Overview
The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) is run by the College Board, the organisation behind the SAT and AP. It lets anyone earn college credit by passing a subject exam, instead of taking the introductory college course itself. For 2026, the College Board states that a passing score on a CLEP exam can be worth three or more college credits at over 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities.
Who can take it
The College Board states that anyone can take a CLEP exam — there is no eligibility restriction such as current enrolment at a college.
Structure
CLEP offers 34 subject exams grouped into five categories.
| Category | Number of exams |
|---|---|
| History and Social Sciences | 12 |
| Composition and Literature | 6 |
| Science and Mathematics | 7 |
| Business | 5 |
| World Languages | 4 |
Each exam is mostly multiple choice (College Composition includes College Board-graded essays). Exams are administered at more than 2,000 test centres nationwide, with remote-proctoring also available.
What it covers
Each exam corresponds to a specific one-semester introductory college course, such as Introductory Psychology, Principles of Macroeconomics, Calculus, College Algebra, Biology, or a World Language at Levels 1 and 2. The College Board's exam topic pages describe the content covered by each individual exam.
Scoring and results
The College Board notes that CLEP students who score 50 or higher on an exam have higher rates of transfer from two-year to four-year colleges, indicating a scaled score system where results are compared against college-set credit-granting thresholds; each college sets its own minimum score for awarding credit.
Recognition
CLEP credit is accepted at over 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities, but each institution decides independently which exams it accepts and how much credit it grants, so applicants should check a specific college's own CLEP credit policy.
Dates and fees
For 2026, each CLEP exam costs $97, plus an additional administration fee charged by the individual test centre. Active-duty military personnel, and eligible spouses and civil service employees, have their exam fees paid by the U.S. government; veterans' exams may be covered under Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits.
How to register
Students register for a specific exam through the College Board's CLEP website and choose a test centre or a remote-proctored session.
Preparation tips
The College Board publishes exam topic descriptions for each of the 34 exams, which outline the specific content areas a candidate should study before registering.
How many CLEP exams are there?
34, across five categories: History and Social Sciences, Composition and Literature, Science and Mathematics, Business, and World Languages.
How much does a CLEP exam cost in 2026?
$97 per exam, plus the test centre's own administration fee.
Does every college accept CLEP credit?
No. CLEP is accepted at over 3,000 colleges and universities, but each one sets its own policy on which exams it credits and how much credit it awards.
Is CLEP free for military members?
Active-duty service members, and eligible spouses and civil service employees, have exam fees covered by the U.S. government; veterans may have costs covered under the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.