5 Ways CLEP Exams Are the Smartest College Move You Can Make

What is a CLEP Exam?

Smart college students skip the fuss and expense of semester-long classes with one 90-minute exam. When you pass a CLEP exam, you’ll earn equivalent course credit. Credit received is exactly as if you’d taken the full semester’s worth of classes. 

The US Department of Education supports this credit by exam program to help busy working adults graduate faster. CLEP and DSST exams are easily accessible, widely accepted, and often transferable. More than 2900 colleges permit CLEP exam credits nationwide. You can even graduate in as little as 3 years if you “CLEP out” of enough exams. 

Research your school or select a college that accepts such credits. The more exams you pass, the more credits you can earn. Common subjects include prerequisite, general education and some higher subject exams. However, CLEP offers a maximum of 34 exam topics while DSST offers 38 topics.

Here’s 5 ways CLEP exams are the smartest college move you can make for your academic career and beyond:

1. Get College Credit From One Exam

Leverage Prior Learnings

We learn so much in high school. Pay that forward to an exam that will give you credit for prerequisite or general education college courses. CLEP-tested courses include humanities, composition and literature, mathematics, natural science, social science, and history. 

DSST exams complement CLEP testing by also focusing on business, management and professional careers. Select and prepare for exams from prior school coursework, military training or professional certifications. 

Refresh On-the Job Skills

Revive your job know-how and boost your specialization through test preparation. Even without formal training, your employment experience can benefit your college education. 

In this way, these exams can be a useful bridge between your prior work experience and your new education. Boost your confidence and fast-track your college career by passing one of these exams. 

Discover Hidden Skills

Given the broad range of subjects for these exams, you might uncover a topic that you're keen on spending time learning. A CLEP or DSST exam may spark interest in a fresh, exciting academic subject you might want to minor in. Exploring a new aptitude that might even lead you to redefining your career pursuits.  

2. Skip Semester-Long Courses

Free Up Your Schedule

Semester-long courses place a heavy time premium on busy, working college students. The burden of lectures, labs and homework places a significant responsibility on you. Earning these exam credits has no in-class requirements; you can simply prepare for a number of weeks before you take the exam. 

This gives you valuable free time in your busy schedule to prioritize work, family or other activities. Such schedule flexibility also allows you to take more advanced coursework or electives you love. Broaden your academic learning with art classes, writing workshops or the newest social science courses. 

Pursue Extracurricular Activities

Oftentimes, college burdens require you to forgo extracurricular activities. Taking a CLEP exam opens you up to real-world internship and networking opportunities. You can also join student organizations about things you’re passionate about or even take leadership roles. You can even take on community volunteering activities that will help your resume shine. 

Enjoy a Lighter Course Load

The routine college workload can often lead to burnout and stress. CLEP or DSST exams help restore your work-life balance by reducing time spent on college courses, stress to make the grade, as well as tuition expenses. These exams also give you greater opportunities to enjoy more social activities and personal self-care. Plus, such stress reduction helps your focus better on the core coursework you are completing.

3. Save Tuition Expense

Reduce Overall College Costs

CLEP or DSST exams cost $100 or less so you save tremendously compared to the 3-credit course option which averages about $1677. You also forgo the need for expensive books for each course you’ve tested out of. 

Passing such an exam bypasses rising tuition costs and attendant fees. This results in substantial savings over the entire course of your academic journey. Namely, you can save $18,000 over the course of your academic career by taking CLEP exams. 

Maximize Merit-Based Financial Aid

Oftentimes, colleges award merit-based scholarships and grants to students with academic initiative. As such, testing out of courses for a faster graduation track could be deemed favorable. Your efficiency and proactive learning could give you an edge over traditional students. 

Reduce Student Loan Debt

Because you are taking less college courses, you reduce your overall college loan obligations. As such, the amount you borrow for your college education is diminished. Consequently, your road to financial freedom after graduation is faster. Research your college’s credit by exam policies, take exams that you believe you’ll succeed at, and forecast your graduation timeline to ensure you receive maximum savings.   

4. Graduate Faster

Accelerate Degree Completion

Earning non-core credits can also put you ahead when it comes time to graduate. As mentioned, passing with exam credits can help you graduate in as little as three years. Alternatively, this lightened course load can provide greater flexibility if you prefer to graduate within four years.  

Enter the Workforce Sooner

When you graduate faster because of accrued exam credits, you enter the job market faster. This quicker job market entry fast-tracks real-world career experience so you can boost your earning potential sooner. Consequently, your increased earning potential enables you to achieve your financial goals faster.

Pursue Further Education

Graduating sooner allows you to take a masters or doctoral education faster. You can also become more professionally competitive through specialized training or certifications. This increases your salary potential so you can realize your financial dreams sooner. 

5. Have Better Career Options and More Salary Benefits

Stand Out From the Crowd

Employers notice self-directed learners with initiative. Your independent learning could also be factored in when it comes hiring time. Considering the increasingly competitive marketplace, you need every advantage you can get. 

Qualify for Higher Level Positions

Employers seek out graduates who achieve their degree faster because they know what it takes to succeed sooner. This can open more doors than the traditional college route. Also, employers seek competence in specific skill sets tested by CLEP exams. Proficiency in areas such as business ethics, principles of marketing, or critical thinking fields makes you more marketable for higher level positions. 

Increase Your Earning Potential

You could land higher paying jobs sooner with credit by exams, resulting in a faster promotional track. Combine your exam success with a solid work ethic to ensure you realize your career ambitions faster. 

Are you Ready to Start with Achieve Test Prep?

93% of clients pass their CLEP exams with Achieve Test Prep. Pass the first time by going after the best college choice you have with the best test preparation provider out there. Sign up for CLEP or DSST test preparation with Achieve Test Prep so you can fast-track for academic and career success.

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