CS Knowledge Base

The College Level Examination Program is a group of standardized tests created and administered by the College Board.^[4] These tests assess college-level knowledge in thirty-six subject areas and provide a mechanism for earning college credits without taking college courses. They are administered at more than 1,700 sites (colleges, universities, and military installations) across the United States. There are about 2,900 colleges which grant CLEP credit.^[5] Each institution awards credit to students who meet the college's minimum qualifying score for that exam, which is typically 50 to 60 out of a possible 80, but varies by site and exam.^[6] These tests are useful for individuals who have obtained knowledge outside the classroom, such as through independent study, homeschooling, job experience, or cultural interaction; and for students schooled outside the United States.^[7] They provide an opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in specific subject areas and bypass undergraduate coursework. Many take CLEP exams because of their convenience and lower cost (price varies by institution, though typically $97) compared to a semester of coursework for comparable credit.

CLEP originated during the 1960s, a period of heightened interest in expanding educational opportunities for adults who had not attended college or completed their formal schooling. In response, the Carnegie Corporation, in partnership with the Educational Testing Service (ETS), established a committee charged with developing a program for awarding college credit by examination.^[1] The first national administration of CLEP exams took place in 1967, with 50 test centers established across the United States. CLEP has served active-duty military service members through a Department of Defense contract since 1974, and Montgomery GI Bill funding was later extended to cover the cost of CLEP exams for military veterans.^[1]

The test is offered by the College Board. Approximately 2,900 colleges and universities will grant college credits for each test. Both U.S. and international schools grant CLEP credit. Most of the tests are 90 minutes long. As of 2026, they cost $97 each plus a variable test center fee.^[3] The tests are free to U.S. military service members and some veterans.^[8][9] There is an additional fee of $10 for the optional essay portion of some of the exams. Each test usually corresponds to a one or two semester introductory course on the topic, though the Spanish, French, and German Language exams can be used to earn up to 12 credits.^[10]

CLEP exams are offered at testing centers on over 1,500 college and university campuses, many military installations, and at home with remote proctoring.^[11][12] Most centers charge an administrative or registration fee per student or per test. Fees usually range from $15–40, though they vary among test centers. Exams are administered on a computer in a lab style setting. Final results are available immediately after completing the exam.^[10]

CLEP tests are primarily multiple-choice exams (though some include fill-in or ordering questions, and one College Composition exam has an essay section) which are scored on a scale from 20 to 80. The majority of schools grant credit for a score of 50 or higher, but passing scores are determined by the individual schools and may vary. The schools are responsible for awarding the number of credits you would receive for each test. The scores in the table below are endorsed by the American Council on Education as recommended credit-granting scores for each of the exams. On foreign language tests, the score will determine the number of credit granted; institutions grant from three to twelve credits per exam depending on the score achieved.^[10]

CLEP administrators will send test scores to any school the student designates. Currently, over 2,900 colleges will accept credit earned by CLEP tests. However, some colleges do not accept the credit for every test that CLEP offers.^[13]

Several states have adopted policies promoting CLEP. Some states, such as Minnesota, reimburse CLEP examination fees for high school students who complete college-level coursework in the corresponding subject,^[14] and some states have included CLEP in their K–12 accountability structures. In the 2018–19 school year, 22% of CLEP exams were taken by high school students.^[15]

Independent reviews of the research literature have found that CLEP participation is associated with positive student outcomes, particularly degree and credential completion.^[16] A 2005 study of matched samples of CLEP and non-CLEP students found that CLEP credit-holders earned higher grade point averages than comparable non-CLEP students when controlling for demographics and prior achievement, with the differences more pronounced among associate degree recipients, and that CLEP students tended to perform better in subsequent English courses.^[17] A placement validity study matching over 29,000 CLEP exam records to student records from 271 four-year institutions examined how CLEP credit-holders performed in sequent and subsequent courses compared with students who completed the prerequisite course at the institution.^[18] A 2021 study comparing high school CLEP examinees with dual enrollment students and students without early college credit found that both CLEP and dual enrollment students outperformed students without early credit on college outcomes.^[15]

Both CLEP and AP (Advanced Placement) programs are offered by the College Board and offer students the opportunity to master introductory college-level work. The main difference between the two is that CLEP programs are designed to be taken without enrolling in classes, while AP exams are normally taken after completing an AP course.^[20] AP exams are graded in 5 grades, while CLEP exams has a score range of 20 to 80, with 50 being the recommended minimum passing score.^[21] There is an upper age limit of 21 for taking AP exams,^[22] while CLEP exams can be taken by people of all ages.

CLEP exams are available free of charge for all qualifying United States Armed Forces personnel, and have been offered to service members under a Department of Defense contract since 1974.^[1] The United States Department of Veterans Affairs also reimburses veterans for taking CLEP exams.^[23]

Currently, for all United States Armed Forces, personnel are allowed to take one free CLEP; however, personnel that fail the chosen CLEP must pay to take it again. Previously, personnel could retake a CLEP as many times as possible free of charge.^{[citation needed]}

• Alternative pathways in education § Credit by examination
• DSST Tests
• GRE Subject Tests

• About CLEP – College Board