Credit by Examination

Credit by Examination options include Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), SAT subject tests, DANTES Subject Standardized Tests, and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

National Standardized Testing Codes, Score Requirements, and Course Credit Earned at TAMU

Texas A&M University accepts scores on AP, CLEP, DSST, IB, & SAT II examinations for credit in selected courses. Up to three semesters of credit in a subject may be awarded. Not all course credit accepted will apply towards TAMUG degrees. Current students should refer to the current University catalog and speak to their Academic Department to determine which courses apply to their specific degree program.

To get credit applied towards a degree, students who take these examinations should have The College Board report their scores to Texas A&M University Galveston. Please note that scores from spring testing will not be received until late July. You may obtain scores online through the College Board.

First, view your Unofficial Transcript under the My Record Tab in HOWDY to see if credit has already been applied. If the corresponding course credit does not show up on your Unofficial Transcript then it has not been applied and you need to follow the steps below.

In order to accept AP, CLEP, DSST, IB, & SAT II credit from high school and have the credit hours applied to your unofficial transcript:

1. Make sure that your scores have been sent to TAMU. Check for processed scores in Howdy under the My Record tab, in the Grades & Transcripts box, via the Test Scores link.
2. Consult your Academic Advisor prior to accepting any credit to determine the course credit needed for your specific degree plan. You can make an appointment to do this via TAMUG TutorTrac. You can view what scores are accepted at TAMU in the current catalog.
3. Enter the Howdy Portal and select the My Record tab. Then in the Grades and Transcripts box, click on the Credit by Examination link. You will be taken to a screen that lists the exams awaiting course credit decision.
4. Check what credit will be awarded; once an eligible exam hyperlink is selected, you will see which courses can be awarded credit. You will not be able to accept credit for courses in which you are currently enrolled (drop the course first) or have previously earned credit.
5. Select the course(s) needed for credit, agree to the terms, and then submit to accept it. Please carefully read to accept the correct course credit. When in doubt, leave it unaccepted and consult an academic advisor. The decision to accept credit cannot be reversed, per TAMU Student Rule 8.4.3.

Students come to Texas A&M University at Galveston with a variety of educational experiences and backgrounds. In order to build upon this diversity, Texas A&M University encourages the use of Departmental Credit by Examination (CBE) opportunities to place students in the most advanced course for which they are prepared.

TAMU Credit By Examination is Currently Offered For the Following Courses:

Chemistry: 101/111, 102/112

Physics: 201, 202, 208, 218

Political Science: 206, 207

Languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Latin, & Russian

*For other languages, please see BYU FLATS information below

These examinations have been developed by TAMU Faculty to ensure that all material covered during a normal semester is thoroughly incorporated into the test questions. We recommend students utilize CBE’s instead of taking a course only if they feel fully prepared and knowledgeable about all of the course content. Students are advised to thoroughly study and prepare in advance before taking an exam.

Students that earn a passing score will have course credit automatically applied to their transcripts. A non-refundable, non-transferable, testing placement fee is charged for attempting a TAMU CBE at the rate of $50.00 for all students. The fee is automatically applied to your student bill and payable to the TAMUG cashier in Financial Management Services (FMS) by cash, check, money order.

Please read all CBE Eligibility Requirements before applying.

Please fill out and submit the online application below. Once eligibility is determined, the Seibel Learning Center will contact you to schedule the exam time. Please consult the University Catalog and your Academic Advisor to select courses required for your degree program.

Online Credit By Exam Application

*Tests for other languages not available at Texas A&M are available through the Brigham Young University Foreign Language Achievement Testing Service. These online correspondence exams must be proctored by the Seibel Learning Center. Please contact us for Proctor information and then sign up for the exam and pay online. Once the Seibel Learning Center receives testing instructions, you will be contacted to schedule an exam date, time, and location. The list of languages available can be viewed at: BYU Language Tests Available by Correspondence.