Exams for Credit

National Standardized Tests

Credits earned through this process:

May or may not transfer to other colleges or universities-exams are re-evaluated upon transfer to another institution so students planning to transfer should check with the transfer institution to determine if and how credits are awarded
Do not fulfill the requirement of completing 15 credits at PCC
Cannot be used in qualifying a student for veterans’ education benefits
Are not eligible for financial assistance
Are awarded a grade of “TP” and will not be stated in terms of a specific course grade. No record is made of failing scores.
Have a limit of 30 credits
Are reviewed annually by the respective discipline faculty

Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Cambridge International Exams (CIE) Programs

Taking AP, IB or CIE courses in high school can accelerate a student’s college career. Credits earned based on exam performance may be counted toward a certificate or degree. Contact a Pima Community College advisor to confirm course credit toward specific programs.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Dantes (DSST)

CLEP and DSST offer a means by which students can obtain college credits without having to enroll formally in the courses. Pima Community College accepts certain CLEP and DSST for college credit, providing satisfactory scores are attained. Students must pay a registration service fee and an examination fee for each test. For further information on CLEP tests please see the Challenge Exams page on the PCC website.

Exam Equivalency