CLEP® for working adults: get credit for what you already know
CLEP® exams help you earn college credit for what you already know, for a fraction of what a college course costs. Your college decides what counts. Here's how to pay, register, test around work and check your credit.
- $97Per exam plus a center fee, against hundreds of dollars per credit at a college
- 34CLEP exams you can take at home
- All yearNo fixed test dates
What CLEP® costs and who can pay
You
The exam is $97, plus the test center's fee, or $30 to test at home.
Your employer
Employers can pay for CLEP exams for groups of employees through College Board vouchers. Ask HR.
Government employees
The U.S. government pays exam fees for eligible civil service employees, such as Air Force civilians testing on base or at a U.S. fully funded center.
Veterans
The GI Bill can pay CLEP fees back. See CLEP® for veterans.
How to register for a CLEP® exam
- Ask which exams count. Your admissions officer or academic adviser can tell you which CLEP exams to take.
- Look up the policy. College Board's CLEP College Credit Policy Search shows the exams a college takes, the score it needs and the credit hours.
- Register and send your score. Two score sends are free when you register.
- Book your test. Registering and booking are separate steps. A ticket you pay for yourself expires six months after you buy it.
Test around your job
At home
All 34 CLEP exams can be taken at home with remote proctoring, if you live in the U.S. (not a U.S. territory).
Near you
More than 2,000 test centers in the U.S. give CLEP exams. Each decides when it offers them.
Your score right away
Your score is on the screen as soon as the exam ends (College Composition and Spanish with Writing take 2–3 weeks).
How CLEP® credit works
Your college decides
Each college has its own CLEP policy that says exactly what credit it gives. More than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities give credit for qualifying scores.
Retakes
You can't retake the same exam within three months of your test date.
Transcripts later
After your free sends, a CLEP transcript costs $20.
Tips for busy adults
- Start with a subject you use at work.
- Book only after you've checked your college's policy.
- Ask whether your employer buys CLEP vouchers.
- Test at home to skip the drive.
Study for your CLEP® exams with TransferCredit.org
One plan covers every CLEP course and study guide we sell: $29 a month or $69 for 3 months. Or pay $149 once for every CLEP and DSST course and guide.
CLEP for working adults: quick answers
Can adults take CLEP exams?
Yes. CLEP is open to everyone, including adult learners and professionals seeking continuing education credits.
How much does a CLEP exam cost?
$97, plus the test center's or remote proctoring fee. Remote proctoring is $30.
Can my employer pay for CLEP exams?
Employers can cover CLEP exams for groups of test takers through College Board's voucher program.
How long is a CLEP registration good for?
If you pay yourself, a registration ticket expires six months after you buy it.
Do all colleges accept CLEP?
No. Each college sets its own policy on which CLEP exams it gives credit for. Check yours first.
Turn what you know into a plan
Pick the exams your college takes, then study at your pace with our CLEP® prep.
We source all of this information from College Board.