Did you know that doing well on a CLEP exam can earn you the same amount of credit that you'd get if you took — and did well in — a semester- or year-long college course covering the same material? Read on to learn how to get credit for what you already know.

Before you take a CLEP exam, learn about your college's CLEP policy

Most colleges and universities grant credit for CLEP exams, but not all. There are 2,900 institutions that grant credit for CLEP and each of them sets its own CLEP policy; in other words, each institution determines for which exams credit is awarded, the scores required and how much credit will be granted. Therefore, before you take a CLEP exam, check directly with the college or university you plan to attend to make sure that grants credit for CLEP and review the specifics of its policy.

Where to find a college's CLEP policy

Typically, a college lists all its academic policies, including CLEP policies, in its general catalog. You'll probably find the CLEP policy statement under a heading such as Credit-by-Examination, Advanced Standing, Advanced Placement, or External Degree Program. If you can't find this information, ask the admission or registrar's office for a copy of the college's credit-by-examination policy.

How much credit can you earn?

Not all colleges award the same amount of CLEP credit for individual tests. Furthermore, some colleges place a limit on the total amount of credit you can earn through CLEP or other exams. Other colleges may grant you exemption but no credit toward your degree. Knowing several colleges' policies concerning these issues may help you decide which college to attend. If you think you can pass a number of CLEP exams, you may want to attend a college that will allow you to earn credit for all or most of them.

Minimum qualifying score

Most colleges publish the required scores for earning CLEP credit in their general catalog or in a brochure. The required score for earning CLEP credit may vary from exam to exam, so find out the minimum qualifying score for each exam you're considering.

Getting credit for general requirements

At some colleges, you may be able to apply your CLEP credit to the college's core curriculum requirements. For example, all students may be required to take at least six hours of humanities, six hours of English, three hours of mathematics, six hours of natural science, and six hours of social science, with no particular courses in these disciplines specified. In these instances, CLEP credit may be given as "6 hrs. English Credit" or "3 hrs. Math Credit" without specifying for which English or mathematics courses credit has been awarded. Find out before you take a CLEP exam what type of credit you can receive or whether you will be exempted from a required course but receive no credit.

Prior course work

Some colleges won't grant credit for a CLEP exam if you've already attempted a college-level course closely aligned with that exam. For example, if you successfully completed English 101 or a comparable course on another campus, you'll probably not be permitted to receive CLEP credit in that subject also. Some colleges won't permit you to earn CLEP credit for a course that you failed.

Additional stipulations

Important Note: The College-Level Examination Program has a policy that candidates may not repeat a CLEP exam of the same title within six months. Scores of exams repeated earlier than six months will be canceled and test fees forfeited.

Colleges usually award CLEP credit only to their enrolled students. There are other stipulations, however, that vary from college to college. Here are some additional questions to keep in mind:

• Do you need to formally apply for CLEP credit by completing and signing a form?
• Do you have to "validate" your CLEP score by successfully completing a more advanced course in the subject?
• Does the college require the optional free-response (essay) section for the examinations in Composition and Literature as well as the multiple-choice portion of the CLEP exam you're considering?
• Will you be required to pass a departmental test such as an essay, laboratory, or oral exam in addition to the CLEP multiple-choice exam?

Knowing the answers to these questions ahead of time will permit you to schedule the optional free-response or departmental exam when you register to take your CLEP exam.