CLEP: Earning College Credit Through Examination
The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) offers a pathway for students to gain college credit by demonstrating their knowledge in various subjects through standardized tests. These exams, administered by the College Board, assess college-level understanding in over 30 subject areas, allowing individuals to "test out" of traditional college courses and accelerate their academic journey. CLEP is primarily designed for individuals who have acquired knowledge outside the traditional classroom setting.
Understanding CLEP
CLEP exams are not available in high schools; instead, students independently enroll in and take the tests. This program empowers individuals to earn college credit for knowledge gained through various experiences, such as independent study, homeschooling, job experience, or cultural interaction, and for students schooled outside the United States. The program offers a mechanism to bypass undergraduate coursework by demonstrating proficiency in specific subject areas.
Benefits of CLEP Exams
There are several advantages to pursuing college credit through CLEP exams:
- Earning College Credit in High School: Students can earn college credit while still in high school if they achieve a passing score on the exam.
- College-Level Preparation: The exam is designed to be at the college level, potentially providing students with a better understanding of what to expect in future college courses.
- Time and Cost Savings: CLEP exams can save students significant time and money by allowing them to earn credit for knowledge they already possess, eliminating the need to take and pay for corresponding courses. As Trisha H. stated, "The DSST test I took saved me countless classroom and study hours, as well as around $400.00 for the three credits that I would have had to spend for the real class."
CLEP Exam Subjects
CLEP offers a wide range of exams covering various academic disciplines. Here are some examples of the subjects available:
- Business:
- Moral philosophies and business ethics
- Social responsibilities of a business
- Regulation of business
- Employer-employee relations
- Ethics of information
- Ethics in international business
- Corporations and stakeholders
- Ecology and global business
- Business and government
- Economic issues, international business, government & business, business ownership, small business, entrepreneurship, franchise, management process, HR management, production & operations, marketing management, financial management, risk management & insurance, management and information systems
- Financial statements & planning, time value of money, working capital management, valuation and characteristics, capital budgeting, cost of capital, risk and return
- Education: Contemporary issues in education, past and current influences on education (philosophies, democratic ideals, social/economic influences), and the interrelationships between contemporary issues and influences.
- Technology:
- Telecommunications, network security, systems analysis and design, business decision making, knowledge management, data warehousing and data mining
- Hardware, software licensing & development tools, development life cycles, data management, connectivity, privacy concerns, intellectual property, telecommunications law, network etiquette, artificial intelligence and globalization
- Finance: Monetary policy, the international monetary system.
- Psychology: Scientific approaches, research designs, data collection methods, individual processes & characteristics, interpersonal & group processes, organizational processes, change & development processes.
- Mathematics: Integers, fractions, decimals, round numbers, ratios, averages, business graphs, simple interest, compound interest, annuities, net pay & deductions, discounts and markups, depreciation & net worth, corporate securities, distribution of ownership, stock and asset turnover.
- Personal Finance: Credit & debt, major purchases, taxes, insurance, investments and others.
- Management: Management functions, planning, organization & staffing, directing at the supervisory level, legal issues, stress management, union environments, and quality concerns.
- Ethics: Ethical traditions & analysis in various relationships, embryonic stem-cell research, euthanasia, affirmative action and capital punishment.
- Religion: Dimensions & approaches to religion, primal religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Shintoism, Hellenic & Roman Traditions, Scientology.
- Public Speaking: Principles of Public Speaking, audience analysis, purposes of speeches, structure/organization, content/supporting materials, research, language & style, delivery, communication apprehension, listening & feedback, criticism & evaluation.
- Mathematics: Real number systems, sets and logic, metric system, conversions and geometry, algebra, graphs and functions, linear systems and inequalities, exponents and logarithms.
- Statistics: Principles and concepts underlying higher-order statistics, continuous & discrete distributions, use of predictive statistics using the linear model and confidence intervals.
- Astronomy: Celestial mechanics, celestial systems, astronomical instruments, the solar system, nature & evolution, the galaxy, the universe, determining astronomical distances, and life in the universe.
- Environmental Science: Ecological concepts (ecosystems, global ecology, food chains and webs), environmental impacts, environmental management & conservation, and political processes & the future.
- Health: Human development and relationships, fitness & nutrition, disease & prevention, consumer awareness, psychological disorders & addictive behaviors, intentional injuries & violence.
- Geology: Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, weathering, groundwater, glaciers, oceanic systems, deserts, winds, hydrologic cycle, internal Earth processes, mineral & energy resources, environmental geology.
- Criminal Justice: Criminal behavior, police, the court system, sentencing issues, adult prison systems and juvenile correction alternatives.
- Counseling: Historical development, counselor roles & functions, the counseling relationship and theoretical approaches to counseling.
- Anthropology: Theoretical perspectives, physical anthropology, archaeology, social organization, economic organization, political organization, religion, and modernization & application of anthropology.
- Law: Law and precedents.
- Psychology: Ethical issues, biological development, perception, learning & memory, cognition & language; social, emotional, and personality development, social behaviors, family life cycle, adjustment to life stresses, bereavement and loss.
- Cybersecurity: Privacy and security in cyberspace, government surveillance, hacking and counter-hacking, information warfare, cyberterrorism, free speech issues, cybercrimes, autonomous vehicles, social justice issues and net neutrality. This examination includes content related to major topics in cybersecurity including application and systems security, implementing authentication and authorization technologies, compliance, security pertaining to networks and physical environments, and vulnerability management.
- Technical Writing: Theory & practice of technical writing, purpose, content, organizational patterns of common types of technical documents, elements of various technical reports, technical editing.
- Human Resources: Training & development, performance appraisals, compensation issues, security issues, personnel legislation & regulation, labor relations and current issues.
DSST Exams
DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support) helps eligible military members and eligible spouses pursue their educational goals by funding DSST exams (first attempts only) at military bases and institutions across the country. DSST exams are a form of Prior Learning Assessment. Students who participate in Prior Learning Assessment (such as DSST exams) are more likely to graduate.
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CLEP Exam Format and Scoring
CLEP tests are primarily multiple-choice exams, though some may include fill-in or ordering questions. The College Composition exam includes an essay section. Exams are computer-based and administered in a lab-style setting.
CLEP exams are scored on a scale from 20 to 80. While the American Council on Education (ACE) endorses a score of 50 or higher as a recommended credit-granting score, the passing score is determined by each individual school and may vary. The schools are responsible for awarding the number of credits you would receive for each test. On foreign language tests, the score will determine the number of credit granted.
CLEP administrators will send test scores to any school the student designates.
CLEP Test Centers and Fees
CLEP exams are offered at testing centers on over 1,500 college and university campuses, many military installations, and at home with remote proctoring. Most centers charge an administrative or registration fee per student or per test, typically ranging from $15â40, though fees vary. There is an additional fee for the optional essay portion of some exams.
CLEP exams are available free of charge for all qualifying United States Armed Forces personnel. However, personnel that fail the chosen CLEP must pay to take it again.
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CLEP vs. AP Exams
Both CLEP and AP (Advanced Placement) programs are offered by the College Board and provide students with the opportunity to master introductory college-level work. The main difference is that AP is designed for students who have taken specific courses, while CLEP is for those who have gained knowledge through other means.
Acceptance of CLEP Credits
Approximately 2,900 colleges and universities grant college credits for CLEP tests. Students should check with their desired institutions to determine their specific CLEP credit policies.
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