CLEP
COLLEGE-LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM (CLEP)
Purpose
CLEP is a national program of credit by examination that allows you to obtain recognition for college-level achievement. The Subject Examinations allow a student to demonstrate the specific knowledge and skills he or she has gained through professional training, outside course work, or independent study. CLEP allows students the opportunity to bypass introductory courses thereby cutting down on college time and expenses.
Students may take the Subject Examination in Freshman College Composition with essay for credit in Freshman English. Subject Examinations are also available in many other subjects including American History, Biology, and College Algebra. A list of CLEP examinations, as applied to Southern Arkansas University’s courses, is provided on this web page. The term “credit” is placed on the transcript, and the hours do not enter into a student’s grade point average.
Restrictions
- The advisor, department chair, and the dean of the school in which the student is majoring, as well as the chair of the department and the dean of the school in which the course is offered, must approve CLEP credit. A student must meet all prerequisites for a course before attempting CLEP credit for that course.
- No more than 15 semester hours credit (30 hours for nursing students under ACT 88) toward the associate degree and no more than 30 semester hours credit toward the baccalaureate degree including CLEP, Advanced Placement, correspondence courses, military credit, and departmental credit by examination, will be accepted. A maximum of 12 consecutive semester hours by correspondence and/or extension may be submitted, after which the student must earn at least six semester awards in residence.
- CLEP is not awarded for courses in which the students is currently enrolled or courses which the student has already attempted (attempted defined as having received a grade in the course according to the University’s grading system, including A, B, C, D, F, I, W, WF, P, CR, and NC)
- CLEP credit is not considered residence credit. At least 24 of the last 30 hours presented for a degree must be earned in residence.
- All CLEP examinations must be completed and the official scores filed in the Office of the Registrar, located in Nelson Hall, prior to the student’s final semester before graduation (Aug. 1 for fall graduation, Dec. 1 for spring graduation, and May 1 for summer graduation)
- SAU will accept only the CLEP Subject Examinations which have been approved for credit by the academic affairs committee. SAU does not accept credit for any CLEP General Examinations.
Students should understand that these policy regulations apply only at Southern Arkansas University. CLEP standards vary from one university to another.
Description
CLEP exams are administered on computer only. Each one is 90 minutes long and, except for English Composition with Essay, is made up primarily of multiple-choice questions; however, some exams do have questions that require test takers to type in an answer. Score reports are available immediately–they are printed at the test center directly after the testing session.
For more detailed information, refer to the CLEP Information for Candidates and/or College Book found in the Office of Counseling and Testing, Donald W. Reynolds Center, Room 216 or call (870) 235-4145 to request one be sent through the mail. You can also check out CLEP at http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html
How do I register for CLEP examinations?
After you have selected a college that administers CLEP, contact the test center to determine its registration procedures, fees, and payment policy. DO NOT send registration forms to the College Board of Educational Testing Service. Each CLEP exam costs $72.00 beginning July 1, 2009. You may pay by credit card (preferred payment method) or by check or money order made payable to CLEP. You must pay separately for each exam you plan to take. Do not combine fees even if exams are to be taken on the same day. Your test center also may require a non-refundable service fee for each exam to be paid directly to the institution. SAU like most other testing centers charges a $15.00 administrative fee for each test.
Call the Testing Center at (870) 235-4145 or come by Reynolds 216 to schedule an appointment. CLEP exams are given year round.
CLEP Examinations and Southern Arkansas University Courses
clep-policy-09 [pdf]
* The Freshman College Composition with Essay is an extra $10.00. You must have a major credit card for ordering. Allow 7-10 business days.
