I received this message about CLEP credits from a homeschooling parent:
“In Florida, the state universities have a reciprocal policy with the community colleges if you complete your AA. So, we’ll probably go that route and do his AA via CLEP and dual enrollment.”
Instead, we carefully chose classes from the community college that were perfect matches for our university. In other words, some math courses transferred and some didn’t, and we were careful to choose only classes that would transfer into the university for the degree. This also meant that my boys didn’t start college with an AA degree. If you don’t start college with an AA degree, there are certain prerequisite courses that have to be taken. My kids were required to take 6 prerequisite classes at the university instead of the 3 prerequisite classes that would have been required if they had an AA degree. The number of courses will vary with the university; I just wanted to give you an idea what it looked like for us.
If my kids had earned an AA degree from community college, they would have had to take classes that I didn’t want them to, such as PE and diversity classes that had controversial content. I’m glad we didn’t go that route. I had to be especially careful with my 15 year old starting college. We didn’t want to expose him to too much adult content.
Do you have experience with CLEP credits? Was it easy to transfer them to your college or university? Please share!
Please note: This post was originally published in December 2007 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Hi Lee
On a similar note… my 15 year old is taking foreign lamguage at our local 4-year university (not a CC). I’ll be putting that credit on his high school transcript. Will colleges still want to see CLEP, SATII, AP tests for this foreign language? Even though he has university-level credit for it?
I’m still having difficulty with US vernacular, what is AA?
Thank you for all the useful information!
Donna
Dear Donna,
No problem – AA means Associates of Arts. It’s a two year college degree, not a four year college degree. A general degree, rather than a specific degree in history or math or engineering. Does that help?
Blessings,
Lee
Our CC awards credit for just about all of the CLEPs available. However, the state universities either do not accept CLEPs or only accept a limited number of them. Most colleges post their CLEP (and AP) policies on their websites.
If a student earns an AA degree from a CC, the credits MIGHT transfer to a U. that doesn’t normally accept them. If in doubt, always, always check with the U. directly. Advice from friends may not be accurate or up-to-date.
And finally, you should check with the u. to find out if their is a maximum number of credits by exam that can be earned. Policies range from 0 to 60 credits.
Hi Lee,
Can a High School student take enough CLEP exams to get an AA before they graduate?
Thanks!
Sherri 🙂
Dear Sherri,
Yes, it’s possible, but it takes some research. If you search my website for “Dual enrollment CLEP” you will find a couple of articles that will help. The bottom line: you have to get a college to give you the AA based on CLEP scores. That takes some looking. You can also have CollegePlus mentor you. I refer them often – here is my link to their info: http://www.collegeplus.org/?requestinfo?promocode=hscholar
Blessings,
Lee
How do you grade a CLEP for the High School Transcript. In other words, my son passed a CLEP with a 56 (Western Civ 1) I need to give him credit for is High School grade. Do you count it as honors and how does it translate for his HS GPA?
Thanks!
Dear Chris,
When my children passed a CLEP, I gave them 1 high school credit, and gave them an A. I put “Honors” by those classes, but did not weight their grades by increasing the grade or credit value.
I hope that helps,
Blessings,
Lee