Skip to main content

Credit by Examination

Credit-By-Examination

Norfolk State University accepts the stringency and thoroughness that the curricula of the Advanced Placement (AP), Cambridge Advanced (A/AS Level), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs provide to high school students. Students who earn qualifying scores in AP, A/AS, CLEP or IB subject examinations may have those credits transferred as equivalent course credits at Norfolk State University. This policy does not apply to freshmen students applying to or who are admitted into the Dozoretz National Institute for Mathematics and Applied Sciences (DNIMAS) at Norfolk State University for the Math, Sciences, and English courses.

Norfolk State University will review AP, Cambridge, CLEP, and IB exams in comparison to its course offerings and curricular requirements to determine the proper grant of credit for each level of performance at or above the minimal specified:

  • 3 or higher on an Advanced Placement examination
  • 4 or higher on a higher level International Baccalaureate examination
  • 5 or higher on a standard level International Baccalaureate examination
  • 50 or higher on a CLEP examination
  • E or higher on a Cambridge Advanced examination
     

See the University's complete Policy on Awarding of College Credit for Examinations.


International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) Exams

Both IB and AP provides high school students an opportunity to take college-level courses while still in high school and earn college course credits.  IB and AP course credits are not transferred into the DNIMAS Program.


Cambridge Exams (A/AS)


CLEP/DSST 

A list of approved CLEP courses and credits is also available for review.  The CLEP testing fee is $93.00 and the Testing Services administration fee is $30.00, per exam.  Contact the testing center at (757) 823-2504 or testing center@nsu.edu to schedule your CLEP exam. To cancel or reschedule, contact the testing center at least 48 hours prior to your appointment.

Testing Services is a fully funded CLEP test center. The United States government offers funding for all 34 CLEP exams through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES).  DANTES will cover exam fees and the test administration fees for CLEP and DSST exams for eligible participants taking a test for the first time. If military test takers want to retake an exam previously funded by DANTES, they need to wait three months and pay the $90.00 CLEP exam fee or the $100.00 DSST exam fee, in addition to the $30.00 administrative fee required by the testing center.


Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

CLEP is committed to working with test-takers with disabilities. Only students with documented hearing, learning, physical or visual disabilities are eligible to receive testing accommodations. Contact NSU Testing Services prior to registration to ensure that the accommodation you need is available. If you do not attend NSU, you must submit an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) from your score recipient institution, or comparable documentation, to the NSU Office of Accessibility Services/International Student Services (O.A.S.I.S.).  O.A.S.I.S. will provide you with guidelines for submitting documentation and approving accommodations.

Testing accommodations that may be provided with appropriate disability documentation include:

  • ZoomText (screen magnification)
  • Modifiable screen colors
  • Use of a reader or amanuensis or sign language interpreter
  • Scripts (for language exams)
  • Extended time
  • Untimed rest breaks
     

Modern States Freshman Year For Free

Modern States will pay for you to take the CLEP exam. Complete all coursework and fill out the Modern States CLEP Voucher Request Form for a payment voucher. There are no prerequisites for the 32 courses offered, and all are self-paced. 

Modern States Main Student Journey - Video

Registering with Modern States is free and easy.  Learn more about signing up with Modern States