Credit for Prior Learning

Indiana State University offers opportunities for non-traditional adult students to earn credit toward a degree for knowledge they have acquired outside of the college classroom that is equal to college-level learning. Credit may or may not be awarded, dependent upon the outcome. If you are looking for information about transfer credit from another college please go here.

Through these opportunities, students can earn up to 63 credit hours towards the baccalaureate degree and 25 percent of an undergraduate certificate. Students should discuss the applicability of the options below with their advisor. 

Advanced Placement (AP)

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Department Exams/Credit for Prior Learning

Portfolio Assessment

Dantes Standardized Subject Tests (DSST)

Dual Credit

Excelsior College

Cambridge Assessment International Education

International Baccalaureate

Non-Native (Foreign) Language Placement

FAA-Airman Knowledge Testing

Credit earned this way counts toward graduation requirements, but does not count towards resident credit. Students cannot receive credit of these types for courses for which they have already received credit.

Advanced Placement

Students must participate in Advanced Placement (AP) courses and testing at their high schools. Students are responsible for designating their AP scores be reported to Indiana State University Admissions Office. 

Additional Information:

• Cost is $96 per exam
• Equivalencies     

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

CLEP The College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP®) gives you the opportunity to earn college credit for what you already know with qualifying scores on one or more CLEP examinations.  These exams test your knowledge of introductory college-level subjects. Most CLEP exams are designed to correspond to one-semester courses, although some correspond to full-year or two-year courses. 

Additional Information:

• To Register for a CLEP go to the College Board website.
• The cost is $89 per test with time limits of 90-120 minutes depending on the test.
• Most tests are online multiple choice with some numeric answers.
• Scores are immediately available at the testing site.  Score reports are available within 1 business day with the exception of written essays which may take up to 2-3 weeks and are mailed to the tester.
• Students may send their scores to colleges/universities free of charge at the time of registration.  After testing, student can order an official transcript for $20.
• CLEP Equivalencies  

Department Exams/Credit for Prior Learning

Departmental Exams and Prior Learning Assessments charge 25%  of the Undergraduate or Graduate Resident Fees in effect at the time of the exam/assessment (except for Non-Native (Foreign) Language Placement). Prior Learning Credit may be awarded using a variety of criteria which may be different for each department.

Approved for Prior Learning  

Guidelines for Credit Transfer

• Students must obtain their academic advisor’s approval prior to registering for any examination to ensure departmental standards are satisfied.
• Credit earned through the Credit by Exam Program may apply toward graduation or degree requirements or elective hours within individual programs.
• Students do not receive a grade for credit earned through the examinations (assessments).
• No credit is awarded in a general examination/assessment area if the student has completed two or more college-level courses in that general examination/assessment area.
• No credit is awarded in a subject examination/assessment area if the student has already earned college-level credit in that subject area.
• Students cannot receive duplicate credit. Therefore, it is important for students to plan their academic schedule with an academic advisor.

Prior Learning Assessment

Indiana State awards both graduate and undergraduate credit for prior learning through the following assessments methods:

• American Council of Education (ACE) credit recommendations for military and industry training
• Departmental challenge exam
• Assessment of certificates and licensures 

Get Started

• Contact your advisor as well as your department to find out if a Prior Learning Assessment is right for you.
• Complete the Prior Learning Assessment Form   and follow the instructions on the form.
• Prepare for your department’s method of assessment.

Examples of Prior Learning documentation

Depending on the type of Prior Learning Assessment your department requires, the following examples of Prior Learning documentation may be useful to gather for Portfolio assessment or assessment of certificates and licensures:

• Completion of recognized academic programs
• Certificates and other credentials with their fulfillment criteria
• Curriculum vitae or resume
• Documentation of project management skills
• Documentation of skills consistent with those expected in the course being reviewed (e.g., an animated short film, a mobile application, an e-commerce website)
• Job descriptions
• Passing a comprehensive examination on the contents of the course
• Service to a nongovernmental organization or the government (e.g., a volunteer organization, the military, diplomatic corps)
• Report on funded and unfunded research projects
• Syllabi of courses covering similar content
• Testimonials of course-related knowledge and skills acquisition
• Documentation of professional activities clarifying acquired knowledge and skills concerning the course’s contents, such as developing a website for a community service organization, contributing to IT fair projects, mentorship, performance reviews, presenting or publishing scholarship, and producing a video

Portfolio Assessment

Bayh College of Education  

Dantes Standardized Subject Tests (DSST)

The DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) are standardized, college credit-granting exams maintained by Prometric. A form of prior learning assessment, DSSTs offer students a cost effective, time-saving way to use their knowledge acquired outside of the classroom (perhaps from reading, on-the-job training, or independent study) to accomplish their educational goals.

Additional Information:

• To Register for a DSST go to  getcollegecredit.com
• The cost is $120 per test. DSST time limits are 120 minutes per test.
• Most tests are online multiple choice with some numeric answers.
• Students may send their scores to colleges/universities by ordering an official transcript for $30
• DSST Equivalencies  

Dual Credit

Students who have earned dual credit from high school, another college or university must have a copy of their transcript to admissions@indstate.edu in order to receive credit. Dual credit is an excellent and affordable way for high school students to earn college credit that will count towards a degree and to experience college-level coursework. For more information about Indiana State’s Dual Credit program, please visit ISU’s College Challenge website.

Additional Information:

• Cost will vary by college attended
• Equivalencies can be found in Transferology

Excelsior College

Excelsior College will no longer offer UExcel exams after the Summer 2022 trimester. If you are interested in taking a UExcel exam(s), the deadline for registration is Thursday, June 30. The last day to take a UExcel exam is Sunday, August 21. 

Cambridge Assessment International Education

Indiana State University accepts credit by exam from Cambridge Assessment International Education. Information about the Cambridge Assessment International Education exams can be found here.

Additional Information

• Cost varies by exam.

International Baccalaureate

The International Baccalaureate Program, or IB, is offered as a secondary program of study in high school throughout the United states and around the world in 150 countries. Upon completion of IB courses, students take written exams in each of the 6 major subject areas offered twice a year in November and May. Scores range from 1-7 in each subject area. Indiana State University accepts credit by exam from International Baccalaureate. 

Additional Information

• Equivalencies
• Cost will vary by school

Non-Native (Foreign) Language Placement

Students who have satisfied the Foundational Studies non-native language requirement and who wish to take further course work in a language MUST take the Language Placement Examination in order to determine the level of language course work most appropriate for them. Depending upon the level of placement, students may receive credit for their knowledge of the language, some of which may count toward Foundational Studies Requirements. Indiana State University offers Language Placement Examinations in Latin, French, Japanese, German and Spanish.  NOTE:  The Language Placement Examination is NOT designed to be used as a test-out exam.  The Language Placement Examination should be taken before attending State Orientation.

There is NO charge to take the Non-Native (Foreign) Language Placement. This is an online test which should take 30-60 minutes.

Instructions for Placement Test

Latin
To take the Latin Placement Test, click here.

French, German, Spanish, and Japanese

• Instructions for French, German, Spanish, and Japanese Placement Test, click here.

1. To get a test code and password to take the placement test, click here.
2. After receiving you test code and password, take the placement test, click here.

You may request a test code and password to take any of the language tests but are limited to taking each language test only once.

Students MUST take a Placement Exam in order to be eligible for the following credits.

• Student placed in 102 will be granted credit for 101 upon successful completion of 102, with C+ or better.
• Students placed into 201 who complete 201 with a C or better will earn 9 credits for 101, 102 and 201.
• Students placed into 202 who complete 202 with a C or better will earn 12 credits for 101, 102, 201 and 202
• Back credit will be processed the semester following completion of the course the student placed into via placement Test
• The student MUST take the placement exam and complete the course that the placement test recommends.

FAA-Airman Knowledge Testing

University Testing Office offers a full range of Federal Aviation Administration Airman Knowledge Testing.  FAA knowledge tests are available most days of the week to both ISU students and the general public.

To schedule an appointment for the Airman Knowledge Test, applicants must first establish an FAA Tracking Number (FTN) within IACRA before taking any FAA airman knowledge test. This identification number will be printed on the applicant’s Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR) in replacement of the Applicant ID number. If you already have an FTN you may use it when registering.  If you do not have an FTN, please register for an FTN in IACRA, applicants need to visit the IACRA Website by going IACRA  and following the instructions provided.

You must register and schedule your exam thru PSI. Once you have your FAA Tracking Number (FTN), go to PSI to register and schedule your test or call toll free, to schedule with a customer service representative, at (800) 947-4228. 

All FAA Exams are to be paid in advance of your scheduled appointment. To register and pay for your FAA exam.

Endorsements and Authorizations

It is the test candidates responsibility to have proper ID(s), authorizations, re-test authorizations, certificates, logbooks, and proof of residence if required. Be sure to refer to your PSI instructions concerning specific requirements, and flight tools that you may bring to the testing site. Before you schedule an exam, be sure to review the FAA guidelines for test authorization and be sure you have all the required documentation with you on your test date. Several exams require flight instructor endorsements. You can review the authorization requirements for your specific situation and exam by viewing the FAA’s official authorization requirements matrix.

NOTE: An applicant retesting AFTER FAILURE is required to submit the original failed test report indicating failure. Some tests require an endorsement from an authorized instructor who gave the applicant the required additional training. The endorsement must certify the applicant is competent to pass the test. If you no longer possess the original test report, you may login to the PSI website to print a duplicate.

Candidates who do not meet authorization requirements will not be able to test and must reschedule.

Before you make an appointment, please review the acceptable forms of identification below and be sure you have all the required documentation with you on your test date.

Acceptable forms of identification

For more information on Credit for Prior Learning contact the Office of the Registrar at 812-237-2020 or registrar@indstate.edu.