College Level Exam Program

The College Level Exam Program (CLEP) offers subject matter examinations and general examinations. CLEP subject or general examinations may be taken prior to entering the University. If the individual passes a CLEP examination, the University accepts the amount of credit indicated in this chart, but only after admission is granted and the student is (or has been) enrolled in Portland State courses.

Application for Credit Before Coming to Portland State: Students may request an official CLEP transcript be sent to Portland State. Download the transcript request form from the College Board.

Students can take the CLEP exam at an approved testing site, if one is open. Request that CLEP send the official score transcript to Portland State University (select PSU's school code when requesting a transcript). You can find a list of CLEP testing centers on the CLEP website. If you have additional test center questions, contact CLEP Services at clep@info.collegeboard.org.

Students cannot earn duplicate credit through CLEP in the subjects for which they earned Advanced Placement (AP) credit. To the extent that a student's high school does not offer AP courses, CLEP credit can supplement or substitute for AP credit.

College Level Exam Program (CLEP) Approved at Portland State

Credits and course equivalencies are subject to change. Language exam credit is limited to either first or second year, depending on score.

Examination Credits Approved Passing Score Notes
Humanities 9 Arts and Letters (AL) elective credits 50 Closed to students with more than 90 credits
Natural Science 9 Science (SCI) elective credits 50

Closed to students with more than 90 credits

Social Science/History 9 Social Science (SSC) elective credits 50

Closed to students with more than 90 credits

Arts and Letter Subject Examination Credits Approved Passing Score Notes
French 12 50

Awards FR 101, 102, 103

French 12 59

Awards FR 201, 202, 203

German

12 50

Awards GER 101, 102, 103

German 12 60

Awards GER 201, 202, 203

Spanish Language 12 50

Awards SPAN 101, 102, 103

Spanish Language 12 63

Awards SPAN 201, 202, 203

Spanish with Writing 12 50

Awards SPAN 101, 102, 103

Spanish with Writing 12 65

Awards SPAN 201, 202, 203

History Subject Examination Credits Approved Passing Score Notes
History of the US I 2; Maximum 4 total from any combination of CLP History exams 50 Awards History lower division elective
History of the US II 2; Maximum 4 total from any combination of CLP History exam 50

Awards History lower division elective

Western Civilization I

2; Maximum 4 total from any combination of CLP History exam

50

Awards History lower division elective

Western Civilization II

2; Maximum 4 total from any combination of CLP History exam

50

Awards History lower division elective

Science Subject examination Credits Approved Passing Score Notes
Biology 0 49

Waives BI 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216

Calculus 8 50

Awards MTH 251, 252

College Algebra

4

50

Awards MTH 111

Pre-Calculus

4

50

Awards MTH 112

College Mathematics 4 50 Awards Math lower division credit (starting 7/2001)
Social Science Subject Examination Credits Approved Passing Score Notes
American Government 8 50

Awards PS 101, 102

Introductory Psychology 8 50

Awards PSY 200, 204

Introductory Microeconomics

4

50

Awards EC 201

Introductory Macroeconomics

4

50

Awards EC 202

Sociology 0 50 Waives prerequisite for upper division courses

Business Subject Examination*

Credits Approved Passing Score Notes
Financial Accounting 4 50

Awards BA 211

Information Systems and Computer Applications 4 50

Awards Business lower division elective credit

Introductory Business Law

4

50

Awards Business lower division elective credit

Principles of Management

4

50

Awards Business lower division elective credit

Principles of Marketing 4 50

Awards Business lower division elective credit

*Valid for exams taken fall 2014, and later