College Level Examination Program (CLEP) 2023-2024

CLEP Exams are offered by the College Board to give students an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge in academic subjects through a national, standardized exam.

If you received a score of at least 50 on a CLEP exam, you can:

Request your official CLEP scores to be sent from “My CLEP Account” on the College Board website to your SMCCCD college
Please Note: 
If you have submitted your scores to another institution outside our district, you will need to submit your scores again to SMCCCD.

Upon receipt of your official CLEP scores, we will determine course/unit equivalencies according to the SMCCCD CLEP Credit equivalency guide, and post coursework and units to your SMCCCD transcripts. You should meet with a counselor upon notification to determine if you wish to accept, decline or appeal the CLEP course equivalency.

The following chart outlines the application of credit for College Level Examination Program (CLEP) towards each SMCCCD College’s Coursework, Associate Degree General Education (GE) requirements, California State University General Education (GE) Breadth Certification.

If your SMCCCD college does not offer a course similar in content to an CLEP exam, the college will award credit in the General Education area shown on the California Community College General Education CLEP List. If there is no General Education area that aligns the CLEP exam, the College may award elective credit.

Please Note: 

  • Grades and Grade Points will not be assigned to CLEP Credit.
  • The catalog year of the College Level Examination Program Policy at the time in which the exam was taken, will be applied when determining credit earned.
  • If a student passes more than one CLEP test in the same language other than English, then only one examination may be applied for credit. For each test in a language other than English, a passing score of 0 is considered "Level I" and earns six units of baccalaureate credit; the higher score listed for each test is considered "Level II" and earns additional units of credit and placement in Area C2 of GE Breadth, as noted.
  • If you have any questions regarding Math and English placement or College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit please contact your counselor.
  • If you plan to transfer to another institution, please be aware that every college/university has their own policies about Credit for Prior Learning. What was accepted at SMCCCD may not be accepted at another institution. Please consult your intended transfer institution.

All units listed are semester units.

SMCCCD CLEP Credit Equivalency Guide

Subject Exam

SMCCCD Course Equivalent

Passing Score 

SMCCCD Associate Degree GE Area (3 Semester Units)

CSU Credit Units (Units not applied at SMCCCD)

CSU GE Breadth Area

CSU GE Breadth Units

American Government

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: D

CSM: E5B

3

D

3

American Literature

LIT 202

50

Skyline & Cañada: C2

CSM: E2C or E5C

3

C2

3

Analyzing and Interpreting Literature

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: C2

CSM: E2C or E5C

3

C2

3

Biology

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: B2

CSM: E5A

3

B2

3

Calculus

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency

CSM: C1 and E2C

3

B4

3

Chemistry

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: B1

CSM: E5A

3

B1

3

College Algebra

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency

CSM: C1 and E2C

3

B4

3

College Algebra – Trigonometry

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency

CSM: C1 and E2C

3

B4

3

College Composition

N/A

50

N/A

0

N/A

0

College Composition-Modular

N/A

50

N/A

0

N/A

0

College Mathematics

N/A

50

N/A

0

N/A

0

English Composition (no essay)

N/A

50

N/A

0

N/A

0

English Composition (with essay)

N/A

50

N/A

0

N/A

0

Financial Accounting

N/A

50

N/A

3

N/A

0

French Level I 

N/A

50

N/A

6

N/A

0

French Level II 

N/A

59

Skyline & Cañada: C2

CSM: E5C

9

C2

3

Freshman College Composition

N/A

50

N/A

0

N/A

0

German Level I 

N/A

50

N/A

6

N/A

0

German Level II

N/A

60

Skyline & Cañada: C2

CSM: E5C

9

C2

3

History, United States I

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: D Meets US History Specific Area

CSM: E5B

3

D and US 1

3

History, United States II

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: D Meets US History Specific Area

CSM: E5B

3

D and US 1

3

Human Growth and Development

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: E

CSM: E5B

3

E

3

Humanities

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: C2

CSM: E5C

3

C2

3

Information System and Computer Applications

N/A

50

N/A

3

N/A

0

Introduction to Educational Psychology

N/A

50

N/A

3

N/A

0

Introductory Business Law

BUS 201

50

N/A

3

N/A

0

Introductory Psychology

PSYC 100

50

Skyline & Cañada: D

CSM: E5B

3

D

3

Introductory Sociology

SOCI 100

50

Skyline & Cañada: D

CSM: E5B

3

D

3

Natural Sciences

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: B1 or B2

CSM: E5A

3

B1 or B2

3

Pre-Calculus

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency

CSM: C1 and E2C

3

B4

3

Principles of Accounting

N/A

50

N/A

3

N/A

0

Principles of Management

N/A

50

N/A

3

N/A

0

Principles of Marketing

BUS 180

50

N/A

3

N/A

0

Principles of Macroeconomics

ECON 100

50

Skyline & Cañada: D

CSM: E5B

3

D

3

Principles of Microeconomics

ECON 102

50

Skyline & Cañada: D

CSM: E5B

3

D

3

Social Sciences and History

N/A

50

N/A

0

N/A

0

Spanish Level I 

N/A

50

N/A

6

N/A

0

Spanish Level II 

N/A

63

N/A

9

C2 

3

Western Civilization I

N/A

50

N/A

3

C2 or D

3

Western Civilization II

N/A

50

N/A

3

D

3