Credit by Examination

Credit by Examination
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.