Testing Center

College Credit Exams

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The College Level Examination Tests provide an opportunity for students to earn college credit by examination. All CLEP exams are now computer-based. We administer all of the exams offered by the College Level Exam Program. Students may send their scores to any institution that accepts CLEP for credit.

Why take CLEP exams?

• Save time. Get college credit for what you already know. Be rewarded for what you’ve learned through independent study, advanced high school courses, noncredit adult courses, or professional development.
• Save money. Compare the cost of a CLEP exam, just $65, to hundreds – even thousands – of dollars in tuition.
• Make college more interesting. Move right into advanced courses.
• Graduate on time. CLEP can help you to the finish line if you’re a few credits shy of graduating.
• Satisfy a proficiency requirement. Demonstrate you’ve already mastered the content of, for example, a basic college level math or language course.

Description of the Exams

CLEP computer-based exams are composed of multiple-choice questions. The total time allowed is 90 minutes. There are no scheduled rest breaks. Exams requiring calculator use have a calculator in the computer program itself.

After you take the exam, your score is provided to you right away. The only exception is the English Composition with Essay, for which results are sent within two weeks of scoring. Scoring of the essay takes place once a month.

For more detailed information about the exams and their content areas, please visit www.collegeboard.com/clep. In addition to the CLEP Study Guide, CLEP now offers individual exam study guides that can be downloaded from the internet for $10.00 each Individual Study Guides.

Registration Procedures

• Complete registration form. Download CLEP Registration Form or obtain form from any of the three Testing Center locations.
• Choose CLEP payment type. If paying by check, attach a $65 check made out to CLEP for each exam. If paying by credit card, you will enter your credit card information on the computer when you come in to test. Attach a check made out to PPCC Testing for $20 per test. This is a non-refundable administrative fee.
• Mail or drop off registration form and payments to any of the three Testing Center locations.
• Contact the Testing Center coordinator to schedule for an exam date.

Accommodations available for those with documented disabilities.

Requesting a CLEP transcript

Information to request a transcript can be found on the CLEP web site. Additional information is located in the Information for Candidates booklet available at the Testing Center.

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 DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSSTs)

Designed originally for the military, DSSTs (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) are available to civilian students and adult learners as well. DSSTs provide an opportunity for people to obtain college credit for what they have learned in non-traditional ways. The DSST Program is made available by The Chauncey Group International® and is used by adult education programs, the United States Department of Defense and two and four-year colleges.

 PPCC is an open DSST exam site. Any person requesting testing can be served. Students may send their scores to any institution that accepts DANTES credit.

Why take DSST exams?

• Reach your career goals. Use DSSTs to help you earn your degree, get a promotion, or simply demonstrate you have college level knowledge in subjects relevant to your work.
• Improve your chances for college admission. Each college has its own admission policies; however, having a passing score for DSSTs on your transcript can provide strong evidence of how well you can perform at college level.
• Gain confidence performing at college level. DSSTs can show you how successfully you can compete in the college environment because your performance is compared with the performance of college students.
• Make up for courses you may have missed. You may be ready to graduate from college and find you are a few credits short of earning your degree. You can take one or more DSSTs and graduate on time.

 Description of the Exams

The DSST exams are paper-pencil exams composed of multiple choice and essay questions. Many DSSTs can be completed within 90 minutes; however, additional time can be allowed if necessary.

Allow approximately four weeks from the date of testing to receive your score report. Allow six to eight weeks to receive score reports for Principles of Public Speaking examinations.

For more detailed information about the exams and their content areas, please visit www.getcollegecredit.com. In addition to the DSST Fact Sheets, DSST now offers practice tests that can be completed online for $4.95 each DSST Practice Test.

 Registration Procedure

• Obtain a registration form at any PPCC Testing Center or download the DSST Registration Form.
• A non-refundable processing fee of $25 per test (make check payable to PPCC Testing) is required when the registration form is turned in.
• You may pay the DSST exam fee of $70 per test by certified check or money order or if you are paying by credit card you will do that on the day of the testing.

Registration forms can be mailed to “PPCC Testing Center, Box C-36, 5675 S. Academy Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80906” or dropped off at any of the Testing Center's three locations. The registration is not complete until the form and fees have been received in the Testing Center. You will then contact the Testing Center Coordinator to schedule for an exam date.

You must have a valid state or government photo ID and should plan to arrive 15 minutes before the exam begins.

Requesting a DSST transcript

Information to request a transcript can be found on the DSST web site . Additional information is located in the Candidates Information Bulletin booklet available at the Testing Center.

Page last updated on Friday August 1, 2008