Standalone Verification Module

Verify Before You Test — The #1 Rule of Credit Stacking.

Before you schedule a single exam, before you spend a dollar on test prep, before you tell anyone your plan — verify. The fastest way to waste time and money is to pass an exam your school does not accept.

Start Verification
Non-negotiable: do not schedule any CLEP, DSST, AP, Sophia, StraighterLine, or other alternative credit until you have a written answer showing how it applies to your degree.
1

Check Transferology.

Go to transferology.org. Search your school. Look up each exam you are considering. If it shows as accepted, proceed to Step 2. If it does not show up, that does not mean it is rejected. It means you need to ask directly.

2

Check your school's website.

Search "[your school name] CLEP policy" or "credit by examination". Many schools publish a table of accepted exams with minimum scores. Save or screenshot this page because policies change and you want proof of what was posted when you checked.

3

Email your academic advisor.

Use this script. Copy, paste, and customize it with your school, major, student ID, and the exact exams or courses you are considering.

Subject: CLEP/DSST Credit Policy — [Your Name], [Student ID] Dear [Advisor Name], I'm exploring CLEP and DSST exams to fulfill general education requirements in my [Major] program. Before I register for any exams, I want to confirm: 1. Does [School Name] accept CLEP credit for [specific course]? 2. What is the minimum score required? 3. Are there any limits on how many exam credits I can apply? 4. Will these credits appear on my transcript the same as traditional courses? 5. Are there any major-specific restrictions I should know about? I want to make sure I'm following the correct process. Thank you for your time. Best, [Your Name] [Student ID] [Phone/Email]
4

Get it in writing.

Do not rely on verbal confirmation. If your advisor tells you something in person or on the phone, follow up with an email: "Just to confirm our conversation today — you said [X exam] is accepted for [Y course] with a minimum score of [Z]. Is that correct?"

Save every email. Screenshot every policy page. This is your paper trail.

5

Check for restrictions.

Before you celebrate, look for the traps that can ruin an otherwise good plan:

Credit limitsSome schools cap exam credits at 30-60 hours.
ResidencyYou may still need credits taken at the school.
Major blocksNursing, engineering, and education may restrict exam credit.
GPA impactExam credits are often pass/fail. Confirm how yours posts.
Financial aidTaking fewer traditional courses can affect aid eligibility.
Once you have written confirmation, you are clear to study and schedule. Not before. This one step separates students who save thousands from students who waste hundreds on exams that go nowhere.