,800 civilian and military testing centers throughout the United States, and College Board has plans to expand this number in the coming years. To find a test center near you, use College Board’s easily searchable database. College Board's Searchable Database.

How long does it take to get a Clep degree?

In fact, 50 percent of CLEP learners earned their degree within seven years, compared to only 21 percent of their peers who had no prior-learning experience.

What is a CLEP exam?

The CLEP series provides students the opportunity to gain college credit, save money, move into advanced coursework more quickly and ultimately graduate faster. In fact, 50 percent of CLEP learners earned their degree within seven years, compared to only 21 percent of their peers who had no prior-learning experience.

What is the purpose of CLEP?

The overall purpose of CLEP exams is to reward existing knowledge and make it easier for students to earn college credit.

What are the pros and cons of CLEP?

One, it requires a good amount of self-motivation to study and prepare for the tests, and not all students possess this. Secondly, and a larger concern, is that many colleges don’t accept very many credits by exam.

Save Money

For over 50 years, the College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP) has offered exams at a fraction of the price of a college course, saving you hundreds of dollars.

Get Your Degree Faster

CLEP exams let you test out of introductory courses and move to more advanced courses sooner, saving time toward your degree.

Students receive their CLEP exam scores immediately after completing the exam (except for College Composition and Spanish with Writing)

Students receive their CLEP exam scores immediately after completing the exam (except for College Composition and Spanish with Writing).

What is the minimum score for ACE?

ACE typically recommends a score of “50” as the minimum to pass. Many schools follow ACE’s recommendations, some set their own. ACE guidelines do change on occasion. For example, last year the recommended credit value for Humanities dropped from 6 credits to 3.

What is the modular section of the college composition exam?

Simply put, the College Composition exam includes a multiple choice section, and a written essay section. The Modular typically only contains the multiple choice section. Some schools weigh these two versions of the exam differently, so it’s important to check with your advisor before taking the exam.

Does CLEP affect GPA?

It will appear on your transcript, will carry credit, and will fulfill certain requirements, but it will not have a score or impact your GPA.

Is CLEP a good or bad credit?

Most schools only list CLEP as pass/fail on the transcript. It carries credit, but doesn’t typically list a score or impact your GPA. This is a good thing, and a bad thing. On the one hand, a passing score on the low end of the scale won’t negatively drop your GPA.

How many credits did Kari Avery have?

Credit-by-exam programs helped Kari Avery, a piano teacher and secretary in Colorado, finish her associate degree in just one year. Avery earned 30 credits toward her associate degree at Dixie State College in Utah in the month before she started classes.

Do you do research before testing for credits?

Students should do their research before testing for credits, though, as not all colleges accept the exams and those that do still vary in how they apply the credits, says Janice Karlen, a professor and coordinator of credit for prior learning at CUNY LaGuardia Community College in New York.

How many credits do you need to get a bachelor's degree?

Sometimes referred to generally as a "college degree," a bachelor’s degree is the certification students receive when they earn the required number of credits (which usually equals about 40 college courses). Full-time college students usually earn a bachelor’s degree in four years, but it may take more or less time.

How many free scores do you get at selective colleges?

Every student gets four free score sends, and eligible low-income students receive unlimited free score sends. Selective colleges. A college’s selectivity is measured by the percentage of students it admits out of all who apply. A highly selective school generally admits less than 33% of applicants.

What are the college admission tests?

Also known as college admission tests, these are tests designed to measure students' skills and help colleges evaluate how ready students are for college-level work. The ACT and the College Board’s SAT are ...

How many AP subjects are there?

There are 38 AP subjects, each with a corresponding AP Exam. Most colleges award students with qualifying AP Exam scores college credit, the opportunity to skip intro-level courses in the subject, or both. AP Capstone.

What is class rank?

Class rank. A measurement of how a student’s academic achievement compares with that of other students in their grade at their high school. This number is usually determined by using a weighted GPA that considers both the student’s grades and the difficulty of the courses they’ve taken. Coalition Application.

Does every college have a CLEP?

beginning of content: No . Every college has its own CLEP credit policy: Many schools grant credit for passing scores in every CLEP exam subject, some grant credit only for specific subjects, and some don’t grant credit for any subject. In addition, each college determines what exam score will earn students credit.