Students may qualify to earn a maximum of 45 credits by making satisfactory scores on tests administered through special examination programs, and thereby earn credit or be exempt from certain college courses. Students may not repeat a course by using Credit by Examination if they originally took the course on a graded A-F, P/NC, P/F, or audit basis. Credits earned by examination may not be used as part of the students’ final 30 credits to be earned at the university. For further information please go to the Office of Academic Records and  Registration Credits by Exam web page.

• An AP course itself does not guarantee college-level equivalencies. Students must take and successfully pass the AP exam for the appropriate course, with a score of 3 or higher, to receive university credit. Exam scores determine appropriate placement of coursework toward degree requirements. Some academic departments require a score of 4 or 5 to earn major-specific equivalencies. An official AP score report will need to be sent from College Board to Slippery Rock University. For a preview of how AP exams are accepted at SRU, click on AP Course Equivalencies.
• Departments at the university offer credit by examination for some courses. Approval for these tests should be secured from the faculty adviser, instructor, and appropriate departmental chairperson. A “Credit by Exam” form is available in the Office of Academic Records and  Registration for students wishing to avail themselves of the university’s Credit by Exam program.
• The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is administered by The College Board. This program is open to all students who meet the eligibility criteria. Under the program, students who feel their knowledge of certain subjects is extensive may elect to take the CLEP exams, which are of two types: general and subject. The general examinations are designed to reflect the learning that ordinarily takes place in the students’ first two years of college. The subject examinations are designed to reflect the more specific knowledge which students may have acquired. General examinations each carry 6 credits. Subject examinations each carry 3-4 credits. Upon successfully passing an examination with a score at or above the American Council on Education’s recommended minimum score, students will receive credit for the corresponding course(s), which permits registration in more advanced courses. Information on CLEP is available from the Office of Academic Records and  Registration and at the following website: www.collegeboard.com/clep
• The university also awards credit for a limited number of Excelsior College, ACT (PEP:Regents College) exams and DSST exams offered by the Armed Services. Students may contact the Office of Academic Records and  Registration for a list of acceptable Excelsior, PEP and DSST exams.