University Testing Services

Credit by Examination

COLLEGE LEVEL EXAM PROGRAM [CLEP]

• General CBE Policy
• Advanced Placement Program
• CLEP Testing at FSU
• CLEP Policy
• DANTES (See Below)
• Note to Transfer Students
• Download and Print American Council on Education's Recommended DANTES Scores for Credit
• Download and Print Request for Credit by Exam Form
• International Baccalaureate [PDF] 

GENERAL POLICY

Those attempting to earn credit by examination through CLEP or DANTES should first obtain written approval from the appropriate dean/department chair prior to taking CLEP/DANTES tests to insure credit toward a degree. All test results must be evaluated by the Admissions Office and recorded on a student's transcript if credit is earned. While it is possible to earn academic credit toward graduation for these tests, no grades or quality points are given; therefore, credits earned through credit by examination programs will not affect a student's grade point average. Both the College Level Examination Program and the DANTES Program are administered through University Testing Services. Evaluations are made by the Office of Admissions only after a student has been accepted to the University.

In accordance with CLEP Policy and university guidelines for credit by examination, Fayetteville State University awards credit by examination for successful completion of CLEP examinations subject to the rules and limitations noted in the credit-by-examination policy below:

1. Students wishing to take a CLEP examination must first obtain written approval from their major department, advisor, and/or appropriate advisement center official.
2. Credit will not be awarded when equivalent degree credit has been granted for regular course work.
3. A CLEP examination may not be attempted if the student has completed college work equivalent to or more advanced than the subject material of the exam. 
4. All CLEP exams will be subject to the statement of policy under which scores were submitted, not the policy at the time the exam was taken.
5. CLEP exams are recorded without reference to a letter grade and thus are not figured into a student's GPA. 
6. CLEP credit will not be applicable toward academic residency requirements and therefore may not be awarded as part of the last twelve hours applicable to a degree.  
7. Credit will not be awarded when equivalent degree credit has been granted for regular course work.
8. Credit will not be awarded for any course in which a student has previously earned a failing grade.
9. Duplicate credit will not be awarded for overlapping tests, i.e., CLEP and AP.
10. The total number of credits by examinations that a student may earn, whether the exams are internally or externally developed, is thirty (30).
11. Students may not attempt credit by examinations after earning (90) semester hours of study at the university.
12. Credit by examination may not be attempted if the student has acceptable college credit for more advanced courses, or for courses whose content includes material similar to a course for which college credit has already been received.

SPECIAL NOTE TO TRANSFER STUDENTS

Transfer credits earned through CLEP and DANTES are evaluated according to FSU standards and not on the basis of what another institution has accepted. In order for the Admissions Office to  evaluate CLEP or DANTES scores accepted for credit at another institution, official transcripts from CLEP/DANTES - not the prior  institution - must be provided. To ensure that test materials are on hand, CLEP and DANTES applications should be received by University Testing Services by the registration deadline.

NOTE:  FSU does NOT accept the Introduction to Public Speaking DANTES exam for credit in Speech.

CLEP TESTING at FSU 

At Fayetteville State University we recognize that many students bring a depth of knowledge to specific subjects. Assuming that an acceptable score is earned on a CLEP examination, FSU grants full degree credit.  The intent of this program is to provide a means by which a student may obtain college credit for knowledge acquired through means other than the traditional college classroom.  We honor such knowledge by accepting the full range of College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests.  The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a system of credit by examination sponsored by the College Board.   The Clep Program offers students a method of earning college credit for subject matter already learned. These exams, developed by college faculty nationwide, reflect material usually covered during introductory coursework. The tests are comprehensive and examine the student's understanding and breadth of the subject matter. The College Level Examination Program is comprised of two types of examinations: General and Subject. The General Exams are actually five separate tests - English Composition, Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and History. The Subject Exams are offered in five areas - Composition and Literature, Foreign Languages, History and Social Sciences, Mathematics, and Business.

• Click her to learn what your CLEP score means

COMPOSITION AND LITERATURE

SCIENCE & MATHEMATICS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

HISTORY & SOCIAL SCIENCES

BUSINESS

• Six hours credit awarded, although prerequisites FREN 110/120/211/212 will be waived.
• Six hours credit awarded, although prerequisites SPAN 110/120/211/212 will be waived.
• Although not equivalent, passing score will fulfill 6 hours of the Humanities requirement. (substitute HIST 110/120).
• Effective May 1, 2006, the scores for 12 hours of CLEP credit in foreign languages will follow the current recommendation of the American Council on Education.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM

Many high schools offer advanced classes to highly motivated students in conjunction with the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board. Fayetteville State University awards college credit in most areas for scores of"3" (good), "4" (honors), or "5" (high honors). Students who have taken advanced placement courses in high school and performed satisfactorily on AP Examinations may be granted college credit by examination. To be eligible for credit, students must request the College Board to send an official score report to the Office of Admissions for review.

The following are course credit guidelines for Advanced Placement Examinations:

• Detailed list of Recommended Course Granting Scores.

• Register Online

University Testing Services
Fayetteville State University
116 Collins Administration Building
Fayetteville, NC 28301