CLEP (College Level Examination Program)
CLEP exams allow students to earn college credit by examination. Students may earn semester hours in general education breadth areas and additional credits in course-specific subject areas. All CLEP hours are reported as "pass" credit and will not affect GPA. Website: www.collegeboard.com/clep.
For a complete listing of CLEP exams honored at USU, the required scores, and the amount of credit awarded for each, see the USU General Catalog.
- Cost: $123 per exam -- This fee must be made in two separate payments: one of $30.00 to USU and one of $93.00 to CLEP.
- Where: USU Professional Testing Center, University Inn 115.
- When: Appointment required. Given most weekdays as early as 8:30 a.m. or as late as 3:00 p.m.
- Register: Registration is a two-part process: First, go to the CLEP website to register for an exam and pay the CLEP portion of the fee. Then, go to the USU Professional Testing Center online registration portal, www.registerblast.com/usu/exam to reserve an appointment time.
- Scores: Available shortly after the exam is complete. College Composition scores require approximately 3 weeks (to include essay grading).
- Note: Most foreign language testing at USU is not handled through the CLEP program. To earn credit for ability in any foreign language, contact the World Languages and Cultures Department (LPCS) at (435) 797-1209. Some "pass" language credits in Spanish, French, and German can be earned through CLEP exams, but any "graded" language credit in those three languages and any type of credit in all other languages requires departmental testing in the World Languages and Cultures Department. Contact them for more details.
DSST (formerly Dantes Subject Testing)
Like CLEP and AP Testing, DSST tests allow students to earn college credit by examination for life experience or previous learning. For more information on DSST exams, visit their website. There are 37 exams available in a number of subject areas like Business, Humanities, Mathematics, Physical Science, and more. For a complete list of DSST exams that USU accepts for credit, see the USU General Catalog.
- Cost: $115 per exam -- This fee must be made in two separate payments: one of $30.00 to USU and one of $85.00 to DSST (debit or credit card only) at the time of testing.
- Where: USU Professional Testing Center, University Inn 115.
- When: Appointment required. Given most weekdays as early as 8:30 a.m. or as late as 3:00 p.m.
- Register: go to the Professional Testing Center online registration portal, www.registerblast.com/usu/edu to schedule your appointment.
- Scores: Available shortly after the exam is complete.
Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement or "AP" exams are offered at many high schools. They are not administered at the college level (see CLEP or DSST pages for information on how to earn credit-by-exam at a college or university test center ). For information on how many credits an AP exam will earn at USU, contact your USU adviser or the Admissions and Records office or this section of the USU General Catalog. For questions regarding additional copies of AP scores or sending scores to a college or university, please contact the Advanced Placement program directly at (866) 756-7346 or visit their website: www.collegeboard.com/ap.
Credit by Departmental Exam
Credit by Departmental Exam, sometimes referred to as "challenging a course" is different from taking a CLEP exam. It is not handled through the Professional Testing Center but by the individual academic department. Many courses offered at USU may be challenged in this manner, but a student must first obtain permission from the department that offers the course in order to challenge. More information can be found in the USU General Catalog. Many questions regarding the Credit by Departmental Exam option to the Registrar's office.
Foreign Languages
Most foreign language testing at USU is not handled through the CLEP program. To earn credit for ability in any foreign language, contact the World Languages and Cultures Department. Some "pass" language credits in Spanish, French, and German can be earned through CLEP exams, but any "graded" language credit in those three languages and any type of credit in all other languages requires departmental testing in the World Languages and Cultures Department. Contact them for more details. You can reach them at (435) 797-1209, visit them at their website, or visit them at Old Main room 204.