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 (CLEP) tests through the VCU Testing Center or through other approved proctoring services. Incoming students who have taken CLEP tests prior to enrolling at VCU must request a CLEP transcript from the College Board to be sent to VCU.
Prior to taking a CLEP exam
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.
Accepted CLEP exams, along with required minimum scores and the VCU equivalent credit can be viewed in the VCU Bulletin under "College Level Examination Program": https://bulletin.vcu.edu/undergraduate/undergraduate-study/admission-university/additional-sources-of-credit/
| Subject exam | Score | VCU equivalent | VCU credits |
| American Government | 50 | POLI 103 | 3 |
| Calculus | 50 | MATH 200 | 4 |
| Chemistry | 50 | CHEM 101-CHEM 102 | 6 |
| College Algebra | 50 | MATH 141 | 4 |
| College Composition | 50 | UNIV 111 | 3 |
| College Mathematics | 50 | MATH 131 | 3 |
| Educational Psychology | 50 | PSYC 305 | 3 |
| Financial Accounting | 50 | ACCT 203 | 3 |
| French Language: Levels 1 and 2 | 50 | FREN 101-FREN 102 | 6 |
| French Language: Levels 1 and 2 | 62 | FREN 101-FREN 102, FREN 201-FREN 202 | 12 |
| Biology | 50 | BIOL 101 OR BIOL 151 | 3 |
| Biology | 70 | BIOL 151-BIOL 152 | 6 |
| German Language: Levels 1 and 2 | 50 | GRMN 101-GRMN 102 | 6 |
| German Language: Levels 1 and 2 | 63 | GRMN 101-GRMN 102, GRMN 201-GRMN 202 | 12 |
| History of the U.S. 1 | 50 | HIST 103 | 3 |
| History of the U.S. 2 | 50 | HIST 104 | 3 |
| Human Growth & Development | 50 | EDUS 301 | 3 |
| Info Systems | 50 | INFO 360 | 3 |
| Intro to Business Law | 50 | BUSN 323 | 3 |
| Intro to Psychology | 50 | PSYC 101 | 4 |
| Intro to Sociology | 50 | SOCY 101 | 3 |
| Macroeconomics | 50 | ECON 211 | 3 |
| Microeconomics | 50 | ECON 210 | 3 |
| Precalculus | 50 | MATH 151 | 4 |
| Principles of Management | 50 | MGMT 310 | 3 |
| Principles of Marketing | 50 | MKTG 301 | 3 |
| Spanish Language: Levels 1 and 2 | 50 | SPAN 101-SPAN 102 | 6 |
| Spanish Language: Levels 1 and 2 | 66 | SPAN 101-SPAN 102, SPAN 201-SPAN 202 | 12 |
| Spanish with Writing | 63 | SPAN 201 | 3 |
| Western Civilization 1 | 50 | HIST 101 | 3 |
| Western Civilization 2 | 50 | HIST 102 | 3 |
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.
| 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 |