CLEP (The College-Level Examination Program) is a National program of credit-by-examination sponsored by the College Board. These examinations may be taken at Northern Kentucky University. Credit may be earned through general and/or subject examinations. The University is a recognized CLEP testing center; therefore testing can be applicable to other institutions that accept CLEP scores. NKU Testing Services welcomes NKU students AND non-NKU students.
NKU Testing Services will administer any of the 34 CLEP exams for a student wishing to send their scores to another college or university for no additional charge. NKU students must be currently enrolled to receive CLEP credits.
For more in-depth information about CLEP and to access study resources, please visit http://www.collegeboard.com/clep.
Modern States Education Alliance offers free, high-quality online courses taught by college professors that prepare you for all of the major CLEP exams. Modern States is paying the CLEP exam fee and scheduling fee for students who enroll in the courses and take the exams. Click here to find out more!
The CLEP test is offered everyday Monday - Friday, at various times.
CLEP is not administered when the NKU campus is closed. Appointments can be made by clicking on the "Register Now" button below.
Testing Services may provide evening testing hours upon request. Please email testing@nku.edu to inquire.
Important: The same exam may NOT be taken within 3 months.
At the time of the registration, the examinee is required to pay Northern Kentucky University a registration fee of $35. This fee is non-refundable. If you wish to reschedule, you may do so without a charge 7 days prior to your scheduled test date. If you reschedule after the 7-day grace period, you must register and pay the fee again.
The examinee must pay CLEP a $95 fee per exam taken. This fee is to be paid prior to the exam date through the CLEP website: http://www.collegeboard.com/clep The student will need to register through CLEP’s “My Account” and pay for the exam.
On the day of the test, the examinee must bring the Admission Ticket printed from their CLEP “My Account” and a picture identification card that includes both a picture and signature to the Testing Center.
Homeschooled students and high school students: If you do not have the required government-issued ID, please complete this Student ID Form which is valid for one year. The form must be accompanied by a recognizable photo with a school or notary seal overlapping the photo. The form must be signed in front of a school official or notary. If you fail to present appropriate identification, you will not be tested.
On CLEP exam day, test takers aren't allowed to bring their own calculators into the testing room. Because of this, calculators are integrated into the CLEP exam software to help test takers solve questions on some CLEP science and math exams and the Financial Accounting exam.
To practice using these calculators, visit the ETS Calculator Practice page and select the appropriate exam from the drop-down menu. Here's more exam-specific information:
The CLEP program is proud of its long standing relationship with the DANTES to provide CLEP exams to eligible military service members, spouses and civil service employees. DANTES funds one CLEP exam in each of the subject areas. Test takers attempting a test title for the first time will not only have their exam fee funded by DANTES, but will also have their administrative fee waived.
The DANTES Eligibility Chart provides information about who can benefit from DANTES funding. CLEP exams for civil service employees, inactive guard or reserve personnel, and spouses and dependents not listed on the chart are not funded through DANTES.
For more information and how to register for a CLEP exam using DANTES, please visit the CLEP for Military website.
The following lists CLEP exams that will help to satisfy NKU's six General Education categories:
Written I -- College Composition
Mathematics & Statistics -- College Mathematics, Calculus
Natural Science -- Biology, Chemistry, Natural Science
Individual & Society -- Principles of Macroeconomics, Principles of Microeconomics, Introductory Psychology, Introductory Sociology, American Government, Social Sciences and History, Humanities
Culture & Creativity -- Analyzing & Interpreting Literature, French, German, Spanish, US History I, US History II
The following lists of Subject Examinations are those that are accepted at NKU. They have been equated with specific courses offered at the University. For NKU students, a grade of pass (P) will be assigned for the successful passage of a CLEP examination. This credit may go towards General Education requirements but will not replace any prior earned class credit.
| Examination | Minimum Score | Credit Hours | Equivalent NKU Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Government | 50 | 3 | PSC 100 |
| American Literature | 50 | 6 | ENG 208 & ENG 209 |
| Analyzing & Interpreting Literature | 50 | 3 | ENG 200 |
| Biology | 50 | 4 | BIO 120 & BIO 120L |
| Calculus | 50 | 4 | MAT 129 |
| Chemistry (No Lab Credit) | 50 | 6 | CHE 120 & CHE 121 |
| College Algebra | 63 | 3 | MAT 103 |
| College Composition | 50 | 3 | ENG 101 |
| College Mathematics | 50 | 3 | MAT 100G |
| English Literature | 50 | 6 | ENG 202 & ENG 203 |
| Financial Accounting | 50 | 3 | ACC 200 |
| French | 50 - 59 60 or Above |
6 12 |
FRE 101 & 102 FRE 101, 102, 201 & 202 |
| German | 50 - 59 60 or Above |
6 12 |
GER 101 & 102 GER 101, 102, 201 & 202 |
| Human Growth & Development | 50 | 3 | EDU 300 |
| Humanities | 50 | 3 | GCC 100G |
| Information Systems | 50 | 3 | BIS 300T |
| Introductory Business Law | 50 | 3 | BUS 230 |
| Introductory Psychology | 50 | 3 | PSY 100 |
| Introductory Sociology | 50 | 3 | SOC 100 |
| Natural Science | 50 | 3 | SCI 100G |
| Precalculus* | 61 | 3 | MAT 119 |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | 50 | 3 | ECO 100 |
| Principles of Management | 50 | 3 | MGT 205 |
| Principles of Marketing | 50 | 3 | MKT 205 |
| Principles of Microeconomics | 50 | 3 | ECO 101 |
| Social Sciences & History | 50 | 3 | SSHI 100G |
| Spanish | 50 - 56 57 or Above |
6 12 |
SPI 101 & 102 SPI 101, 102, 201 & 202 |
| U.S. History I: Early Colonization - 1877 | 50 | 3 | HIS 102 |
| U.S. History II: 1865 to Present | 50 | 3 | HIS 103 |
| Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East - 1648 | 50 | 3 | HIS 100 |
| Western Civilization II: 1648 - Present | 50 | 3 | HIS 101 |
