CLEP credits
Students who’ve gained knowledge outside the classroom can receive college credit through a series of exams. Current VCU students can take College-Level Examination Program tests through the VCU Testing Center for a fee. Incoming students who have taken CLEP tests before they enrolled at VCU must request a CLEP transcript from the College Board.
If you're planning to take a CLEP exam, you should refer to the policies in the VCU Bulletin and on the Campus Learning Center website, as well as discuss the decision with your academic advisor before registering for an exam.
Among other rules, you may not attempt a subject or general examination if it duplicates in part or full any VCU course or combination of courses that you have already completed or enrolled in for credit. This includes courses for which you've received a grade of W. Also, a maximum of 54 semester credits can be earned through CLEP examinations.
When you register for a CLEP exam, please make sure you request to have the official score sent to VCU (school code 5570). Official CLEP scores are then mailed to the VCU Transfer Center. VCU does not accept CLEP scores electronically.
Deadlines for graduating students: CLEP exams taken to fulfill requirements for graduation must be taken no later than the last day of final exams in the term the student is graduating. Specific dates for final exams can be found in the Academic Calendar.
- May graduates must take CLEP exams no later than the last day of Spring final exams.
- August graduates must take CLEP exams no later than the last day of Summer final exams.
- December graduates must take CLEP exams no later than the last day of Fall final exams.
Passing scores on the CLEP exam are equivalent to credit in these VCU courses:
| CLEP exam title | VCU equivalent | Credit awarded | Passing score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign languages | |||
| French Language | FREN 101 and 102 | 6 | 50 |
| French Language | FREN 101, 102, 201 and 202 | 12 | 59 |
| German Language | GRMN 101 and 102 | 6 | 50 |
| German Language | GRMN 101, 102, 201 and 202 | 12 | 63 |
| Spanish Language | SPAN 101 and 102 | 6 | 50 |
| Spanish Language | SPAN 101, 102, 201 and 202 | 12 | 66 |
| Spanish with Writing | SPAN 201 | 3 | 63 |
| Social sciences and history | |||
| American Government | POLI 103 | 3 | 50 |
| Introduction to Educational Psychology | PSYC 305 or EDUS 305 | 3 | 50 |
| History of the United States I | HIST 103 | 3 | 50 |
| History of the United States II | HIST 104 | 3 | 50 |
| Human Growth and Development** | EDUS 301 | 3 | 50 |
| Introductory Psychology | PSYC 101 | 4 | 50 |
| Introductory Sociology | SOCY 101 | 3 | 50 |
| Western Civilization I | HIST 101 | 3 | 50 |
| Western Civilization II | HIST 102 | 3 | 50 |
| Science and mathematics | |||
| College Algebra | MATH 141 | 4 | 50 |
| Calculus | MATH 200 | 4 | 50 |
| Chemistry | CHEM 101 and CHEM 102 | 6 | 50 |
| College Mathematics | MATH 131 | 3 | 50 |
| Precalculus | MATH 151 | 4 | 50 |
| Biology | BIOL 101 or BIOL 151 | 3 | 50 |
| Biology | BIOL 151 and BIOL 152 | 6 | 70 |
| Business | |||
| Financial Accounting | ACCT 203 | 3 | 50 |
| Information Systems | INFO 360 | 3 | 50 |
| Introductory Business Law | BUSN 323 | 3 | 50 |
| Principles of Management | MGMT 310 | 3 | 50 |
| Principles of Marketing | MKTG 301 | 3 | 50 |
| Principles of Microeconomics | ECON 210 | 3 | 50 |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | ECON 211 | 3 | 50 |
| English | |||
| College Composition | UNIV 111 | 3 | 50 |
General regulations, equivalency list and optional essay requirements are subject to change as a review of the curriculum necessitates. Credit is awarded on the general examinations based on the recommendations of the Commission on Educational Credit and Credentials of the American Council on Education.
**Psychology and education majors should consult with their advisors before registering for this exam.
| The following CLEP exams are not accepted by VCU (1/2025): |
|---|
| American Literature |
| Analyzing and Interpreting Literature |
| College Composition Modular |
| English Literature |
| Humanities |
| Social Sciences and History |
| Natural Sciences |