Cuyahoga Community College
Cuyahoga Community CollegeCuyahoga Community College
  • Getting Started
  • Paying for College
  • Classes, Programs & Certificates
  • Student Resources
  • Community
  • Alumni
  • Give
  • my Tri-C space
  • Workforce Training
  • Community Education
  • Corporate College
  • News & Events
  • About Tri-C

Credit for Prior Learning

MORE INFO
  • Advanced Placement (AP) Credit
  • Appeals Process
  • By-Pass Credit
  • Career-Technical Assurance Guide (CTAG) Credit
  • Challenge Exam
  • Credit for Prior Learning
  • International Baccalaureate Diploma Program Credit
  • Military Credit (MC)
  • Tech Prep Credit (TPC)
  • Ask Tri-C
  • Tri-C Home
  • »
  • Start
  • »
  • Credit for Prior Learning
  • »
  • EX

Challenge Exam

Challenge Exam
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Challenge Exam (EX) Credit

In certain circumstances, when students can show that they may have sufficient knowledge in a subject area due to relevant education and experience, they can earn CPL for a course by passing a comprehensive examination on the course material. Deciding which courses qualify for EX credit is up to the faculty in individual academic disciplines.

Challenge Exam Procedure
To receive course credit, students attempting a Challenge Exam must earn a minimum score as determined by the faculty in the department offering the exam. If students score below the minimum requirement, they should register for the course. Please note that EX credits may not be transferrable to other postsecondary institutions.

EX Credit Awarding Procedure

  1. Students interested in taking a Challenge Exam must review the listing of available Challenge Exams and obtain a CPL Challenge Exam form from the Academic Affairs Office.
  2. Students must complete section 2 of the Challenge Exam form and submit to the associate dean/Center of Excellence dean responsible for the academic area within which the requested course resides.
  3. The associate dean/Center of Excellence dean will review the completed form and direct students to the appropriate faculty coordinator/program manager/program director to complete the Challenge Exam.
  4. Attempt the Challenge Exam(s).
  5. The faculty examiner will then complete section 5 of the Award for Credit for Prior Learning: Credit by Exam form. Faculty examiner, not the student, will hand-deliver this form with a copy of exam attached to the Associate Dean/Center of Excellence Dean who will then, route the final recommendation to the Academic Affairs Dean.
  6. The dean of Academic Affairs reviews the faculty recommendation and signs off on credit to be awarded. Students will be notified of the decision via their Tri-C email address. 
  7. If award of credit is approved, student must pay the appropriate fees ($50 per course) for the Award of Credit for Prior Learning at the Campus Enrollment Center.
  8. The Campus Enrollment Center will forward all paperwork via intercampus mail to the Office of the Registrar for posting to the student’s record.

Information and Next Steps

  • Students may not take Challenge Exams for previously attempted Tri-C courses. This applies to courses for which a student earned a "W," "A-F" or "P-NP."
  • Students are allowed one Challenge Exam attempt per course.
  • If a given course has a prerequisite course requirement, the prerequisite must be satisfied by either exemption or successful completion of the course before a Challenge Exam may be attempted.
  • Students attempting a Challenge Exam must earn the minimum score as determined by the division offering the exam to receive course credit. If the student scores below the minimum requirement, the student should register for the course.
  • Results of Challenge Exams may not be transferrable to any other institutions.
  • Upon successful completion of a Challenge Exam, and processing by the Office of the Registrar, the credit will be posted to the student’s academic record as “EX” within five business days (during peak enrollment period, time may be longer).
  • Students may appeal the credit award decision based on the following reasons only:
    • Score miscalculation.
    • Inconsistency with the College’s Credit for Prior Learning procedure.

Students may not appeal CPL decisions based on disagreements with grade-weighting methods or scores earned on standardized exams.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Credit

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) gives students an opportunity to earn college credit for what they already know — for the fraction of the cost of a college course. Earning a qualifying score on one or more of the available exams can help students reach their academic goals, whether they are getting a head start on college or working to finish their degree.

Tri-C students who pass a CLEP exam with the minimum required score will earn college credit based on CLEP credit chart recommendations.

For general CLEP information, or to purchase a CLEP exam, visit the College Board CLEP website at https://clep.collegeboard.org. It is recommended that students meet with an academic counselor prior to purchasing a CLEP exam to ensure that credit is applicable to their degree or certificate program. Eastern Campus and Western Campus are CLEP testing centers.

View CLEP Aligned Courses/Credit

CLEP Credit Awarding Procedure

  1. Students must have the College Board send their CLEP score(s) to: Cuyahoga Community College/ Office of the Registrar/ P.O. Box 5966/ Cleveland, OH 44101
  2. The registrar will evaluate CLEP score(s) upon receipt to determine applicable credit. After evaluation, the Office of the Registrar will send results to students at their Tri-C email address. If CLEP credit for a course(s) is awarded, it will be posted to the student’s academic record within five business days (during peak enrollment period, time may be longer).

Challenge Exam Inventory
Challenge Exam (EX) Form

Important Contacts

Academic Affairs Offices:
Eastern Campus: 216-987-2296
Metropolitan Campus: 216-987-4012
Western Campus: 216-987-5556
Westshore Campus: 216-987-3943

Counseling Offices: 216-987-6000, Option 4
Enrollment Centers: 216-987-6000, Option 3

Ask TRI-C

Welcome to Cuyahoga Community College's online knowledge base of frequently asked questions and answers.

Visit Ask Tri-C

Live Chat

Welcome to the Online Service Center @ Cuyahoga Community College! Live Chat provides users with general information about the enrollment processes at Tri-C

Chat Now

Contact Us

Tri-C
216-987-6000
Corporate College
216-987-2800
Phone Directory Tri-C 24/7 Ask Us a Question

Campuses & Locations

Parking Visit Tri-C Request More Information

Connect With Us

  • Like Us On Facebook
  • Follow Us On Twitter
  • Connected With Us On LinkedIn
  • Follow Us On Instagram
  • Subscribe to Us On Youtube
my TRI-C space Blackboard Employment Accreditation

© 2014 Cuyahoga Community College 700 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115Privacy PolicyAdministrative DepartmentsCampus Police