Credit by Examination

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP):  Any prospective or enrolled student who attains satisfactory scores on Northwestern State University approved Subject Examinations of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) administered by or under the auspices of the Educational Testing Service (ETS) for the College Board is eligible to receive credit on the basis of such tests.  Registration forms must be received by the Testing Center at least three weeks prior to each test date.  Students may also arrange to take CLEP tests at other centers and use recipient code 6492 to have their scores reported to Northwestern.  Students applying for credit for NSU-approved CLEP Subject Examinations must have scores sent directly to Northwestern State University from CLEP.  Students transferring to NSU must have CLEP scores from the previous institution sent directly to NSU.  CLEP scores will not be used from the previous institution's transcript.  (Military service veterans who took CLEP as part of the DANTES program must have CLEP scores reported directly to the University from DANTES).

A CLEP Subject Examination should be taken will in advance of the semester during which the student would normally register for the course involved.  Examinations are given on Wednesday of the third week of each month excluding December and February, at Northwestern.  A complete list of the Subject CLEP tests is available in the Testing Center.  CLEP registration materials may be obtained from any national test center or the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey.

Northwestern's Challenge Examination Program:  The academic departments extend to enrolled undergraduate students the opportunity to "challenge" virtually any course offered by the University.  These examination, administered by the departments, may not be repeated.

Undergraduate students interested in taking a special examination must register for the examination on or before the last day to register for classes during regular registration.  A student may not challenge any course in which a grade (A,B,C,D,F,P,W,Z,WA,WB,WC,WD,WF,WP,WZ) has been earned.  The following procedures must be followed for undergraduate students to register for a special examination.

1. The student must contact the appropriate department head to get a special examination card.  If the department head approves the special examination, the card must be completed and signed by the department head.
2. The advisor should sign the special examination card if he/she/ approves the course selection.
3. The student must then take the card to the Cashier's Office and pay the non-refundable fee of $10.00 for each special examination.  The fee must be paid prior to registering for the examination.
4. The student must take the completed special examination card and the receipt for payment to the Registrar's Office.  The Registrar's Office will register the student for the examination.  The student may not register for the regular course and a special examination for the same course.
5. A student must register for the special examination course during early or regular registration, but may take the examination at any time before the last day of classes during the semester.

NOTE:  Only the Office of the Registrar will register students for special examination.  If a student gets enrolled in a special examination by any other means, the registration will be considered invalid and will be canceled.