Credit By Exam
Undergraduate students may receive credit for a Saint Leo University course by taking an examination in place of the actual course.
Up to 30 credits can be earned through each individual type of examination. The maximum limit on standardized examination transfer credits is 40.
Before taking these exams, we recommend you speak with your Saint Leo University academic advisor and fully research these tests and their equivalencies.
AP Credit
Advanced Placement Credit
Saint Leo University students who studied beyond the level of the traditional secondary school curriculum while still in high school may be eligible for Advanced Placement credit through AP Exams. For students who score 3 or above on certain AP Exams, Saint Leo University offers credit in equivalent courses.
Ordering Your AP Score Report
Find out how to order your AP Score Report on the College Board's website.
International Baccalaureate
Students earning IB diplomas may be considered for admission as sophomores. Saint Leo awards 30 semester hours of credit to students who have completed the IB diploma and have obtained a 5, 6, or 7 in their higher-level or standard-level subjects. Students who have completed the IB diploma and have obtained a 4 in their higher-level subjects will receive credit on a case-by-case basis. Students who do not complete the full diploma will receive six semester hours of credit for higher-level examination results of 5, 6, or 7 on a case-by-case basis. High school students with IB diplomas or IB credit are not considered transfer students.
Learn about how your IB exam credits are applied at Saint Leo University.
Cambridge AICE Exam Credits
Saint Leo University accepts credits for passing scores of A, B, C, D or E on the British AS-Level or A-Level courses. No credit is offered for Ordinary Level courses.
CLEP
College-Level Examination Program
The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) offers you the opportunity to earn college credit through achieving qualifying scores on standardized tests that assess college-level knowledge in various subject areas.
CLEP is useful for students who have obtained knowledge outside the classroom, such as through independent study, job experience, or cultural interaction. CLEP also offers international and homeschooled students the opportunity to demonstrate their proficiency in subject areas and bypass undergraduate coursework.
Credit by Exam for Active Military & Veterans
Credit-by-examination subject tests are available free of charge for all qualifying U.S. armed forces personnel through funding from the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES).
DANTES
Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support
Use your military service smarts to earn college credit.
To assist military personnel in meeting their educational goals, the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) funds CLEP exams for eligible military service members and eligible civilian employees.
The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) offers you the opportunity to earn college credit through achieving qualifying scores on standardized tests that assess college-level knowledge in various subject areas. Saint Leo University grants credit to students who meet minimum qualifying scores, which vary by subject.
Who is Eligible?
CLEP exams are free to the following military personnel and civilian employees.
- Military personnel (Active Duty and Reserve): Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, Army Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army and Air National Guard
- Eligible civilian employees and spouses of participating Reserve Component and Coast Guard personnel
- Department of Defense Acquisition Personnel (only eligible for the following computer-based exams: Principles of Macroeconomics, Principles of Microeconomics and Principles of Marketing)
Military veterans can seek reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for CLEP exams and fees under provisions of the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-454), which enhances the education benefits of the Montgomery GI Bill®.
Please review the DSST/Dantes Subject Standardized Tests Transferability Table for more information.
*GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
ECE
Excelsior College Exams
Use Excelsior College Exams (ECEs) to earn college-level credit in select subject areas by passing related proficiency exams. Most exams are objective multiple-choice exams, though some are entirely essay. All the tests examine not only facts and terminology, but also the application of essential concepts and skills.
The American Council on Education's College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT) has evaluated and recommended college credit for ECEs.
ECEs for U.S. Military
Military personnel may take ECEs free of charge. DANTES funds ECEs taken at authorized DANTES Test Centers or authorized national test centers for all active duty military, National Guard, and Reserve Component personnel.
Prior Learning Experience
Accelerate your degree by earning undergraduate credit for subject examinations, and military, corporate, and career training.
Formal Educational Programs and Courses
Sponsored by Corporations and Non-Collegiate Organizations
Collect your corporate training certificates. The Registrar may give you credit if they meet the credit recommendations established by the National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs or the Directory of the National Program on Non-Collegiate Sponsored Instruction (PONSI).
Military Courses and Training
Saint Leo University accepts credits for military courses and training as long as these credits are earned or validated by the National Guide to Educational Credit for Training programs published by the American Council on Education (ACE) and/or the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. The maximum number of credits that can be transferred is 39.
The following documents are acceptable documentation for the evaluation of military credit:
- Army: AARTS Institutional Copy (please call 866-297-4427 for eligibility) or a notarized copy of your DD-214
- Navy/Marines: SMART Institutional Copy (please call 877-253-7122 for eligibility) or a notarized copy of your DD-214
- Air Force: Official transcript from the Community College of the Air Force or a notarized copy of your DD-214
- Coast Guard: Official transcript from the Coast Guard Institute or a notarized copy of your DD-214
Police, Nursing, and Other Career Training
If you have career training with courses of more than 40 hours, Saint Leo University's Registrar will evaluate your transcripts or your official training center certificates. A maximum of 24 credits can be awarded.