College Level Examination Program (CLEP) 2024-25
The San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) grants credit to students who attain satisfactory scores on certain College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams. SMCCCD grants credit to students who attain scores of 50 or higher, toward its local associate degree general education requirements and CSU General Education-Breadth (GE) certification. The University of California does not award credit for CLEP. CLEP credit does not apply to IGETC requirements.
Meet with a counselor for specific information regarding CLEP placement and credit awarded. Students intending to transfer to a four-year institution should consult a counselor or the individual university regarding its CLEP credit policy.
To receive credit, students must submit their official CLEP scores to their SMCCCD college. For information about obtaining a transcript, contact the College Board.
CLEP Exams are offered by the College Board to give students an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge in academic subjects through a national, standardized exam.
If you took a CLEP exam and received a minimum score of 50 or higher in a subject, you can:
- Request your official CLEP scores be sent from your “My CLEP Account” on the College Board website to your SMCCCD college. NOTE: If you have submitted your scores to another institution outside our district, you will need to submit your scores again to SMCCCD.
- Upon receipt of your official CLEP scores, course/unit equivalencies will be determined according to the SMCCCD CLEP Credit Equivalency Guide; coursework and units will be posted to your SMCCCD transcripts. Upon notification, meet with a counselor to determine if you wish to accept, decline, or appeal the application of the International Baccalaureate credit to your transcript.
The following chart outlines the application of credit for College Level Examination Program (CLEP) toward each SMCCCD college’s coursework, associate degree general education (GE) requirements, and California State University General Education-Breadth (GE) certification.
If your SMCCCD college does not offer a course similar in content to a CLEP exam, the college will award credit in the general education area shown in the SMCCCD CLEP Equivalency Guide below. If a CLEP exam does not align with any general education area, the college may award elective credit.
Please note:
- Grades and grade points will not be assigned to CLEP Credit.
- The catalog year of the College Level Examination Program Policy, when the exam was taken, will be applied when determining credit earned.
- If a student passes more than one CLEP test in the same language other than English, then only one examination may be applied for credit. For each test in a language other than English, a passing score of 0 is considered "Level I" and earns six units of baccalaureate credit; the higher score listed for each test is considered "Level II" and earns additional units of credit and placement in Area C2 of GE Breadth, as noted.
- Contact a counselor if you have any questions about Math and English placement or CLEP credit.
- If you plan to transfer to another institution, please be aware that every college/university has its own policies about Credit for Prior Learning. What was accepted at SMCCCD may not be accepted at another institution. The University of California does not award credit for CLEP. Please consult your intended transfer institution(s).
All units listed are semester units.
SMCCCD CLEP Credit Equivalency Guide
|
Subject Exam |
SMCCCD Course Equivalent |
Passing Score |
SMCCCD Associate Degree GE Area (3 Semester Units) |
CSU Credit Units (Units not applied at SMCCCD) |
CSU GE Breadth Area |
CSU GE Breadth Units |
|
American Government |
N/A |
50 |
Skyline & Cañada: D CSM: E5B |
3 |
D |
3 |
|
American Literature |
LIT 202 |
50 |
Skyline & Cañada: C2 CSM: E2C or E5C |
3 |
C2 |
3 |
|
Analyzing and Interpreting Literature |
N/A |
50 |
Skyline & Cañada: C2 CSM: E2C or E5C |
3 |
C2 |
3 |
|
Biology |
N/A |
50 |
Skyline & Cañada: B2 CSM: E5A |
3 |
B2 |
3 |
|
Calculus |
N/A |
50 |
Skyline & Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency CSM: C1 and E2C |
3 |
B4 |
3 |
|
Chemistry |
N/A |
50 |
Skyline & Cañada: B1 CSM: E5A |
3 |
B1 |
3 |
|
College Algebra |
N/A |
50 |
Skyline & Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency CSM: C1 and E2C |
3 |
B4 |
3 |
|
College Algebra – Trigonometry |
N/A |
50 |
Skyline & Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency CSM: C1 and E2C |
3 |
B4 |
3 |
|
College Composition |
N/A |
50 |
N/A |
0 |
N/A |
0 |
|
College Composition-Modular |
N/A |
50 |
N/A |
0 |
N/A |
0 |
|
College Mathematics |
N/A |
50 |
N/A |
0 |
N/A |
0 |
|
English Composition (no essay) |
N/A |
50 |
N/A |
0 |
N/A |
0 |
|
English Composition (with essay) |
N/A |
50 |
N/A |
0 |
N/A |
0 |
|
Financial Accounting |
N/A |
50 |
N/A |
3 |
N/A |
0 |
|
French Level I |
N/A |
50 |
N/A |
6 |
N/A |
0 |
|
French Level II |
N/A |
59 |
Skyline & Cañada: C2 CSM: E5C |
9 |
C2 |
3 |
|
Freshman College Composition |
N/A |
50 |
N/A |
0 |
N/A |
0 |
|
German Level I |
N/A |
50 |
N/A |
6 |
N/A |
0 |
|
German Level II |
N/A |
60 |
Skyline & Cañada: C2 CSM: E5C |
9 |
C2 |
3 |
|
History, United States I |
N/A |
50 |
Skyline & Cañada: D Meets US History Specific Area CSM: E5B |
3 |
D and US 1 |
3 |
|
History, United States II |
N/A |
50 |
Skyline & Cañada: D Meets US History Specific Area CSM: E5B |
3 |
D and US 1 |
3 |
|
Human Growth and Development |
N/A |
50 |
Skyline & Cañada: E CSM: E5B |
3 |
E |
3 |
|
Humanities |
N/A |
50 |
Skyline & Cañada: C2 CSM: E5C |
3 |
C2 |
3 |
|
Information System and Computer Applications |
N/A |
50 |
N/A |
3 |
N/A |
0 |
|
Introduction to Educational Psychology |
N/A |
50 |
N/A |
3 |
N/A |
0 |
|
Introductory Business Law |
BUS 201 |
50 |
N/A |
3 |
N/A |
0 |
|
Introductory Psychology |
PSYC 100 |
50 |
Skyline & Cañada: D CSM: E5B |
3 |
D |
3 |
|
Introductory Sociology |
SOCI 100 |
50 |
Skyline & Cañada: D CSM: E5B |
3 |
D |
3 |
|
Natural Sciences |
N/A |
50 |
Skyline & Cañada: B1 or B2 CSM: E5A |
3 |
B1 or B2 |
3 |
|
Pre-Calculus |
N/A |
50 |
Skyline & Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency CSM: C1 and E2C |
3 |
B4 |
3 |
|
Principles of Accounting |
N/A |
50 |
N/A |
3 |
N/A |
0 |
|
Principles of Management |
N/A |
50 |
N/A |
3 |
N/A |
0 |
|
Principles of Marketing |
BUS 180 |
50 |
N/A |
3 |
N/A |
0 |
|
Principles of Macroeconomics |
ECON 100 |
50 |
Skyline & Cañada: D CSM: E5B |
3 |
D |
3 |
|
Principles of Microeconomics |
ECON 102 |
50 |
Skyline & Cañada: D CSM: E5B |
3 |
D |
3 |
|
Social Sciences and History |
N/A |
50 |
N/A |
0 |
N/A |
0 |
|
Spanish Level I |
N/A |
50 |
N/A |
6 |
N/A |
0 |
|
Spanish Level II |
N/A |
63 |
N/A |
9 |
C2 |
3 |
|
Western Civilization I |
N/A |
50 |
N/A |
3 |
C2 or D |
3 |
|
Western Civilization II |
N/A |
50 |
N/A |
3 |
D |
3 |