Earn Credits By Exam

College-level exams are a great way to save time and money while earning credit toward your degree. These exams assess your knowledge in various subjects, and if you achieve the required score and submit it to CUNY SPS, you may receive college credit.

Credits earned through exams may be applied to:

  • Specific SPS courses
  • General Education requirement areas
  • Elective credits 

Because CUNY SPS has a generous CPL policy, multiple exams may fulfill the same course or credit requirement. You can choose the exam that best fits your needs based on:

  • Cost
  • Exam location (in-person or remote)
  • Available study materials

Some exams, such as CLEP, DSST, and Saylor, have deadlines for when they are accepted. Be sure to check that your chosen exam is still eligible by visiting the CPL Updates Page.

Accepted Exams usually completed prior to applying and becoming a student at CUNY SPS:

Accepted Exams that can be completed prior to applying and be completed while a student at CUNY SPS: 

These exams may be taken either before applying or while enrolled at CUNY SPS. They offer flexible, cost-effective ways to earn college credit.

 

Common Core Abbreviations

Approved exams award credit for a specific course or a common core requirement. If an exam meets a common core requirement, please refer to the legend below.

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

PLA Exam Equivalencies

Minimum Grade Requirement for Exams:

To earn credit for certain majors or minors at CUNY SPS, a minimum grade of C or better is required. If you are taking an exam for credit to apply to certain majors or minors, the following minimum scores are needed to meet this requirement:
• AP – 3 or above
• CLEP – 50 or above
• DSST – 400 or above
•Saylor – 73% or above (for major or minor courses)

Please note: While a score of 70% is the general minimum for earning credit through Saylor exams,if you are using the Saylor exam for a major or minor course, you must score at least 73% to meet the C or better requirement. For more information on specific grade requirements for your degree, consult the college catalog.

 

Students with any of the above approved Credit for Prior Learning Examinations may contact TransferCPL@sps.cuny.edu for further evaluation.