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The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) allows individuals to earn college credit for what they already know and provides the opportunity to demonstrate their academic proficiency at the freshman and sophomore level. To receive credit, students must achieve the minimum scaled score recommended by the American Council of Education (ACE). http://www.collegeboard.com/highered/clep/recscorespopup.html

CLEP Information

Testing Site:
Rio Salado College
2323 W. 14thSt.
Tempe, AZ 85281
Testing Center (2nd floor)

Test Dates & Times

Rio Salado College @ Tempe
Exams without an optional essay are administered on a walk-in basis during the days and times listed below. Exams must be completed by closing time. Exams must be completed by closing time, and there is a lengthy registration process, so please allow at least three hours to complete your exam.

Monday-Thursday    9:00am to 9:00pm
Fridays    9:00am to 6:00 pm

Rio Salado College @ Luke
56th Mission Support Center, Room 3138
7383 North Litchfield Road
Glendale, AZ 85309
(two blocks north of Glendale Avenue on Luke Air Force Base)

All exams are administered by reservation only. Reservations can now be made for Tuesdays and Wednesdays starting July 29, 2008, by calling 623-856-3239. There are two testing sessions; 8:30 am – 12 pm and 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm.

Exams with an optional essay are only required if specifically asked for by an advisor from the institution for which you are taking a CLEP exam for. The essay must be ordered and paid for in advance and may take up to 2-3 weeks from when they are ordered. To order an optional essay, please call 480-517-8560.

Fees and Methods of Payment:
  • There is a $70 CLEP fee that is paid on the day of the test. The preferred method of payment is by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express). Checks and money orders made payable to College-Level-Examination-Program are also acceptable. Cash is not an acceptable form of payment.
  • There is a $15 Rio Salado College administration fee that is paid on the day of the test. The preferred method of payment is by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express). Checks and money orders made payable to Rio Salado College are also acceptable. Cash is not an acceptable form of payment.
  • There is a $10 fee for each optional essay which is only available for a selected number of CLEP tests. These essays must be ordered and paid for in advance. For additional information call (480) 517-8560. English composition has a required essay, therefore it does not require an extra fee, nor ordering it in advance. Cash is not an acceptable form of payment.

Testing candidates bringing in one check or money order with fees combined will not be allowed to test.

Exam fees are subject to change without prior notice.

CLEP Exams: Study Materials: CLEP General Information:

Picture Identification
Picture identification is required. Candidates must present two forms of identification in order to be admitted to a CLEP testing room. The primary form of identification must be a government-issued photo ID card that bears the candidate’s signature. The secondary form of identification must have a photo and/or signature.

Acceptable forms of Primary Identification Acceptable forms of Secondary Identification
A current driver’s license A current employee ID
A current state or federal ID card A current student ID
A current passport A Social Security card
A tribal ID card A military ID
A naturalization card or certificate of citizenship An unused ID from the primary choices

Providing your social security number is optional and it will be used for identification purposes only.

Computer-based and Timed
CLEP examinations are 90 minutes and are computer-based.

ADA Conditions
Applicants with documented disabilities may request special accommodations. Applicants must provide official documentation to the Testing Center before their scheduled testing date.

Objective Tests
With the exception of English Composition with Essay, the exams are composed primarily of multiple-choice questions. Some mathematics may include fill-in type questions.

Tests with Essays
The English Composition with Essay examination consists of a 45-minute multiple-choice section and a 45-minute essay section which must be typed on the computer. To receive credit for English 101 you must take the English Composition with Essay examination and achieve the minimum scaled score recommendation by the American Council of Education (ACE). You do not need to order this exam in advance.

Some schools may require that you take an optional essay in addition to the objective test. Optional essays are available for examinations marked with an asterisk (*). There is an additional $10 charge for each essay and it may take up to two weeks after your registration is received for the essay to arrive at Rio's Testing Center. Examination descriptions may be found at: www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/exams.html.

Scores
All examinations are scored on a scale of 20-80. Instant score reports are received following the completion of the test, except for English Composition with Essay and optional essays. Official examination results are mailed in 3-4 weeks from CLEP directly to the institution you indicate when you take the test. For more information, you can visit http://www.collegeboard.com/testing/.

Credit and Transcripts
In order to receive credit, score reports must be received by the credit granting institution directly from the College Examination Board. Additional CLEP transcripts may be ordered directly from CLEP at (800) 257-9558 or online www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/scores

Credit received through CLEP is transferable within the Maricopa Community Colleges, but may not necessarily transfer to other colleges and universities. Read the MCCCD policy on credit by examination. It is the applicant's responsibility to consult with the institution that will be receiving the test scores to ensure that the proper tests are taken and to verify the schools' acceptance of the examination.

Credit awarded for CLEP will appear on the college transcript in the section "Credit Awarded by Advanced Standing" and will have a "CL" in the note column.

Repeating Tests
You must wait six months before repeating an examination. Scores on tests repeated earlier than six months will be canceled and the test fees forfeited.

 

For more information, contact the Tempe Testing Center at Rio Salado, (480) 517-8560 or by e-mail