CLEP Exams for College Credit Explained

What CLEP is

CLEP (the College-Level Examination Program) is a College Board program of exams that let you earn college credit by demonstrating college-level knowledge in a subject — without taking the corresponding course. Each exam generally corresponds to an introductory college course.

CLEP exams are taken on a computer at a test center, and most are multiple-choice. They are designed for students who already know the material, including self-taught learners, working adults, and military service members, as well as traditional students.

• Earn credit by exam, not by sitting through the course
• Most exams are computer-based and multiple-choice
• Aimed at anyone who already knows the introductory material

Subjects CLEP covers

CLEP offers exams organized into broad subject areas: History and Social Sciences, Composition and Literature, Science and Mathematics, Business, and World Languages. Each exam maps to a typical introductory college course in that area.

The current list of exams and the topics each one covers is published on the official CLEP website. Because the lineup and the number of exams can change, check the official exam list before planning around a specific subject.

• History and Social Sciences
• Composition and Literature
• Science and Mathematics
• Business
• World Languages

How CLEP differs from AP

AP and CLEP both let you earn credit through standardized exams, but they serve different situations. AP exams are tied to year-long AP courses and are scored 1-5. CLEP exams are not tied to a specific course and are scored on a 20-80 scale; the American Council on Education (ACE) recommends a credit-granting score of 50, though each college sets its own requirement and no score guarantees credit at a given school.

AP is most common for high-school students taking AP classes. CLEP is often used by students who already know a subject and want to test out of an introductory requirement — including adult and transfer students — but traditional students use it too.

• AP: tied to AP courses, scored 1-5
• CLEP: not tied to a specific course, scored 20-80 (ACE recommends 50 for credit)
• Each college decides which exams it accepts and the score it requires

Using CLEP to test out and save tuition

When a college accepts a CLEP exam, a qualifying score can let you skip an introductory course and earn credit toward your degree, which may reduce both time and tuition. The savings come from replacing a paid course with a lower-cost exam.

The benefit only materializes if your college accepts the specific exam and applies the credit to a requirement you actually need — it is not automatic. Confirm the policy before paying for an exam, and check any limits on how many CLEP credits the school will accept.

• Confirm the college accepts the specific CLEP exam
• Check the minimum score it requires and any credit caps
• Make sure the credit fills a requirement you genuinely need

How to verify a college's CLEP policy

As with AP and IB, each institution sets its own CLEP policy. The authoritative source is the college's own published policy, typically from its admissions or registrar's office; the official CLEP website also helps you find participating institutions.

Policies and accepted exams change over time, so verify the current rule for your enrollment year before you register. An exam fee plus any test-center charge applies — check the current amounts on the official CLEP site rather than relying on older figures.