Credit by Examination

CREDIT BY EXAMINATION

The current credit-by-exam scores listed on these pages are for the current semester, and may not apply to you.  The way that you can determine which policy your score falls under is to take the semester you first enrolled in courses at UTA, and the date you took the exam; whichever is later determines which semester's policy determines the required score.

For students who are started previous to this year, and the test was taken previous to this year, students should refer to the previous credit-by-exam policies.

WHAT IS CREDIT BY EXAMINATION

UTA uses the following examination programs to assess the prior academic achievement of undergraduate students:

  • Advanced Placement (AP) 
  • College Level Examination Program (CLEP) 
  • International Baccalaureate Examination (IB) 
  • DSST (Dantes)
  • Avant Language Exams (STAMP)
  • Advanced Standing Exams (ASE)   

For more information about examination scores and UTA course equivalents, please refer to “Prior Learning Credits and Exams” on the Office of the Registrar website. Credit by Examination policies can be found in the University Catalog. 

GENERAL POLICIES1

  • Credit by examination is available to undergraduate students with a completed application on file, currently enrolled students and formerly enrolled students who meet eligibility requirements. There is no limit to the amount of credit earned by examination.
  • Prospective students may take examinations to establish their eligibility to receive credit, however, credit is awarded only to currently enrolled students or to former students who meet eligibility requirements. A prospective student may claim credit prior to enrollment but the credit will be posted as earned credit after Census day of the first enrolled semester. 
  • Credit by examination may not be used for graduate credit and no such credit, graduate or undergraduate, may appear on graduate student transcripts2.
  • Credit by examination can be awarded only for courses in which the student has neither a passing nor failing grade (including a Z in English) at UTA or transfer credit from another institution of higher education. You may not use credit-by-exam for courses that have a grade exclusion. Official test scores must be sent to Testing Services for credit by examination to be awarded. Credit by examination earned at other institutions is treated as transfer credit only if the sending institution posts such credit on the student's transcript with regular catalog course numbers and with a grade of at least C, with the symbol CR or with a similar designation representing credit earned without letter grade.
  • Credit by examination can be used to meet prerequisites for higher-level courses.
  • Credit earned by examination satisfies degree requirements in the same way as credit earned by passing courses, except it does not count as credit earned in residence. Credit by examination cannot be used to satisfy the general degree requirement for (a) 30 semester hours in residence and (b) at least 18 semester hours in residence of advanced coursework (courses numbered 3000 and 4000), to include 12 hours of advanced coursework in the major field.
  • After the official Census Date, students may earn credit by examination for a course they are enrolled in only if the student drops the course with a W or upon written approval of the chair of the appropriate academic department. Once a grade is posted for the course, the student may not petition for credit earned by exam.
  • Most academic departments award semester hours of credit but no letter grades. In a few subjects credit may be awarded with grades of A, B or C, depending on the level of test performance. For each course in which grades are assigned, students may choose to accept credit hours recorded either with the letter grade or as credit only. Accepting credit only will not affect the student's cumulative grade-point average. After credit has been posted to the academic record, a student's choice of letter grade or credit only cannot be changed.
  • To have credit reported to the Registrar, students must complete the Petition for Credit by logging into MyMav>UTA Customizations>Petition for Credit.  A student's test results will be evaluated for eligibility in accordance with academic department policies in effect  when the student enrolls at UTA or when the student takes the exam, whichever is later. Credit by examination will be posted to a student's official record after the Census Date of their first semester at UTA. 
  • Credit by examination on a transcript from another institution of higher education is considered transfer work and will transfer to UTA, subject to the same conditions as corresponding resident coursework from that institution. The Office of Admissions is responsible for evaluating all transfer work.
 

1Approved by the UTA Undergraduate Assembly on April 18, 1995.

2University of Texas at Arlington Graduate Catalog, 2002-2004, pg 35.

TUITION REBATES FOR CERTAIN UNDERGRADUATES

One of the conditions of Texas Educational Code §54.0065 states that to be eligible for tuition rebate under this program, a student must have attempted no more than three hours in excess of the minimum number of hours required for his/her degree. (If the student's degree requires 120 semester credit hours and (s)he graduates with 123 hours, (s)he may qualify).

Attempted hours include every course, for which the student has registered, as of the official Census Date, in every semester, including developmental courses, repeated courses and courses from which the student withdraws. Course credit earned exclusively by examination is also eligible, except only the number of semester credit hours earned exclusively by examination in excess of nine semester credit hours is treated as hours attempted.

For details on this go to: College For Texans.

STEPS TO BE FOLLOWED BEFORE AND AFTER TAKING TESTS

  • Ensure UT Arlington is listed as a score recipient with the testing company and keep a copy of the score report for your records.
  • Schedule a meeting with your academic advisor to review your score reports and determine how previously completed examinations may apply to your specific degree plan.  Reference “Prior Learning Credits and Exams” on the Office of the Registrar website.
  • If your academic advisor suggests you take a CLEP, Dantes, STAMP or ASE examination to satisfy a specific degree requirement, plan ahead to ensure you do not delay enrollment in a future semester or graduation.  
  • To claim Credit by Examination courses, you must log in to MyMav and follow the steps outlined here.