Empire State University accepts many types of standardized examinations that have been evaluated for college-level credits. If a student's results meet the guidelines established by the university for earning credit, they can use those credits toward their degree program plan when:

• They completed the examination during the specific time period covered by the evaluation and credit recommendation.
• An official score report is received by Empire State University directly from the testing service.

As with all transfer credit/advanced standing, standardized examination topics should fit into a student's degree program by meeting specific program requirements or electives or adding breadth and depth to their general learning. Click on the tabs to find out more information about credit awards. 

Empire State University accepts the following standardized examinations: 

• Advanced Placement Examinations (AP)
• Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE)
• British A-level Examinations
• College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
• DANTES Subject StandardizedTest (DSST)
• UExcel Excelsior College Examination Program
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) advanced subject tests
• New York University Foreign Language Proficiency Examinations
• Thomas Edison Credit Examination Program (TECEP)

Before a student decide to take an exam, they should talk with their mentor to determine if it is appropriate for them to their degree. For more information on standardized examination opportunities, click on the name of the exam to be brought to the appropriate tab on this page. For details on offerings, check the organization’s website. Many of these sites offer study guides which are sometimes available at bookstores.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMINATIONS (AP)

College Board (AP)

Empire State University accepts Advanced Placement exams with a score of 3 or higher, as documented by an official score report sent to Admissions.  Current Advanced Placement exams and credits awarded are listed below. In addition to the current exams listed, SUNY Empire also accepts former examinations.

Advanced Placement Tests taken before April 1994 with scores of 3 or higher earn 6 credits at the introductory level.

Advanced Placement tests taken in April 1994 or later with scores of 3 or higher earn the number of credits recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE).

Current AP Exams and Credit Amounts:

AP Capstone

• AP Research     3 or 6cr. (score dependent)     introductory, liberal
• AP Seminar       3 or 6cr. (score dependent)    introductory, liberal

Arts

• 2-D Art and Design     3cr.     introductory, nonliberal
• 3-D Art and Design     3cr.     introductory, liberal
• Drawing                        3cr.     introductory, liberal, arts gen ed
• Art History                   6cr.     introductory, liberal, arts gen ed
• Music Theory               3cr.     introductory, liberal, arts gen ed

English

• English Language & Composition     6cr.     introductory, liberal, basic communication gen ed
• English Literature & Composition     6cr.     introductory, liberal, basic communication & humanities gen ed

History and social sciences

• Comparative Gov't & Politics     3cr.     introductory, liberal, social science gen ed

• European History                        6cr.     introductory, liberal, western civilization gen ed

• Human Geography                     3cr.     introductory, liberal, social science gen ed  

• Macroeconomics                        3cr.     introductory, liberal, social science gen ed  

• Microeconomics                         3cr.     introductory, liberal, social science gen ed  

• Psychology                                  3cr.     introductory, liberal, social science gen ed  

• US Gov't & Politics                     3cr.     introductory, liberal, social science gen ed

• US History                                   6cr.     introductory, liberal, American history gen ed 

• World History: Modern              6cr.     introductory, liberal, world history gen ed

Mathematics and computer science

• Computer Science A                    4cr.    introductory, nonliberal 
• Computer Science Principles      3cr.    introductory, nonliberal 
• Calculus AB                                   4cr.    introductory, liberal, mathematics gen ed
• Calculus BC                                   8cr.    introductory, liberal, mathematics gen ed
• Precalculus                                    4cr.    introductory, liberal, mathematics gen ed             
• Statistics                                        3cr.    introductory, liberal, mathematics gen ed

Sciences

• Biology                                                    4cr.     introductory, liberal, natural sciences gen ed
• Chemistry                                               4cr. or 8cr. (score dependent) introductory, liberal, natural sciences gen ed
• Environmental Science                          3cr.     introductory, liberal, natural sciences gen ed
• Physics 1: Algebra-based                      4cr.     introductory, liberal, natural sciences gen ed
• Physics 2: Algebra-based                     4cr.     introductory, liberal, natural sciences gen ed
• Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism     4cr.     introductory, liberal, natural sciences gen ed
• Physics C: Mechanics                            4cr.     introductory, liberal, natural sciences gen ed

World Languages and cultures

• Chinese Language and Culture       8cr.     introductory, liberal, foreign language gen ed
• French Language and Culture         6cr.     introductory, liberal, foreign language gen ed
• German Language and Culture       6cr.     introductory, liberal, foreign language gen ed
• Italian Language and Culture          6cr.     introductory, liberal, foreign language gen ed
• Japanese Language and Culture     8cr.     introductory, liberal, foreign language gen ed
• Latin                                                    6cr.     introductory, liberal, foreign language gen ed
• Spanish Language and Culture        6cr.     introductory, liberal, foreign language gen ed
• Spanish Literature and Culture        6cr.     introductory, liberal, foreign language gen ed

COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM (CLEP)

College Board CLEP

Empire State University identification code = 2214

Empire State University follows the ACE/CLEP recommended minimum score and credit recommendations for awarding credit for exams taken since July 1, 2001 (except as noted for languages below). If you have taken a CLEP examination before July 1, 2001, or the effective date listed, contact The Office of the Registrar for required scores and available credit.

Current CLEP Exams

History and Social Sciences

• American Government
• History of the United States I: Early Colonization to 1877
• History of the United States II: 1865 to the Present
• Human Growth and Development
• Introduction to Educational Psychology
• Introductory Psychology
• Introductory Sociology
• Principles of Macroeconomics
• Principles of Microeconomics
• Social Sciences and History
• Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648
• Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present

Composition and Literature

• American Literature
• Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
• College Composition
• College Composition Modular
• English Literature
• Humanities

Science and Mathematics

• Biology
• Calculus
• Chemistry
• College Algebra
• College Mathematics
• Natural Sciences
• Precalculus

Business

• Financial Accounting
• Information Systems
• Introductory Business Law
• Principles of Management
• Principles of Marketing

World Languages*

• French Language: Levels 1 and 2
• German Language: Levels 1 and 2
• Spanish Language: Levels 1 and 2
• Spanish with Writing: Levels 

*SUNY Empire has developed our own credit recommendations for CLEP foreign language exams. See the Empire State University page on the TES by CollegeSource website for details. Enter "CLEP" using the "institution search" field.  

ASSOCIATION OF LANGUAGE TESTERS IN EUROPE (ALTE)

ALTE

Exams: foreign languages
Credit recommendation criteria:
ALTE Level 1 (A2) - 2 credits liberal, introductory
ALTE Level 2 (B1) - 4 credits liberal, introductory
ALTE Level 3 (B2) - 8 credits liberal, introductory
ALTE Level 4 (C1) - 12 credits liberal, 4 credits advanced
ALTE Level 5 (C2) - 16 credits liberal, 8 credits advanced

BRITISH A-LEVEL EXAMINATIONS

Cambridge International Examinations

Exams: A Level examinations for different college subjects
Credit recommendation criteria: 6 credits per A Level pass

DANTES SUBJECT STANDARDIZED TEST (DSST)

Thomson Prometric, DSST Program

Empire State University identification code = 8732
Note: Exams can be taken at Empire State University.

Exams: about 40 exams in diverse disciplines
Credit recommendation criteria: credit awarded as indicated on score report - most exams are 3 credits

EXCELSIOR COLLEGE EXAMINATIONS AND UEXCEL EXAMS

Note: Excelsior and UExcel examinations were discontinued in 2022. Students who took exams prior to discontinuation are still eligible for credit.

Exams: areas of business, education, liberal arts and sciences, nursing
Credit recommendation criteria: indicated on score report

GRADUATE RECORD EXAMINATION (GRE) ADVANCED SUBJECT TESTS

Educational Testing Service

Empire State University Identification Code = 2214

Note: Students may earn credit via the GRE Advanced Subject tests only if they receive no other credit in the field(s) covered by the test(s). General aptitude tests are not assessed for credit.

Exams: Biochemistry - Cell and Molecular, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science (discontinued effective April 2013), Literature in English, Mathematics,  Physics,  Psychology
Credit recommendation criteria: required GRE scores and available credit

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY EXAMINATIONS

New York University

Exams: foreign languages

Credit recommendation criteria: New York University provides an official letter or transcript and the results are valid for five years. Credit is awarded on a point scale. Credit applied is equivalent to the score earned. The first eight credits applied are at the lower-level. For example, for a score of 12, students are eligible for 8 credits at the lower-level and 12 credits at the upper-level.

THOMAS EDISON CREDIT EXAMINATION PROGRAM (TECEP)

Thomas Edison State College of NJ

Exams: liberal arts and sciences, business and management, professional areas

Credit recommendation criteria: indicated on score report - most exams are 3 credits