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.
Subject Examinations are available in many subjects including English Composition, American History, Biology, College Algebra, and more. A list of CLEP examinations, as applied to Southern Arkansas University’s courses, is provided in a link at the bottom of this page. The term “credit” is placed on the transcript, and the grades do not enter into a student’s grade point average.
Each CLEP exam costs $93.00. Your test center may also require a non-refundable service fee for each exam to be paid directly to the institution. Southern Arkansas University charges a $15 service fee. (Beginning July 1, 2024 the CLEP exam fee will be $95.00.)
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 toward the associate degree (30 hours for nursing students under Act 88) 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 a student is currently enrolled or courses that 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 SAU 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 exam 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 Testing Center directly after the testing session.
You can also check out CLEP at http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html.
How do I register for CLEP examinations?
Step 1: Find Out Your College’s CLEP Policy
Each college sets its own policy regarding which CLEP exams it will grant credit for and how many credits it will award. Contact your admission officer or academic adviser to learn more about the CLEP policy at your institution. If you are not yet enrolled in a college when you take your CLEP exam, you can send your scores to your college when you enroll.
Step 2: Log In to the My Account Registration Portal
You can create and manage your personal account through the “My Account” registration portal. The registration platform will allow you to register for a CLEP exam 24/7, manage your personal information any time prior to taking the exam, search for test centers, select your score recipient institution, and purchase study materials. Register here.
Step 3: Schedule an Appointment with the Test Center
CLEP examinations are administered throughout the year at over 1,800 test centers in the United States and abroad. You can find the most up-to-date database of test centers through the “My Account” portal within your collegeboard.org account. After you register for an exam, it is important that you contact the preferred test center to schedule your appointment to test. Registering for an exam provides you with a payment receipt and a Ticket ID, but you must contact a test center to schedule the date and time you wish to take the test.
SAU, like most universities, requires a $15.00 non-refundable administrative fee for each exam, to be paid directly to the institution. Call the Testing Center at (870) 235-4145 or come by Reynolds 216 to schedule an appointment. CLEP exams are given year-round.
Click here to read our SAU CLEP POLICY 2024-2025
* 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.
