College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Richland participates in the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), which allow students to obtain college credit based on their learning outside the classroom. CLEP examinations are available in over 30 areas, including Social Science, Natural Science, Humanities, and Mathematics. Credit through a CLEP examination may be applied to a degree or certificate as general education or elective(s).
Credit granted through a CLEP examination will be recorded as credit and will not be used in computing a grade point average. Credit will be recorded after completion of eight (8) semester hours toward an associate’s degree or certificate program. Students should check with the Registrar to verify how CLEP will be applied. Students who have enrolled in college study before attempting a CLEP examination will not be granted credit if they attempt an examination after they have received a grade for that specific course or for prior college study that is directly related to an exam taken.
For more information or to register to take a CLEP examination, contact the Testing Center, 217.875.7211, Ext. 6238, or the Academic Success Center, 217.875.7211, Ext. 6419. Payment for exams is made at the time of registration; the fee is not refundable.
| CLEP Course |
CLEP Minimum Score |
RCC Equivalent (number of credit hours where course number is unavailable) |
| English |
| American Literature |
50 |
Not Accepting |
| Analyzing & Interpreting Literature |
50 |
Not Accepting |
| College Composition (with Essay) |
50 |
Not Accepting |
| College Composition Modular |
50 |
Not Accepting |
| English Literature |
50 |
Not Accepting |
| Humanities |
| Humanities |
50 |
Not Accepting |
| Western Civilization I: Ancient Near to 1648 |
50 |
HIST 111 |
| Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present |
50 |
HIST 112 |
| World Languages |
| French Language (2 semester) |
50 |
Not Accepting |
| French Language (4 semester) |
62 |
Not Accepting |
| German Language (2 semester) |
50 |
GERM 101 |
| German Language (4 semester) |
63 |
GERM 102 |
| Spanish Language (2 semester) |
50 |
SPAN 101 |
| Spanish Language (4 semester) |
63 |
SPAN 102 |
| Social Science |
| American Government |
50 |
POL S110 |
| History of the United States I: Early Colonization to 1877 |
50 |
HIST 101 |
| History of the United States II:1865 to the Present |
50 |
HIST 102 |
| Human Growth & Development |
50 |
Not Accepting |
| Introduction to Educational Psychology |
50 |
Not Accepting |
| Introductory Psychology |
50 |
Not Accepting |
| Introductory Sociology |
50 |
Not Accepting |
| Principles of Macroeconomics |
50 |
ECON 231 |
| Principles of Microeconomics |
50 |
ECON 232 |
| Social Sciences & History |
50 |
Not Accepting |
| Math |
| Calculus |
50 |
MATH 121 |
| College Algebra |
50 |
Not Accepting |
| College Mathematics |
50 |
Not Accepting |
| Precalculus |
50 |
Not Accepting |
| Sciences |
| Biology |
50 |
BIOL 101 |
| Chemistry |
50 |
CHEM 131 - no lab (3.0) |
| Natural Sciences |
50 |
Physical Science - no lab (3.0) |
| Business & Computer Science |
| Financial Accounting |
50 |
Not Accepting |
| Information Systems & Computer Applications |
50 |
Not Accepting |
| Introductory Business Law |
50 |
Not Accepting |
| Principles of Management |
50 |
Not Accepting |
| Principles of Marketing |
50 |
Not Accepting |
DSST Prometrics
Richland participates in the DSST Prometrics Examination Program, which allow students to obtain college credit based on their learning outside the classroom. DSST Prometrics exams are available in areas such as education, criminal justice, finance, business, and world religions. Credit through a DSST Prometrics examination may be applied to a degree or certificate as general education or elective(s). Credit granted through a DSST Prometrics examination will be recorded as credit and will not be used in computing a grade point average. Credit will be recorded after completion of eight (8) semester hours toward an associate’s degree or certificate program.
Students should check with the Registrar to verify how DSST will be applied. Students who have enrolled in college study before attempting a DSST Prometrics examination will not be granted credit if they attempt an examination after they have received a grade for that specific course or for prior college study that is directly related to an exam taken.
For more information or to register to take a DSST Prometrics examination, contact the Testing Center, 217.875.7211, Ext. 6238, or the Academic Success Center, 217.875.7211, Ext. 6419. Payment for exams is made at the time of registration; the fee is not refundable.
Proficiency Examination
Students with wide varieties of educational experience may convert this experience into college credit on the basis of evaluations by designated Richland Community College personnel and standards set by the College in those areas and courses deemed appropriate. To take an exam, students must be currently enrolled at Richland and not enrolled in the course in which they are requesting to be tested. They should obtain the appropriate form and obtain permission from the division involved, pay the required fee, and successfully pass the examination. A proficiency examination for a given course may be taken only once. A fee of one-half the in-district or out-of-district tuition normally charged for the course must be paid before the exam. The fee is not refundable. The student must receive a score of 80% or better to earn credit by proficiency. Credit hours earned through proficiency examination are posted on the student’s permanent record after a minimum of eight (8) semester hours of 100-level or above credit has been earned at the College. The credit is not included in the calculation of the grade point average and may not be used to establish enrollment status (i.e., full-time, part-time).