What Is the College Level Examination Program (CLEP)?
CLEP stands for the College Level Examination Program, which enables students to earn college credit for introductory-level courses by achieving satisfactory scores on subject-specific tests. College Board administers CLEP, the same company that administers the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) required for seeking admission at nearly all undergraduate institutions and colleges.
Key Takeaways
- CLEP stands for the College Level Examination Program, which enables students to earn college credit for introductory-level courses by achieving satisfactory scores on subject-specific tests.
- Administered by College Board, the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is accepted by nearly 3,000 colleges and can reward three or more credits for a passing score.
- CLEP offers 34 different multiple-choice exams ranging from 90-120 minutes for topics such as business, languages, math, and science.
- Unlike the AP exam, CLEP does not come with an accompanying high school course and can be taken by adults returning to school.
Understanding the College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Nearly 3,000 colleges accept the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and exams are given in more than 2,000 test centers.
A qualifying test score can earn a student three or more college credits, depending on the college's policy. Passing a CLEP test saves students money on tuition, skips unnecessary courses, and speeds up graduation. Students do not need previous academic experience in a subject area to sit for an exam and earn credit, so students who have acquired knowledge through independent study, on-the-job training, and other methods can take advantage of CLEP. Most exams are 90 to 120 minutes long and consist of multiple-choice questions on a computer.
Students should check with their university's policy on granting credit for specific CLEP exams before registering for, studying for, or taking any exams. In some cases, universities may exempt students from general education requirements if they pass CLEP exams in those subjects but will not actually award credit hours for satisfactory exam scores.
The costs to take an exam is $93, plus test center or proctoring fees.
Examples of CLEP Exams
CLEP offers 34 examinations in five categories.
Composition and Literature
- American Literature
- Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
- College Composition
- College Composition Modular
- English Literature
- Humanities
World Languages
- French Language: Levels 1 and 2
- German Language: Levels 1 and 2
- Spanish Language: Levels 1 and 2
- Spanish with Writing: Levels 1 and 2
History and Social Sciences
- American Government
- History of the United States I
- History of the United States II
- Human Growth and Development
- Introduction to Educational Psychology
- Introductory Psychology
- Introductory Sociology
- Principles of Macroeconomics
- Principles of Microeconomics
- Social Sciences and History
- Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648
- Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present
Science and Math
- Biology
- Calculus
- Chemistry
- College Algebra
- College Mathematics
- Natural Sciences
- Precalculus
Business
- Financial Accounting
- Information Systems
- Introductory Business Law
- Principles of Management
- Principles of Marketing
AP Exams vs. CLEP
Advanced Placement (AP) exams are also designed to help students test out of college-level coursework; however, they are different than CLEP tests in that AP exams are accompanied by a high school course.
For example, a student would typically take an AP Calculus BC class for a school year before registering for the AP Calculus BC examination. CLEP is less well-known than AP exams and courses (as they are not advertised within high school classes) and is not exclusively designed for high school students. Anyone who is motivated and can self-study for the test can take CLEP. Though high school students are eligible, those who take CLEP exams include adults going back to school, military members, international students, master's degree candidates, and other professionals. In addition, whereas AP exams only take place in May, CLEP exams are offered throughout the year.
Do Colleges Prefer CLEP or AP?
Both programs can give you a boost in your pursuit of a college degree. However, acceptance depends on the institution, so it's best to find out if the college you want to attend accepts one or both.
What Is the Purpose of the CLEP Test?
CLEP provides students with a method of achieving college credits without attending college.
How Does CLEP Affect Your GPA?
CLEP tests are pass/fail, so they do not add or subtract from your GPA.
The Bottom Line
The College Level Examination Program lets you take tests and receive college credit upon passing for subjects you already know. This little-known program is an excellent tool for reducing your college debt, as it costs less to study and take the test than it does to pay tuition, room, board, and fees for a traditional class.
