Adult students looking for ways to obtain a college degree in the shortest amount of time, often look to the CLEP exam to earn credit for mastery of subject material. More than half of the people who take the exam are older students, but people of any age can register.

CLEP stands for College-Level Examination Program. There are 34 subjects to choose from and students may select those subjects where they have already learned from experience in the working world, AP (advanced placement) high school classes, or independent study.

Taking a CLEP exam is relatively inexpensive, saving the student much of the high cost of a college class. For a fee of $65 and a successful exam, a student can move forward with their education without repeating previously learned material. Passing CLEP exams frees up the student's time to permit higher-level studies in their field, or to pursue a wider variety of elective courses.

As students take and successfully complete CLEP exams in their area of expertise and knowledge, these classes are out of the way and the student can move into upper level classes more quickly. CLEP students usually perform as well as their peers in subsequent classes on the same subject, and sometimes excel beyond their classmates.

CLEP is beneficial to universities as well as to students. As the exams are developed and written by faculty members across the country, schools know that the exams equal the credits earned in introductory college courses. The schools that offer credit for the exams can open admissions to more students, so they benefit when more students make use of CLEP.

Although a large percentage of registrants for CLEP are older, these exams are also used by home-schooled students, international students looking to use their overseas credits in U.S. schools, and applicants for master's programs who are fulfilling undergraduate credit requirements. Military students, younger adults returning to college or going for the first time, foreign language speakers, and nursing program students also find CLEP useful.

There are test centers where CLEP exams are given. An Internet search of possible locations near home or school is possible. Typing a city name into the search bar will provide a list of locations that administer the exams on an "Open" basis - anyone can test, or on a "Limited" basis - exams are limited to those students attending that school. There are some exam centers that offer testing for only military students, as well. The kind of exam site is designated on the list of centers. Go to www.collegeboard.com for more information on testing locations.

Prospective students must check with their school to make sure that CLEP credits are offered. While many more schools do offer the credit nowadays, some do not. Before registering for the exam, students need to be aware of school policy, see if there are time frames in which scores must be submitted and credit granted, and that the exam is not a duplicate of transfer credits already being received.

The bottom line is that CLEP saves time and money for students of any age, and it is a way to progress through a college education without repeating material gained through other means. It is logical and sensible. CLEP is fully recognized as a viable way to make use of knowledge gained outside the traditional concept of an educational institution or in previous educational pursuits.

Learn more about this author, Arabella Kelly.
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