The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams are designed to measure what you have learned through informal study, reading, travel, and work, and then equate this knowledge with what students usually learn during the first year of college study. When you earn credits through CLEP exams, you can move directly to more advanced classes. This helps you complete your college education more quickly and at a lower overall cost.
In the College of General Studies, you may earn up to half the credits you need to graduate—60 credits of the required 120—by earning a combination of 3 to 6 credits on each of the 5 general examinations and 3 to 9 credits on certain subject examinations. Be sure to note the scoring requirements in the table below for the test to count for credit.
CLEP Exam Credit Chart
The tables below list the College of General Studies–approved CLEP exams, the minimum required scores, the number of credits awarded, and their course equivalents. Select a category below to view details.
General CLEP Exams
| Exam | Minimum Score | Credits | Course Equivalent | CGS Gen Ed (pre-Fall 2018) / Elective | CGS Gen Ed (Fall 2018 and later) / Elective |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College Composition | 50 | 3 | ENGCMP 0200 | Writing | Writing |
| College Composition Modular | 50 | 3 | ENGCMP 0200 | Writing | Writing |
| Humanities | 50 | 3 | INTERDIS 0000 | Humanities | Literature or The Arts |
| College Mathematics | 50 | 3 | MATH 0025 | Mathematics | Algebra |
| Natural Sciences | 50 | 6 | INTERDIS 0000 | Natural Sciences | Natural Sciences |
| Social Sciences and History | 50 | 6 | INTERDIS 0000 | Social Science; History | Social Science; History |
Subject CLEP Exams
| Exam | Minimum Score | Credits | Course Equivalent | CGS Gen Ed (pre-Fall 2018) / Elective | CGS Gen Ed (Fall 2018 and later) / Elective |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Government | 50 | 3 | PS 0200 | Social Science | Social Science |
| U.S. History I | 50 | 3 | HIST 0600 | Social Science; History | Social Science; History |
| U.S. History II | 50 | 3 | HIST 0601 | Social Science; History | Historical Analysis |
| Western Civilization I | 50 | 3 | HIST 0100 | Social Science; History; International Perspective | Historical Analysis; Specific Geographic Region |
| Western Civilization II | 50 | 3 | HIST 0101 | Social Science; History; International Perspective | Historical Analysis; Specific Geographic Region |
| Introductory Sociology | 50 | 3 | SOC 0010 | Social Science | Social Science |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | 50 | 3 | ECON 0110 | Social Science | Social Science |
| Principles of Microeconomics | 50 | 3 | ECON 0100 | Social Science | Social Science |
| American Literature | 50 | 3 | ENGLIT 0570 | Humanities; Literature | Literature |
| English Literature | 50 | 3 | ENGLIT 0000 | Humanities; Literature | Literature |
| Analyzing & Interpreting Literature | 50 | 3 | ENGLIT 0300 | Humanities | Literature |
| Biology | 50 | 6 | BIOSCI 0150 & 0160 | Natural Science | Natural Science |
| Chemistry | 50 | 6 | CHEM 0110 & 0120 | Natural Science | Natural Science |
| Introductory Psychology | 50 | 3 | PSY 0010 | Natural Science | Natural Science |
| Educational Psychology | 50 | 3 | PSYED 1001 | Elective | Elective |
| Human Growth & Development | 50 | 3 | PSY 0310 | Natural Science | Elective |
| Pre-Calculus | 50 | 3 | MATH 0000 | Mathematics | Algebra |
| Calculus | 50 | 3 | MATH 0120 | Quantitative & Formal Reasoning | Quantitative & Formal Reasoning; Algebra |
| College Algebra | 50 | 3 | MATH 0031 | Mathematics | Algebra |
| Financial Accounting | 50 | 3 | BUSERV 1920 | Elective | Elective |
| Introductory Business Law | 50 | 3 | LEGLST 0000 | Elective | Elective |
| Principles of Management | 50 | 3 | BUSERV 1915 | Elective | Elective |
| Principles of Marketing | 50 | 3 | BUSERV 1940 | Elective | Elective |
| Information Systems | 50 | 3 | INFSCI 0010 | Quantitative Reasoning | Quantitative Reasoning |
| French Language, Level 1 | 50 | 3 | FR 0101 | International Perspective | Second Language |
| French Language, Level 2 | 63 | 6 | FR 0101 & FR 0102 | International Perspective | Second Language |
| German Language, Level 1 | 50 | 3 | GER 0101 | International Perspective | Second Language |
| German Language, Level 2 | 63 | 6 | GER 0101 & GER 0102 | International Perspective | Second Language; Specific Geographic Region |
| Spanish Language, Level 1 | 50 | 3 | SPAN 0101 | International Perspective | Second Language |
| Spanish Language, Level 2 | 63 | 6 | SPAN 0101 & SPAN 0102 | International Perspective | Second Language |
For questions, contact cgsapa@pitt.edu.
Policies for Accepting CLEP Credits
- You must be at least 20 years old or have graduated from high school two or more years ago.
- You may take up to five CLEP general exams in total, but no more than four exams in one day.
- CLEP general exams must be taken before completing 60 college credits (including credits from Pitt, transfer courses, and exams). CLEP credits cannot duplicate credits already earned.
- CLEP subject exams must be taken before completing 90 college credits. These credits also cannot duplicate previous coursework or exam credits.
- You may earn up to 3 CLEP credits for ENGCMP 0200 through the College Composition or College Composition Modular exam. The remaining 6 writing credits must be completed at Pitt.
- The maximum combined total of CLEP and two-year college credits is 60. For example, students who transfer in 60 community college credits are not eligible for additional CLEP credits.
- When selecting a College of General Studies major, plan to take introductory and major-specific courses even if you’ve earned CLEP credits that cover general education areas.
- Other Pitt schools and colleges may also accept CLEP credits, but policies vary by school. If you transfer to another Pitt school, your CLEP credits will be re-evaluated.
- Students returning to the College of General Studies after being inactive for two or more years may have their CLEP awards re-evaluated.
How to Schedule and Take Exams
Step 1: Meet with an Academic Advisor
Before registering, schedule an appointment with your College of General Studies academic advisor to confirm that your chosen CLEP exams fit your degree plan and won’t duplicate existing credits.
Call 412-624-6444 to make an appointment.
Step 2: Explore Exam Options
Visit the College Board CLEP website to view available exams, topics, and test descriptions.
Be sure to review sections for military students and information on the CLEP out challenge, if applicable.
Step 3: Schedule Your Exam
To take a CLEP exam at the University of Pittsburgh:
- Complete the CLEP Exam Request Form.
- Bring your admission ticket and a photo ID to the Testing Center on your scheduled date.
Fees:
- $90 per test (paid to the College Board)
- $25 per test University of Pittsburgh service fee (fees may vary by testing site)
Testing Center Location:
University of Pittsburgh
Testing Center, Room G33
Cathedral of Learning
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Phone: 412-624-7215
Email: tests@pitt.edu
Step 4: Prepare for the Exam
Review the College Board exam guides for details on test content and sample questions.
Practice materials are available to help you get familiar with the exam format.
Obtaining Your Score
- Your CLEP scores will be sent to you approximately two weeks after your exam.
- Scores for the English Composition with Essay exam may take up to seven weeks.
- To send your scores to another school, employer, or agency, use the appropriate institution code.
- To send scores to the University of Pittsburgh College of General Studies, select code 2927 when registering or at the test site.