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CLEP (College-Level Examination Program)

CLEP lets anyone test out of an introductory college course: multiple-choice exams of about 90–120 minutes at $97 each, year-round at test centers or at home. Colleges decide the credit; ACE recommends 50 on the 20–80 scale.

Length90–120 minMultiple choice
Fee$97+ test center or proctoring fee
Score20–80ACE recommends 50
MilitaryFundedDANTES, first attempt
Test datesFees and fee helpFree official practice

Made by College Board. Who: Anyone (high school students, adults, service members). Checked on the owner's own pages, 21 Oct 2026.

Who takes it

  • Anyone can take a CLEP exam. Over 3,000 colleges grant credit for CLEP.
    College Board
    CLEP: Earn College Credit (key facts)College Board
    Checked
    21 Oct 2026
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  • Parents register a child under 13 with a signed College Board consent form.
    College Board
    Register for a CLEP ExamCollege Board
    Checked
    21 Oct 2026
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Format and sections

Multiple-choice exams of about 90–120 minutes, at more than 2,000 test centers worldwide or at home with remote proctoring, offered year-round.

College Board
CLEP: Earn College Credit (key facts)College Board
Checked
21 Oct 2026
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AreaExams
History and social sciencesAmerican Government; History of the United States I and II; Human Growth and Development; Introduction to Educational Psychology; Introductory Psychology; Introductory Sociology; Principles of Macroeconomics; Principles of Microeconomics; Social Sciences and History; Western Civilization I and II
Composition and literatureAmerican Literature; Analyzing and Interpreting Literature; College Composition; College Composition Modular; English Literature; Humanities
Science and mathematicsBiology; Calculus; Chemistry; College Algebra; College Mathematics; Natural Sciences; Precalculus
BusinessFinancial Accounting; Information Systems; Introductory Business Law; Principles of Management; Principles of Marketing
World languagesFrench Language; German Language; Spanish Language; Spanish with Writing (each Levels 1 and 2)
  • List and prices from College Board's exam topics page.
    College Board
    CLEP Exam Topics and pricesCollege Board
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    21 Oct 2026
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Scoring

  • One point per correct answer, no deduction for wrong or skipped answers; the raw score becomes a scaled score of 20–80.
    College Board
    CLEP: Understand Scores (20–80 scale, ACE recommendation)College Board
    Checked
    21 Oct 2026
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  • The American Council on Education (ACE) recommends credit for 50 or higher; each college sets its own score and may vary it by exam.
    College Board
    CLEP: Understand Scores (20–80 scale, ACE recommendation)College Board
    Checked
    21 Oct 2026
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  • Scores appear right after the exam, except College Composition and Spanish with Writing, whose essays are graded by college faculty.
    College Board
    CLEP: Earn College Credit (key facts)College Board
    Checked
    21 Oct 2026
    View source

Fees and fee waivers

  • $97 per exam, plus the test center's or remote proctoring administration fee.
    College Board
    Register for a CLEP ExamCollege Board
    Checked
    21 Oct 2026
    View source
  • Military: DANTES funds the exam fee for eligible first-time testers (active duty, Reserve, National Guard, Coast Guard spouses, SpouseWorks-eligible spouses, Air Force civilians) and on-base centers waive the administration fee; veterans may use G.I. Bill benefits.
    College Board
    CLEP Military Benefits (DANTES funding)College Board
    Checked
    21 Oct 2026
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Test dates

  • No fixed dates: register and pay with College Board, then book directly with a test center (or schedule remote proctoring).
    College Board
    Register for a CLEP ExamCollege Board
    Checked
    21 Oct 2026
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  • Retest rule: wait three months before retaking an exam of the same title; DANTES pays for only one attempt per title.
    College Board
    CLEP Exam Policies (retest policy)College Board
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    21 Oct 2026
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Where it is accepted

  • Read your college's CLEP policy to see whether it grants credit for the exam, whether it counts toward your degree, and any limits (for example, no CLEP credit after you have taken a similar course).
    College Board
    Understanding Colleges' CLEP PoliciesCollege Board
    Checked
    21 Oct 2026
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Free official practice

  • Official College Board study guides with CLEP practice questions, study resources by exam, and a tour of the testing platform.
    College Board
    Prepare for a CLEP ExamCollege Board
    Checked
    21 Oct 2026
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Used by these careers and colleges

Careers on this site where BLS lists a bachelor's degree or more as the typical way in. A college may ask for this test on the way, depending on its own policy.

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Sources

Where these facts come from

Official and primary sources only, each checked on the date shown. Rules on testing, aid, licensing and immigration change, so confirm a detail with its source before you rely on it.