If you have worked as an intern, have on-the-job training, been to college before, or did any independent studies, then the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) is for you. It gives you the chance to get college credits for what you already know, without having to retake specific classes. You can earn qualifying scores on any of 34 examinations. The best news is that thousands of colleges and universities accept CLEP.
How CLEP Can Help You
By participating in CLEP, you will save time and money. A lot depends on a specific college's CLEP policies, but you could earn anywhere from 3 to 12 credits by passing a CLEP exam. Tuition rates for colleges and universities are skyrocketing. A CLEP exam costs under $70.00, a far cry from amount of money you would spend on tuition and materials for the same course at a college.
With CLEP you can bypass all the basic courses like English and math, and get to the courses that are in your specialty and that you are really interested in. It will give you the chance to explore new areas that you wouldn't have the time to otherwise.
Getting Started with CLEP
The first thing you will need to do is discover if your college is one that accepts CLEP and what the requirements are for testing. There may be a national test center near you, or the college itself may be able to give you the test when you have completed studying for the exam. This is something you will need to look into. Consider talking with an advisor at the college you are interested in attending for details about CLEP.
There are 34 exams you can take. The exams cover course material most students would take in their first two years of college. A satifactory score will give you the same credits as if you had taken the course. Most of the exams have multiple choice questions. A few have some fill-in-the-blanks. The English one has an essay assignment. Each exam takes about 90 minutes to complete.
Some of the exams you can take include:
- English Composition
- English Literature
- American Literature
- Spanish, French, or German Language (Level 1 and 2)
- American Government
- Introductory Psychology
- Introductory Sociology
- U.S. History
- Biology
- Chemistry
- College Algebra
- Financial Accounting
- Business Law
- Principles of Management
- Information Systems and Computer Applications
Once you decide on what exam(s) to take you will need to contact a national CLEP test center. You should be able to find one near you. Ask about scheduling, registration, and fees. Besides the exam fee, most test centers will charge a nominal administration fee.
Your last step is to study, study, and study. Purchase a college textbook on your subject and study it. A good idea would be to also purchase a CLEP Individual Study Guide. This book will give you sample questions with answers and tips for preparing for the exam. There are a few websites you can go to where you can practice for a CLEP exam.
Whether you are just starting out going to college or are going back to try and finish your degree, CLEP is the perfect way to start. Get rid of all the preliminary classes and go for the meat.
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