University of Indianapolis
College Credit by Examination

The information on this page applies to all University of Indianapolis undergraduate students (and certain graduate students, too!), not just those enrolled in the School for Adult Learning.

NOTICE: Students interested in earning academic honors such as Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and certain other honors must complete a minimum of 62.0 hours (of 124.0 required for a baccalaureate degree) in the classroom at the University of Indianapolis to be eligible for these honors. Hence, a large number of credits earned by examination might prevent you from graduating with honors. If you aspire to earn such academic honors upon graduation, please see the Academic Catalog (pages 62-65 in the 2009-2011 catalog), for full details.

University Testing Links

Testing Times and Dates at UIndy

External Web Sites

Other Credit Opportunities

Testing Programs at UIndy

The University of Indianapolis recognizes a number of opportunities for students to earn college credit by examination. Three different types of testing programs are available:

  • National testing programs designed for the purpose of awarding credit.
  • University tests designed for awarding credit.
  • University tests designed for granting exemption or determining placement.

The School for Adult Learning administers the on-campus testing programs. The Office of the Registrar publishes and disseminates testing information about these programs, and using the prescribed guidelines and the advice of the deans and department chairpersons, awards credit. Only the Registrar awards credit for these exams--no one else. Score reports go directly from the testing agencies to the Registrar's Office—SAL does not receive these reports.

General guidelines for the granting of credit by examination at UIndy are as follows:

  1. National or university examinations may be taken prior to or during enrollment at UIndy.
  2. Credit that a student has been awarded by examination is recorded on his or her permanent record during his or her initial enrollment (new students) or at the time of testing (currently enrolled students).
  3. No letter grade is assigned for credit awarded by examination; therefore, this credit is not used in calculating a student's grade point average (GPA).
  4. The student pays only the test administration fee; he or she does not pay a fee to the university when credit is granted.
  5. The student may not take an examination in a subject in which he or she has had a sequential course.
  6. UIndy schools and departments determine which courses will apply toward a major or minor. Courses designated as general electives or subject electives may not apply toward majors or minors. Students wanting to apply for credit awarded by an examination toward a major or minor should consult the appropriate dean or department chairperson prior to taking the examination.

National Testing Programs

Complete List of UIndy Testing Programs

The five national credit-by-examination programs in which UIndy participates are:

  • College Board Advanced Placement Program (AP)--for high school students only
  • Educational Testing Service (ETS) College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
  • DSST Exams (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests)
  • International Baccalaureate Examination Program (IB)
  • Excelsior College Examinations (formerly Regents Exams)

The faculty sets general guidelines for participation in each of these programs (see above), and the deans and department chairpersons determine the tests that will be accepted and the UIndy courses to which they are equivalent (not all tests are accepted for credit at UIndy; see list at: http://sal.uindy.edu/testlist.php). The CLEP and DSST programs are administered through the Testing Administrator located in the School for Adult Learning office; the Excelsior College Examinations program is administered at national Prometric testing sites; AP tests and IB exams are administered through local high schools. Individual testing programs are described below:

Advanced Placement Program (AP)

The College Board Advanced Placement Program tests are administered annually at local high schools that offer AP courses. These exams are not administered at UIndy. The scores for these exams are sent to UIndy at the request of the student. Credit is based upon scores of 3, 4, or 5; the amount and distribution of credit is determined by the deans and department chairpersons. Further information about AP exams is available through high school guidance offices or at: http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/. Additional information is available on The College Board Web site at: http://www.collegeboard.org/ap/students/index.html

Summary of UIndy testing rules Adobe PDF

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The College Level Examination Program exams are administered daily on the UIndy campus in Esch Hall 103M, generally between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM (10-2:30 on Fridays). Call before you come to be sure the proctor is in the office. Specific test dates. Scores are sent to UIndy (or any other college of your choice) at the request of the student, and credit is granted for tests on which the student receives satisfactory scores (the ACE recommended score for all CLEP exams is 50). There are currently about 35 CLEP General and Subject Examinations. Credit is awarded based upon scores recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE). You must wait 180 days or more from the test date to repeat a CLEP exam that you do not pass.

CLEP Testing Deadlines for Graduation

Although you will receive a score report immediately upon complete of your exam, this is an UNOFFICIAL report. You must wait for the College Board to send an OFFICIAL score report to the Registrar's Office. This typically takes 10 days to 2 weeks or so. Therefore, the release of your diploma may be delayed until the end of the following semester if you wait until the last minute to take a CLEP exam. Ask your Key Advisor for the last date you can take a test and count it towards graduation in the current semester. UIndy policy is that we will NOT call the College Board on your behalf in an effort to rush delivery of the official score report, so plan accordingly.

DSST Exams (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests)

The DSST exams, originally developed by the military but now available for use at colleges and universities, are administered daily at UIndy in Esch Hall 103 (click here for details). All exams are Internet-based and may be taken on computer in the SAL office. Credit is awarded based upon scores recommended by ACE. Not all DSST exams are recognized for credit at UIndy. You must wait 180 days or more from the test date to repeat a DSST exam that you do not pass.

DSST Testing Deadlines for Graduation

Although you will receive a score report immediately upon completion of your exam, this is an UNOFFICIAL report. You must wait for Thomson Prometric to send an OFFICIAL score report to the Registrar's Office. This typically takes 10 days to 2 weeks or so. Therefore, the release of your diploma may be delayed until the end of the following semester if you wait until the last minute to take a DSST exam. Ask your Key Advisor for the last date you can take a test and count it towards graduation in the current semester. UIndy policy is that we will NOT call Thomson Prometric on your behalf in an effort to rush delivery of the official score report, so plan accordingly.

For more information about DSST exams, visit their Web site at: http://www.getcollegecredit.com/

DSST Study Guides

Free DSST fact sheet/study guides are available online at: http://www.getcollegecredit.com/resources.html#factsheets. For the average student, this is the best way to prepare for a DSST exam. We will be glad to print a copy of any of these study guides for you here in the office, or if you call the Testing Administrator at 317-788-3389, we will be glad to e-mail the PDF version of the study guide to you immediately. Or you can just download any or all of these study guides from the DSST Web site (what we would e-mail you is the same thing).

DSST Practice Tests are available online at: http://www.getcollegecredit.com. There is a purchase price for these practice tests. Practice tests can only be viewed on the DSST Web site for 24 hours--you cannot print them, download them, or save them.

“DSST: The Official Preparation Guide” is available online at: http://www.getcollegecredit.com. There is a purchase price for this book. Please note that this book covers just eight (8) of the 37 DSST exams: Business, Personal Finance, Financial Accounting, Human Resources Management, Supervision, Organizational Behavior, Business Math, and Ethics. This guide is also available for sale in the University of Indianapolis Bookstore. We also have loaner copies of this publication available in the SAL office.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

The IB program is a comprehensive and rigorous two-year curriculum leading to IB exams. The program and exams are administered through selected public and private high schools throughout the world. UIndy awards one semester's credit in the appropriate subject for each Higher Level IB exam on which a student scores 5, and up to two semester's credit in the appropriate subject for each Higher Level IB exam on which a student scores 6 or 7. No credit is awarded for the Subsidiary Level exams. The specific credit is to be determined by the appropriate dean or department chairperson. Because of the limited availability of the IB exams, the individual exams are not listed on this Web site.

Excelsior College Examinations

The Excelsior College Examinations (formerly Regents College Examinations) are administered at national Prometric testing sites. Scores are sent to UIndy at the request of the student. Credit is awarded based upon scores recommended by ACE. To take an Excelsior College Exam, visit their Web site, register online for the exam, then go to a Prometric testing site to take the exam. These exams are not administered at UIndy and we do not register students for these exams. For more information, visit their Web site at: http://www.excelsior.edu 

Registration Procedures

All students must register in person for CLEP or DSST exams in Esch Hall 103M (11 AM to 5 PM weekdays, 10-2:30 on Fridays), and pay the $12.00 nonrefundable administration fee at the time of registration (CASH ONLY). You must present positive proof of your identity, such as driver's license, student I.D. card, social security card, U.S. passport, military I.D. card, etc. Please note that the College Board requires TWO forms of photo I.D. to take a CLEP exam. As soon as you have been identified and pay the $12.00 fee, you may begin your exam immediately in one of our six private testing rooms.

The CLEP testing fee (currently $70.00 as of July 1, 2008) or the DSST testing fee ($70.00, goes up to $80.00 on Nov. 1, 2008) is payable on the day of the exam, before testing begins. UIndy accepts only credit cards for the testing fee (VISA, MasterCard, or American Express only--we do not accept Discover cards for these exams).

Policy on Repeating an Exam

You must wait six months from the test date to repeat a CLEP or DSST exam that you do not pass. This policy was set by the exam companies, not by the University of Indianapolis.

UIndy Exams Designed for Awarding Credit

UIndy grants credit for a number of faculty-written exams administered through the individual schools or through the Registrar's Office. The general guidelines listed above apply to any locally developed and administered exam. 

One such example is the proficiency exam for COMP150, Microcomputer Applications, offered Monday through Thursday, any time between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in the SAL office, Esch Hall 103. Successful completion of this $50.00 exam leads to 3.0 hours of credit for COMP150. The exam covers the four components of Microsoft Office 2007--Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access. Each part is worth 25% of the exam, and you must pass all four parts to receive credit for the course. To register for this exam, contact the Testing Administrator in person in Esch Hall 103M (11-7 weekdays, 10-4:30 Fridays).

UIndy Exams Designed for Granting Exemption or Determining Placement

A number of other exams are offered to students seeking exemption for or placement into certain courses. No credit is awarded for successful completion of these exams. Exams for exemption or placement are offered for English, modern languages (French, German, Spanish), mathematics, and music.

WARNING: Please read the Catalog to be sure you are complying with all degree requirements.  The university publishes its degree requirements in the University Catalog. The last 30 semester hours of work must be in courses taken at the University of Indianapolis. While these last 30 hours may include CLEP or DSST testing, do not defer testing until the end of your academic career. There have been several cases where students have not passed a particular exam and their graduation was deferred by as much as ONE YEAR! We recommend that you complete all CLEP and DSST testing before you have earned 92.0 credit hours (senior status). Students must also earn at least one-third of the hours required in the major at the University of Indianapolis. If you aspire to graduate with honors, please note that excessive credit by examination may prevent you from this recognition at graduation; details in the University Catalog.

For more information about any of these examinations, contact:

Testing Administrator
University of Indianapolis
1400 East Hanna Avenue
Indianapolis IN 46227-3697
317-788-3389
800-232-8634, extension 3389
E-Mail: sal@uindy.edu

Links to External Web Sites

College Board Home Page Non-SAL site
College Board's CLEP Page Non-SAL site
Purchase CLEP Official Study Guide Online Non-SAL site
Official CLEP Registration Form Adobe PDF Non-SAL site
DSST Home Page Non-SAL site
Excelsior College Examinations Non-SAL site

Links to other SAL Web Pages

Complete List of UIndy Testing Programs
Summary of UIndy testing rules Adobe PDF