Credit by Examination
UMUC may award as many as 60 credits by examination toward the bachelor’s degree (30 toward the associate's degree), provided that (1) there is no duplication of other academic credit, and (2) the scores presented meet UMUC standards based on the timeframe examination was taken.
Examinations may include the Advanced Placement examinations administered by the College Board, the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), DSST examinations, Excelsior College Examinations, and International Baccalaureate Examinations. UMUC also accepts credit for professional examinations listed in the ACE Guide to Educational Credit by Examination. As many as 30 credits by examination awarded by other approved institutions may be accepted for courses that appear on an official transcript with a grade of C or better. Students who have questions about credit by examination are encouraged to consult an advisor.
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Up to 30 semester hours may be awarded for general examinations in the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). The scores must meet UMUC standards. UMUC may award 3 semester hours each for the English examination and the mathematics examination, and 6 semester hours for the examinations in natural science, social sciences and history, and humanities. Successful completion of certain subject-area examinations is another way of earning college credit.
CLEP Subject Examinations credit may be awarded for successfully completing certain subject oriented exams.
Excelsior College Examinations
Students may earn credit for successfully completing subject tests offered by Excelsior College. Tests are available in various areas of the arts and sciences, as well as in business. Scores must meet UMUC standards.
Credit may be awarded for successfully completing DSST Exams.
Advanced placement and college credit may be granted to students who enter UMUC directly from a secondary school, on the basis of scores on a College Board Advanced Placement (AP) examination. These examinations are normally administered to eligible high school seniors during the May preceding matriculation in college.
A student intending to transfer AP credit that was awarded at another college or similar institution must have a transcript of those scores sent directly to UMUC from the College Board. When those scores have been received, an evaluator will determine whether they meet the standards established at UMUC for granting AP credit, and how much credit may be awarded.
International Baccalaureate Examinations
UMUC accepts applicable credits from the International Baccalaureate exam. Students must complete exams before graduation from high school in order to receive credit.
Industry Specific Examinations
Students may earn credit for successfully completing certain industry-specific examinations. Documentation must be submitted within five years of completion of the exam(s).
UMUC Course Challenge Examinations
Academic credit may be earned for any UMUC undergraduate course for which a suitable examination can be prepared and administered. Course examinations are comprehensive tests of the material that is normally presented through a semester-long course. The exams provide students with the opportunity to establish academic credit for competencies for which academic credit has not already been earned.
UMUC Foreign Language Experience Questionnaire
UMUC requires you undergo a credit-by-credit examination in order to conduct a thorough educational review of transfer credit in a foreign language. The Foreign Language Questionnaire [PDF - 36KB] contains more information about this process.
Students are advised to contact the organizations listed before requesting transcripts. Some require payment of a processing fee to be included with the request.
General Information
University of Maryland University College (UMUC) accepts up to 60 semester hours of successfully completed examinations, if appropriate to the student's curriculum. In accepting the principle of credit by examination, UMUC recognizes that many people have gained relevant knowledge and experience which can be applied to an academic curriculum.
Students who want to accelerate their academic programs may want to consider course-challenge examinations or the standardized examinations available through
These examinations are intended to measure the academic achievement of students who may have acquired their education outside the classroom, in nonaccredited institutions, or through noncredit courses.
A student may not attempt credit by examination in a course which appears on his/her UMUC transcript. Conversely, a student may not attempt a course for which s/he has received the credit by examination. Normally not more than 6 semester hours of examination credit will be accepted during a student's last 30 semester hours. Students pursuing a second baccalaureate degree may not use standardized examination credit to satisfy the UMUC residency requirement for graduation.
Be sure to check with your advisor before registering for any of the examinations described below. Some standardized examinations duplicate others, and may also duplicate credit transferred from other sources.
UMUC IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING STUDENTS' PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OR PREPARATION FOR THESE EXAMS. APPROVAL TO TAKE EXAMINATIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE AWARD OF CREDIT; OTHER CONDITIONS, SUCH AS APPROPRIATE SCORE, MUST BE SATISFIED. ALL INFORMATION ON CREDIT-BY-EXAM IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
TESTING SERVICES MAY REQUIRE A 6 MONTH WAITING PERIOD BEFORE RETAKING AN EXAMINATION. UMUC ALSO ADHERES TO THIS POLICY.
