CLEP Testing

CLEP TESTING WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FROM MAY 7TH THROUGH MAY 17TH DUE TO FINALS. CLEP TESTING WILL RESUME ON FRIDAY MAY 18TH 

The Testing Center administers CLEP exams for Bucks students as well as the general public.

A current government issued ID (e.g., a driver's license, non-driver's State ID card, or passport) is required for any test at the Bucks Testing Center.

Preparing for a CLEP Examination

Even when you feel confident of your knowledge of the material, be sure to prepare for the exam. The CLEP Official Study Guide is available at all three campuses in the Library and the Bookstore. The College Board, publisher of the CLEP exams, provides detailed exam information with some sample tests on their website where individual study guides are also available for purchase.

Bucks Students

While the Testing Center at Bucks administers all CLEP exams, only the exams listed here may be taken to challenge the associated Bucks course. Scores at or above the minimum will lead to equivalent credit for the associated Bucks course, but no letter grade will be awarded. Students who do not achieve the minimum score desired must wait at least six months to repeat the examination.

Students will need to work with two areas of the College for the process of challenging a Bucks course by standardized exam:

1)      The Testing Center

Schedule, pay for and take your exam(s) with the Testing Center. The Testing Center’s CLEP Application   is available online and has scheduling and payment information on it.

2)      The Office of Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)

Complete the top portion and Section 1 of the PLA Application, also available online, read and sign the back and return it to Student Services.

When you take the CLEP exam you will be prompted to enter the school you wish your exam transcripts sent to. You will see your score on the screen when you finish and the transcripts will be sent to Bucks about two weeks later. The only exception is for the exam that involves writing an essay; that exam takes four weeks to score and that score will not be immediately available for viewing after the exam. See page 10 of the CLEP Candidate Information Guide for more detailed information about scoring.

When the Office of Prior Learning Assessment is in receipt of both your PLA Application and CLEP transcript showing a score at or above the cut-off a proposal for you to receive equivalent credit for the Bucks course you are challenging is processed. When that Equivalent Credit Award is fully signed and approved it is sent to Records for transcribing and a follow up email is sent to the student. There will be no grade(s) associated with the course(s) and the code “CL” will be indicated where the grade would be.

Credit based upon examination may not be transferable. However, most colleges and universities will have a similar process for awarding equivalent credit based upon CLEP results. You can request that the College Board (the test publisher) submit official CLEP transcripts to your transfer institution and work directly with the transfer institution to request that they consider them for credit.

Bucks students should familiarize themselves with Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) at Bucks to ensure that they meet and follow the eligibility guidelines and do not miss any potential opportunities to pursue equivalent credit.

General Public

Non-Bucks students should submit the CLEP Application   with payment directly to the Testing Center to schedule their exam(s). When you take the CLEP exam you will be prompted to enter the school you wish your exam transcripts sent to. With the exception of the exam that involves writing an essay, you will see your score on the screen when you finish.

Courses Open to Challenge by CLEP Exam

Department of Business Studies

Penn 401 · (215) 968-8227

Department of Language and Literature

Penn 105 · (215) 968-8150

Department of Math, Science and Technology

Founders 113A · (215) 968-8305

Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Penn 301 · (215) 968-8270