Earn Credits By Exam

Advanced Placement (AP) – Administered by College Board, AP exams are commonly completed in high school. To send scores to CUNY SPS, use school code 758.

Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education Program (AICE)

The AICE program is an international advanced secondary curriculum, equivalent to the British “A-Level” system.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

• Students with an IB diploma and a score of 30 or higher receive 30 General Education credits.
• Students with a diploma score of 29 or lower, or no diploma, earn:
  • 7 credits for each higher-level exam with a score of 5 or higher
  • 3 credits for each standard-level exam with a score of 5 or higher

This seal appears on the student’s diploma and transcript. To earn it, students must demonstrate Intermediate High proficiency in English and one or more world languages, as defined by the NYS Learning Standards. To receive credit, students must submit an official high school transcript.

BYU Foreign Language Achievement Testing Service

• This exam offers over 50 language options. Students may earn credit for one exam in Mandarin and one in Cantonese (either simplified or traditional), but not two exams in the same language. Credit cannot be awarded for multiple exams within the same subject (e.g., BYU Spanish and CLEP Spanish).
• Cost: $50 per exam + $20 for online proctoring.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

• CLEP exams are administered by College Board. To send scores to CUNY SPS, use school code 4436.
• For exam prep and fee assistance, visit ModernStates.org.
• Cost: Approximately $97 per exam + $30 for online proctoring.

Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT)

Offered by the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC), DLPT exams assess language proficiency for service members, federal employees, and law enforcement personnel.

DSST exams

• DSST exams are available to adult learners, high school and college students, and military personnel. Exams cover a wide range of disciplines and are offered both online and in person.
• To send transcripts to CUNY SPS, use school code 9323.
• Cost: Around $100, with potential additional fees.

Saylor Direct Credit Exams

• Saylor Academy offers self-paced online courses with two exams per course. CUNY SPS accepts the proctored Direct Credit Final Exam for college credit.
• Cost: Free account + $5 proctoring fee per exam through Smarterproctoring.
• Request your transcript from Saylor Academy and have it sent to CUNY SPS. Saylor transcripts are free.
• Score Requirements:
  • Major/Minor credit: 73% or higher
  • General elective credit: 70% or higher

They represent Common Core requirement areas. Here's what each abbreviation stands for: 

• CE - Creative Expression
• CO - College Option
• EC - English Composition
• IS - Individual & Society
• LPS - Life & Physical Science
• MQR - Math & Quantitative Reasoning
• SW - Scientific World
• US - US Experience in its Diversity
• WCGI - World Cultures & Global Issues

To receive credit, you must submit an official transcript or score report to TransferCPL@sps.cuny.edu. CLEP and AP scores are sent electronically to CUNY SPS. If you're unsure whether your scores have been received, contact TransferCPL@sps.cuny.edu for confirmation. You can also reach out to the CPL department at PLA@sps.cuny.edu for additional support.

Exams have credit recommendation dates set by either the American Council on Education (ACE) or the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS). These organizations periodically reevaluate exams to determine if they still meet college-level learning standards. 

In most cases, exams continue to be accepted without issue. However, occasionally the review process takes longer than expected, or an exam requires updates, making it temporarily unavailable. 

We monitor these changes closely and will update the CPL page if an exam becomes unavailable or is reinstated.

Once your credit is processed, it will appear in your Degree Works report—typically within 48 hours. CPL credits are recorded with a “CR” grade, which means you’ve earned the credit but it does not affect your GPA.

Remote proctoring allows you to take an exam from a remote location, such as your home. A proctoring company verifies your identity and monitors the exam session using a webcam and/or specialized software. 

Because exam providers work with different proctoring companies, it's important to review the specific technical requirements before registering. These typically include a computer, webcam, microphone, and speakers. Some companies may not support Mac devices, so be sure to check compatibility before paying for remote proctoring.

You can take exams at any point during your time at SPS as they are not tied to semester schedules. You may begin as soon as you become a student or even during the application process. The only firm deadline is that all exams must be completed and submitted before the graduation application deadline in your final semester.

No, CUNY SPS does not administer or host exams directly. To take an exam, you must register and complete it through the appropriate exam provider. SPS accepts credit from approved exams but does not facilitate the testing process.