CLEP
Earn College Credit with CLEP®
The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a credit-by-examination program, sponsored by the College Board, which gives students the opportunity to earn college credit by earning qualifying scores on exams. CLEP exams are computer-based and administered on computer at Southern University at Shreveport test center.
Students take CLEP for a variety of reasons. Some use CLEP to shorten the time it takes to earn a college degree, thereby saving money on tuition and fees. Others take CLEP to move on to more advanced courses sooner, complete basic requirements in order to take more electives, or satisfy college requirements.
CLEP exams also offer a low-cost method for earning college credit. At $92.00 ($72 for the exam plus $20 administration fee), each exam is a fraction of the tuition required for a similar college course. The 90-minute, computer-based exams are offered in more than 34 subjects, ranging from U.S. History, Spanish and College Algebra. Students receive their scores immediately upon completion of the exam (except for English Composition with Essay exam).
Students have the opportunity to prepare for CLEP exams using the CLEP Official Study Guide, which helps students learn more about CLEP exams and decide which CLEP exams to take. It includes sample test questions for all 34 CLEP exams and it provides test-taking tips and a list of study resources to help students prepare for the exams. Individual subject guides are also available online on the CLEP Web site.
Nearly 3,000 colleges and universities grant credit or advanced standing based on CLEP exam performance. Each college sets its own CLEP policy, so it is important to determine the specifics of an institution's policy, such as the exams for which they grant credit and how many credits they grant. However, it is not necessary to be enrolled in college in order to take a CLEP test.
John Paul Soto, a graduate student, remarks, I was close to completing my degree, but due to my busy schedule I was having a difficult time finishing. My knowledge of Spanish and CLEP gave me the extra help I needed. I earned 8 credits through CLEP credits. It helped my complete my degree and fulfill language requirements for a four-year institution.
For more information about CLEP, visit www.collegeboard.com/clep. To schedule an exam, contact Marquis Hall, (318)-670-6450 mhall@susla.edu.