College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Test

What is CLEP?

The College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP) gives you the opportunity to receive college credit for what you already know by earning qualifying scores on any of 34 examinations. You can earn credit for knowledge you’ve acquired through independent study, prior course work, on-the-job training, professional development, cultural pursuits, or internships. To see what exams are available, visit the College Board website (This link leaves the PCC website and is not considered to be endorsed by Pitt Community College).

Before you take a CLEP exam, learn about your college’s CLEP policy

Most colleges and universities grant credit for CLEP exams, but not all. There are 2,900 institutions that grant credit for CLEP, and each of them sets its own CLEP policy; in other words, each institution determines for which exams credit is awarded, the scores required and how much credit will be granted. Therefore, before you take a CLEP exam, check directly with the college or university you plan to attend to make sure that grants credit for CLEP and review the specifics of its policy. View the credits that Pitt Community College grants for CLEP testing.

Who should take the CLEP test?

People of a wide range of ages and from all walks of life have benefited from earning credit through CLEP over the years. CLEP helps people demonstrate their college-level knowledge and earn college credit – regardless of where or how they acquired the knowledge.
The test requires the student to demonstrate at least the same level of proficiency in the subject as a student who took the corresponding course and earned a grade of C or higher. Any student who is considering a CLEP test is urged to talk to their advisor before attempting the test. Access the complete CLEP policy for Pitt Community College.

How much does the exam cost to take?

The CLEP exam costs a total of $100 to take. This fee is subject to change, so contact the Placement Testing Office to verify the cost. This payment must be made in two separate nonrefundable payments. A test administration fee of $20 must be paid at the Cashier’s Office in the Goess Student Center. The remaining $80 must be paid directly to CLEP through the My Account registration portal on the College Board website.

Please Note: The $20 test administration fee is waived for annually appointed PCC employees. Annually appointed PCC employees must present their PCC employee ID card on the day of testing and must identify themselves to Placement Testing when they schedule their testing appointment.

How can you register to take the CLEP test at Pitt Community College?

To register for this test follow these steps:

Visit The College Board’s website at clep.collegeboard.org to see if the CLEP is right for you. (This link leaves the PCC website and is not considered to be endorsed by Pitt Community College).
Contact your school to find out what CLEP exams they accept, as well as the minimum score needed to pass in order to receive credit. If you are a PCC student, please click here to view the list of tests that PCC awards credit for. (please link this back to the exams and credits PDF- remove this comment before launching the page)
Talk with your advisor to make sure that the CLEP credit will work for you. If you are transferring to another institution, verify that institution’s CLEP policy, since each institution sets its own policy.
Schedule your appointment at PCC online via the PCC online scheduler.
Pay your CLEP fee through the My Account registration portal at the College Board website. Print out your ‘registration ticket’ and bring that with you to your testing appointment. You must present your ticket in order to test.
Pay your test administration fee at the Cashier’s Office in the Goess Student Center. Save your receipt, you must present it in order to test.
On the day of your test appointment, bring your receipt, two (2) forms of ID*, (a Primary ID and a secondary ID), your CLEP registration ticket, and your receipt from the Cashier’s Office to Placement Testing in the Warren Building, room 2042. Please do not bring cell phones, books, or other materials with you to the testing office.
Failure to present an appropriate ID, your registration ticket, or your receipt will cause you to forfeit your test appointment.

*Acceptable forms of identification include:

Primary:

Current driver’s license
Current state or federal ID card
Current passport
Military identification

Secondary:

School identification with photo and/or name
Credit card
Social security card

Want to save or print a copy of the registration steps? – PDF version