CLEP Testing

​​​​​The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a rigorous College Board program that allows students of a wide range of ages to demonstrate their mastery of college-level material in introductory subjects and earn college credit. CLEP offers examinations that represent courses typical of the first two years of college study.

CLEP may be for you if…

  • You have done college level work outside the college setting
  • You want to save time and money
  • You want to bypass introductory classes in a subject area you already know

How will CLEP credit be awarded for DMACC students?

  • Students must be admitted or enrolled in a program of study at DMACC.
  • Scores on the exam must equal or surpass the minimum required by DMACC.
  • After a student has earned 12 semester hours of credit in residence, the credit earned by examination will recorded on the transcript.
  • A maximum of 30 credits earned by examination may be used to meet degree requirements at DMACC.
  • CLEP Procedure - ES4544​

Will credit earned by CLEP while attending DMACC transfer to other institutions:
CLEP credit earned while attending DMACC usually transfers to other colleges or universities; however, you must meet the minimum score requirements of the school to which you are transferring. DMACC does not assume responsibility for the transferability of CLEP credits.

When and where are examinations given?
Exams are given by appointment throughout the year at the Urban, Boone and Ankeny Campuses. Students must register with College Board (http://clep.collegeboard.org) and pay for an exam before contacting a DMACC campus to take a CLEP exam. The examinations take 90 minutes. Not all CLEP exams are available. Essay Sections not offered for CLEP exams.

How much does the CLEP exam cost?
College Board accesses an $89 exam fee, payable to CLEP when you create a login and register for an exam at https://clep.collegeboard.org/register.
A $33 proctor fee will be assessed at the DMACC testing locations in Ankeny, Urban Campus , or Boone Academic Achievement Center when you arrive to take your scheduled exam.

How can I make an appointment for the CLEP exam?
You may make an appointment for CLEP on the Boone Campus by calling 515-433-5095, Ankeny Campus by calling 515-964-6595, or Urban Campus by calling 515-697-7807​.

What can I do to study for these tests?
Books are available through local libraries and book-stores to help prepare for the CLEP examinations. These are comprehensive and contain sample test questions and other helpful information. Copies are available in the DMACC library. There is also material located at http://clep.collegeboard.org.

When are you allowed to retest?
Students must wait 3 months before retesting.

For official CLEP transcripts contact College Board at http://clep.collegeboard.org.

Subject Exams DMACC EquivalentMinimum Score Needed Credit Hours
American Government
POL 11150​3
Analysis & Interpretive Literature LIT 10151​4
Biology, GeneralTRF 225
​50
3
Business Law, Introductory BUS 18550​3
ChemistryTRF 225
​50
3
College French FLF 15150​5
FLF 151/152​62
10
College GermanTRF 230
50​4
TRF 230
​63
8
College Spanish FLS 15150​5
FLS 151/15266​10
English Literature LIT 142​50
3
Financial Accounting ACC 13150​4
History of the US I
HIS 15150​3
History of the US II
HIS 15250​3
Human Growth & Development PSY 121​50
3
Humanities
TRF 230
​50
6
​Information Systems & Computer Applications
​​CSC 116
50​​3
Macroeconomics
ECN 120​50
3
​Microeconomics
​ECN 130
​50
​3
Management, Principles of
MGT 10150​
3
Marketing, Principles of​
MKT 110​50
3
Mathematics, CollegeTRF 215
50​6
Natural ScienceTRF 225
​50
6
Psychology, Introductory PSY 11150​3
Social Science & HistoryTRF 273
50​6
Sociology, Introductory SOC 11050​3
Trigonometry MAT 13054​3
Western Civ I
HIS 11050​3
Western Civ II
HIS 11150​3

Updated August 2022


Other CLEP exams offered, but not accepted for credit by DMACC:

  • American Literature
  • College Composition
  • College Composition Modular (test not offered at DMACC)
  • Educational Psychology, Intro
  • Pre-Calculus and Calculus
  • College Algebra