Standardized Tests - Procedures

Completing standardized exams is a very popular way for adult learners to earn credit. By taking tests in areas in which you already have experience and knowledge, you may quickly earn credits that can be applied toward completion of your South Central College degree.

There are many standardized exams and numerous test providers. To help guide you toward the exams that are accepted at South Central College please visit the pages highlighted below. You should reference the CPL General Procedure to get started. Your Credit for Prior Learning Coordinator is a valuable resource in determining if testing will work for you.

Standardized Exams General Procedure
Advanced Placement Exam (AP)
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST)
Excelsior College Examinations (UExcel)
International Baccalaureate (IB)
New York University Foreign Language Proficiency (NYUFLP)
National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI)
Thomas Edison College Examination Program (TECEP)

Standardized Exams General Procedure
Credit for prior learning can be earned through standardized exams administered by nationally recognized testing organizations.

  1. Admitted students must have an official score report sent directly to South Central College, Attn: CPL Coordinator; 1920 Lee Boulevard, North Mankato, MN 56003.
  2. When a standardized examination outcome covers substantially similar material to course competencies, SCC will award equivalent course credit.
  3. When a standardized examination outcome is deemed to be college-level, but is not substantially similar to an existing course, elective course credits may be granted in a program area and/or in a Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) goal area(s).
  4. There is no limit to the total number of credits a student may earn through standardized or national exams so long as the total earned credits apply to their academic program and do not exceed the academic program credit limit.
  5. Credits earned through standardized exams are not resident credits and may not be used to satisfy resident credit requirements for graduation nor do the credits count toward financial aid calculations.
  6. The list of available standardized and national exams and the number of credits granted at SCC is available on our CPL Course List page.

Advanced Placement Exam (AP)
Advanced Placement is a program of the College Entrance Examination Board through which secondary students complete college-level courses in high schools that are designated as AP and earn college credits by demonstrating a specified level of performance on AP examinations. The AP examinations, which are scored on a 5-point scale, can be taken by any student who feels prepared by independent study or other preparation as well as by students who complete AP courses.

SCC will grant credit for AP examinations according to the following:

  • A score of 3 shall be the minimum for credit awards
  • AP testing information can be found at www.collegeboard.org/AP

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Credits may be awarded through the successful completion of CLEP in the general examinations in composition and literature, history and social sciences, and science and mathematics, provided no previous academic credits have been earned in these areas.

SCC will award credit for the completion of CLEP with a score of 50 or higher with the exception of Level 2 foreign language examinations for which a minimum score of 63 for German language, 62 for French language, and 66 for Spanish language is required.

DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST)
DSST exams are available to anyone who is seeking college credit outside the traditional classroom, including college students, adult learners, high school students, and military personnel. Credit may be awarded in subject areas such as social sciences, math, applied technology, business, physical sciences, and humanities.

Excelsior College Examinations (UExcel)
UExcel Excelsior College Examination Program is a credit by examination program offered in a computer-based format. Credit may be awarded in subject areas such as business, education, humanities, natural sciences & mathematics, nursing, social sciences/history, technology, and business ethics.

International Baccalaureate (IB)
The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is an internationally recognized program through which secondary students complete a comprehensive curriculum of rigorous study and demonstrate performance on IB examinations. The examination for the diploma covers six subjects, three or four of which must be at the higher level and others at the subsidiary level. Students may present an official IB diploma or a certificate recognizing specific higher level or subsidiary level test scores for consideration.

SCC will grant credit for IB examinations according to the following:

  • IB diploma
  • Students who attain an IB diploma will be granted six (6) lower division course credits for scores of 4 or higher on each higher level IB examinations and two (2) lower division course credits for scores of 4 or higher on each standard level IB examination
  • Individual IB examinations
  • Higher level examinations. A student will receive three (3) or more course credits for scores of 4 or higher on individual higher level IB examinations
  • Standard level examinations. A student shall receive two (2) or more credits for scores of 4 or higher on individual standard level IB examinations
  • IB testing information can be found at www.ibo.org

New York University Foreign Language Proficiency (NYUFLP)
The NYU School of Professional Studies offers more than 50 different language-testing examinations to evaluate knowledge of a foreign language.

National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI)
SCC may grant credit to students who have met or exceeded national average scores on the NOCTI assessments for specific skill sets in specific program areas.

  • Students are responsible to provide documentation to support their request

Thomas Edison College Examination Program (TECEP)
TECEP® exams are similar to final exams for college courses and are available to adults who have acquired college-level knowledge outside the classroom. Credit may be awarded in subject areas such as English composition, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences/mathematics, business and management, computer science technology, and applied science and technology.