Alternative Credit
Students with demonstrable ability and knowledge in a particular subject area may earn credit in selected courses though Credit-By-Examination (CBE).
Students who wish to pursue CBE must complete the CBE application to gain appropriate college and departmental permission. The appropriate academic department administers the exam which may include the completion of additional assignments. The minimum passing standard for CBE is the equivalent of a “C” grade. However, no letter grade, only credit hours, are posted to the academic transcript for CBE.
- CBE is only available to current enrolled degree seeking Kent State University students excluding transient, College Credit Plus, guest and workshop.
- CBE credits cannot be used to fulfill the Resident Requirement.
- The appropriate academic department administers the exam.
To be eligible for CBE, you must meet the following criteria:
- Have not been previously enrolled or earned a grade for the course.
- Have not previously withdrawn from the course.
- Have not previously attempted Credit by Exam or college level examination program (CLEP) for this course.
- Fees are non-refundable.
- Credit by examination, as requested, may not be reversed.
- List of Approved classes for Fall 2023 (PDF)
Undergraduate students currently enrolled in a degree or certificate program who are placed into an advanced course through assessment or departmental review may earn retroactive credit for designated lower level course(s) in that subject. The advanced courses approved for earning retroactive credits are listed below. A $25.00 per credit hour fee is charged for processing and posting of the credit on the student's transcript.
College Level Examination Program
The College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP) gives students the opportunity to earn college credit by testing for knowledge acquired through independent study, prior course work, on-the-job training, professional development, cultural pursuits, or internships.
Test Information
CLEP exams cover material taught in courses most students take as requirements in the first two years of college. Most CLEP exams are 90 minutes in length, except for the College Composition exam, which is 120 minutes and requires essays, and are multiple choice. CLEP offers 33 examinations in five subject areas. Exams may be repeated after a three-month waiting period following the initial test date. The College Board will nullify results of tests taken more frequently.
Current military service veterans may be eligible to take free CLEP exams through DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support) (https://clep.collegeboard.org/earn-college-credit/military-benefits). Students who qualify for a DANTES funded exam should email testingservices@kent.edu before registering to be proctored for an exam in order to receive a fee waiver.
To learn more about CLEP credit transfer, visit https://www.kent.edu/credittransfer/credit-transfer-faqs.
Steps for Purchasing the CLEP Exam and Registration
Step One: Select and purchase a CLEP exam through CollegeBoard at the My Account Portal. Following the purchase of a CLEP exam, a payment receipt and a ticket ID are provided. The ticket ID is valid for testing up to six months from the date of the CLEP exam purchase. Once receiving the ticket ID, a test date can be scheduled. Please see the CLEP Exam Registration Tutorial for questions about purchasing the exam.
Step Two: After you have purchased the voucher through the College Board Website, you will Register to take the exam. Follow instructions when registering. An email confirmation will be sent within 5-10 minutes of registration.
Cost
There is a $35 administrative fee that is non-refundable and non-transferable in addition to the voucher fee. Registration is not complete until payment is received.
Taking the CLEP Exam
Proof of Identification
Test takers must present their CLEP ticket ID and a government issued ID (with photo and a signature) in order to be admitted for testing. The name on the CLEP ticket ID must match the name on the government issued ID.
Score Reports and Credit
Scores are provided onscreen immediately after taking the exam (except for the College Composition exam which takes 2-3 weeks). Test administrators can also print an unofficial score report when requested by the students. As well, scores are available online one business day following the exam.
- If students indicated Kent State University as a score recipient (KSU Code Number 1367), an official score report will be received approximately two weeks after the test date. The transcript will be submitted to the Credit Transfer Office for inclusion with the official academic record.
- If a score recipient institution was not selected at the time of the exam, students can request CLEP scores by ordering a CLEP Transcript.
- Any credit earned will be posted to a student’s transcript as credit hours, without a grade. No indication will be made on your transcript for non-passing scores.
- Before purchasing a CLEP exam, prospective and admitted Kent State University students should be familiar with the Alternative Credit Testing Eligibility requirements as stated in the University Catalog. Students should always consult with their academic advisor or college advising office prior to scheduling an exam to ensure eligibility requirements are met.
Scores are calculated by CLEP through a “raw score” and converted into a “scaled score” through a statistical process called equating. To learn more about how CLEP exams are scored, visit CLEP Computing Scores. To see how scores convert to course equivalency at Kent State University, read the Kent State University CLEP Credit Guide.