Free · No signupAP® → CLEP® & DSST®42 AP subjects

Missed your AP exam? There may be a CLEP in the same subject

Missed the AP exam in May, or didn't get the score your college asks for? Pick your AP subject to see the CLEP exam, or the DSST, in the same subject, with its official page to compare and where to check your college. College Board suggests CLEP for students who miss the AP exam “where content matches” College Board. Each college decides whether to award credit for a CLEP or DSST exam, so confirm with your registrar before you book an exam.

We found no official AP-to-CLEP list. These are CLEP and DSST exams in the same subject, so compare the two outlines before you book. All 42 subjects on College Board's AP list College Board (AP).

Every AP subject and its same-subject CLEP or DSST

Same subject isn't the same exam: open the AP course page and the exam's official page, and compare what each covers College Board. 20 of the 42 subjects have no CLEP or DSST in the same subject: neither College Board's 34 CLEP exams College Board nor DSST's exam list has one. DSST exams are listed only where we have a study guide for them.

Arts

English

History and Social Sciences

Math and Computer Science

Sciences

World Languages and Cultures

AP Capstone Diploma Program

AP Career Kickstart

AP and CLEP side by side

College Board: “The main difference between the two programs is that you prepare for CLEP exams on your own, while AP exams are taken after completing an AP course.” College Board

AP and CLEP compared, from College Board's comparison table
ComparedCLEPAP
Exams3440 source
Scores20–801–5 source
WhenYear-roundFirst two weeks in May source
Exam fee$97, plus the test center's or remote proctoring fee source$99 source; $129 outside the U.S. source

AP's $99 is for exams taken in the U.S., U.S. territories and Canada College Board (AP). A DSST exam is $100 DSST (Prometric).

Before you book a CLEP instead of AP

1. Compare the two outlines

College Board's advice to high schools: “Compare the content of CLEP exams to course curricula to identify alignment and gaps.” College Board Open your AP course page and the exam's official page side by side. With CLEP you prepare on your own College Board.

2. Check your college

“Each college sets its own policy regarding which CLEP exams it will grant credit for and how many credits it will award.” College Board See what yours lists, with the minimum score and the credits.

Look up my college

3. Already have an AP score in the subject?

Ask your college before you book the CLEP: don't count on getting credit twice for the same subject.

Taking CLEP in high school

  • At a test center: College Board says everyone is welcome at any CLEP test center, including high school students College Board.
  • At home (remote proctoring): you must be 13 or older, or 18 or older in Illinois College Board.
  • Under 13: College Board gets a parent's or guardian's consent before it opens the account College Board.
  • No government ID yet? At a test center, high school and homeschooled students can use College Board's Student ID Form, valid for one year College Board. For testing at home, College Board asks for a current, government-issued photo ID College Board.
  • DSST: open to high school students too DSST (Prometric).

Questions about AP and CLEP

Is there an official list of which CLEP matches which AP exam?

We found none. College Board suggests CLEP for students who miss the AP exam “where content matches” College Board, and advises comparing the content of CLEP exams with course curricula College Board. The pairs on this page are CLEP and DSST exams in the same subject, picked from the official exam names and descriptions: compare the two outlines before you book.

Should I take AP or CLEP?

College Board's answer: “That choice is up to you. Both CLEP and AP programs help students master introductory college-level coursework.” College Board The main difference, it says, is that you prepare for CLEP on your own, while AP exams come after an AP course College Board. CLEP runs year-round; AP exams are in the first two weeks of May College Board.

Will my college give me credit for the CLEP exam?

College Board: “Each college sets its own policy regarding which CLEP exams it will grant credit for and how many credits it will award.” College Board See what your college lists in our CLEP credit lookup, then confirm with your registrar before you book.

Can I get credit for both an AP exam and a CLEP exam in the same subject?

Ask your college before you book. Each college sets its own credit policy College Board, and we can't tell you how yours treats an AP score and a CLEP exam in the same subject. Don't count on getting credit twice for the same subject.

When can I take a CLEP exam, and what does it cost?

CLEP runs year-round College Board, and each test center sets its own dates College Board. The exam is $97 plus the test center's or remote proctoring fee College Board. An AP exam is $99 in the U.S., U.S. territories and Canada College Board (AP), and $129 outside the U.S. College Board (AP). A DSST exam is $100 DSST (Prometric).

Can a high school student take CLEP?

Yes. College Board says everyone is welcome at any CLEP test center, including high school students College Board. To test at home you must be 13 or older (18 or older in Illinois) College Board. For a child under 13, College Board gets a parent's or guardian's consent before it opens the account College Board.

Sources

Every fact on this page, the official page it comes from, the words it says there, and the day we read it.

  1. College Board (AP): apstudents.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-art-historySpanning cultures across all continents and from prehistoric to contemporary timesChecked 7 Nov 2026
  2. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/clep-exams/english-literatureIn both coverage and approach, the exam resembles the historically organized surveys of British, Commonwealth, and postcolonial literature offered by many colleges.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  3. College Board (AP): apstudents.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-european-historyIn AP European History, you'll study the rich history of countries such as France, England, Spain, and many others from c. 1450 to the present.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  4. DSST (Prometric): getcollegecredit.com/exam/introduction-to-geography-formerly-titled-human-cultural-geographyIntroduction to Geography (formerly titled: Human/Cultural Geography)Checked 7 Nov 2026
  5. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/for-high-schools/promote-clep-to-studentsStudents who miss the AP exam, where content matches.From advice to high schoolsChecked 7 Nov 2026
  6. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/for-high-schools/promote-clep-to-studentsCompare the content of CLEP exams to course curricula to identify alignment and gaps.From advice to high schoolsChecked 7 Nov 2026
  7. DSST (Prometric): getcollegecredit.com/find-a-test-centerClick here to find an institution that accepts and/or administers DSST examsChecked 7 Nov 2026
  8. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/help-center/which-exam-should-i-take-clep-or-apThat choice is up to you. Both CLEP and AP programs help students master introductory college-level coursework.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  9. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/for-high-schools/comparing-clep-and-apThe main difference between the two programs is that you prepare for CLEP exams on your own, while AP exams are taken after completing an AP course.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  10. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/for-high-schools/comparing-clep-and-apTesting Window Year-round First two weeks in MayFrom the comparison table: CLEP, then APChecked 7 Nov 2026
  11. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/help-center/how-do-i-know-if-my-college-grants-credit-clep-exams-and-how-many-credits-could-i-earnEach college sets its own policy regarding which CLEP exams it will grant credit for and how many credits it will award.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  12. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/help-center/are-there-specific-test-dates-or-can-i-administer-clep-any-timeThere are no specific exam administration dates. When and how often a test center administers CLEP exams is up to the discretion of the individual test center.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  13. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/register-for-an-examExams cost only $97 plus your test center or remote proctoring administration feeChecked 7 Nov 2026
  14. College Board (AP): apstudents.collegeboard.org/exam-policies-guidelines/exam-feesAP Exam (including AP Seminar and AP Research) taken in the U.S., U.S. territories, Canada, and DoWEA schools* $99From the 2027 AP Exam Fees tableChecked 7 Nov 2026
  15. College Board (AP): apstudents.collegeboard.org/exam-policies-guidelines/exam-feesAP Exam (including AP Seminar and AP Research) taken outside the U.S.* $129From the 2027 AP Exam Fees tableChecked 7 Nov 2026
  16. DSST (Prometric): getcollegecredit.com/resources/questions-and-answersThe test fee is $100 per exam. This fee does not include any administrative costs the testing site may require.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  17. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/register-for-an-exam/clep-exam-eligibility-requirementsEveryone is welcome to take a CLEP exam at any CLEP test center, including high school students, college students, adult learners, military service members and veterans, and professionals seeking continuing education credits.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  18. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/about-remote-proctoring/take-clep-exam-remote-proctoringYou must be 13 years old or older, except for Illinois residents who must be 18 years or older.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  19. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/help-center/i-have-child-under-age-13-how-do-i-register-them-clep-examCollege Board obtains parent/guardian consent before establishing an online account for a child under age 13.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  20. College Board (AP): apstudents.collegeboard.org/course-index-pageFind course and exam information for 42 AP subjects.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  21. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/for-high-schools/comparing-clep-and-apExams Offered 34 40From the comparison table: CLEP, then APChecked 7 Nov 2026
  22. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/for-high-schools/comparing-clep-and-apScoring Scaled score with a score range of 20–80 Scaled score with a score range of 1–5From the comparison table: CLEP, then APChecked 7 Nov 2026
  23. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/for-high-schools/comparing-clep-and-apExam Fee $97 $99From the comparison table: CLEP, then APChecked 7 Nov 2026
  24. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/test-day/what-to-bring-on-test-dayHomeschooled and high school students: If you do not have the required government-issued ID, please complete a Student ID Form which is valid for one year.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  25. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/help-center/what-are-id-requirements-clep-exam-remote-proctoringYour primary identification (ID) document should be a current, government-issued physical ID that shows your name, photograph, and signatureChecked 7 Nov 2026
  26. DSST (Prometric): getcollegecredit.com/about-dsstDSST exams are available to anyone who is seeking college credit outside the traditional classroom, including college students, adult learners, high school students and military personnel.Checked 7 Nov 2026

Not sure which exam fits?

Ask Iris, our AI assistant, which exams your college takes and which guide fits. A person on our team answers at team@transfercredit.org.

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Each college decides whether to award credit for a CLEP or DSST exam, so confirm with your registrar before you book an exam. AP® is a trademark registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this page. CLEP® is a registered trademark of the College Board and DSST® is a registered trademark of Prometric; neither was involved in making these tools, and neither endorses TransferCredit.org. Terms