There are several ways to earn credit at Texas A&M by demonstrating superior achievement on tests offered through the following examination programs. Credit by Examination to include Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), SAT subject tests, DANTES Subject Standardized Tests and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

Students come to Texas A&M University at Galveston with a variety of educational experiences and backgrounds. In order to build upon this diversity, Texas A&M University encourages the use of Credit by Examination (CBE) opportunities to place students in the most advanced course for which they are prepared.   

College-Level Examination Program - CLEP

The College-Level Examination Program - CLEP© gives students at Texas A&M University at Galveston the opportunity to earn college credit for what the student already knows by earning qualifying scores on one or more CLEP© examinations.  These exams test your knowledge of introductory college-level subjects.

Study Guides are available at most major bookstores.  The College Board Official CLEP© Study Guide book is also available online at the College Board web site.  Individual study guides can be purchased online for a fee.

CLEP© tests require two payments: 1) a non-refundable fee of $35 payable to the university by cash, check or money order, and 2) a $77 CLEP© exam fee made payable to CLEP© by credit card, personal check or money order.  There is an additional $50 fee paid by check to TAMU if a CLEP test is sent to TAMU to grade the required essays. 

CLEP© tests are not given during New Student Conferences.  You may contact The Office of Academic Enhancement at (409) 741-4343 to schedule your CLEP©. 

Additional information on exams

Requirements for Credit by Examination

• Must be an admitted or officially enrolled student
• CBE tests are offered during new student orientations or by appointment through the Office of Academic Enhancement, call (409) 741-4340 for more information.
• There is no limit to the number of hours that may be earned through the CBE program. Credit earned through the CBE program, however, does not apply toward meeting university residence requirements.
• All CBE credit is awarded without grade and is not included in the calculation of Grade Point Ratios.
• Credit earned by examination will not jeopardize eligibility for scholarships that require freshman standing.
• A student may claim CBE credits at any point during their undergraduate program. Once claimed, credit cannot be declined.
• A student may not obtain credit by taking the Credit by Examination for courses in which he or she is currently registered or has acquired a grade other than Q, or W or NG.
• A student who is enrolled in a course past the Q-drop deadline will lose any CBE credit previously claimed for that course, regardless of the outcome of the course.
• First year grade exclusion does not restore eligibility for Credit By Examination.
• Students may not receive credit by examination for courses that are prerequisites to courses for which they already have credit except with the approval of the department authorizing the exam and the Associate Vice President for Research and Academic Affairs.
• Credit earned via credit by examination will be replaced in a student's academic record when a passing grade is earned in the corresponding course. Credit earned via credit by examination, however, will not be forfeited as a result of aborted course attempts.
• Test scores and/or credit eligibility must be reported to Admissions and Records who will report information to Measurement and Research Services (MARS) for credit by examination to be awarded. Credit is posted to the academic record once appropriate scores are received by MARS and the student has officially enrolled in the university.
• Only Texas A&M University administrations of appropriate tests or official score reports from an approved testing agency are acceptable for credit, e.g., official reports from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) are required for the College Board Achievement Tests, the Advanced Placement Program and the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Informal score reports or results of special administrations of national tests from other institutions are not accepted for credit.
• Officially enrolled students who believe they are proficient in the material of an undergraduate course for which the responsible department does not routinely offer CBE may initiate a course challenge by the last day to drop classes without record. The challenge process begins when the student completes the CBE request form and presents it to the department offering the course. Department approval is required before a new challenge exam will be offered. If the exam process is not permitted, reasons for disapproval are recorded on the CBE request.
• Credit by Examination requires a student fee of $50 for each test that will be used to support such activities as test administration, preparation, selection of exams, scoring, analysis and reporting.

If you have any questions about CBE credit, please contact The Office of Academic Enhancement at (409) 741-4341.