Credit by Examination

A student may not receive credit for the successful completion of any examination if he or she has taken and passed the same course (or its equivalent) or a course in the same subject area at a higher level.

Note: Students may not register for a course for which they have received equivalent college credit through CLEP, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or any other proficiency examination, unless the student requests that the examination credit be waived. Such requests should be submitted to the Registrar’s Office.

Only students enrolled in a degree program at St. John Fisher College will have AP, CLEP, ECE, IB, and/or other credit-by-examination credits applied to their academic records.

Advanced Placement (AP)

St. John Fisher College recognizes the Advanced Placement program and will grant standing and college credit for courses in harmony with the College curriculum to students who complete the Advanced Placement Test with a grade of 3 or higher for most exams, and a score of 4 or higher for some exams. A chart of tests and required scores can be found www.sjfc.edu/admissions-aid/freshman-admissions/applying-to-fisher/credit-by-examination/.

College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP)

St. John Fisher College participates in the College-Level Examination Program of the College Entrance Examination Board. The College accepts subject tests, which measure mastery of college level, and introductory course content in a range of disciplines. Through CLEP subject tests, individuals can earn credit and advanced academic standing in areas that conform to the curriculum of the College if they earn a minimum score of 50. Credit is not awarded for the CLEP General Exams.

Excelsior College Examinations (ECE)

St. John Fisher College is a participating member of the Excelsior College Examinations program, sponsored and administered by the New York State Education Department and the American College Testing Program. Applicants who successfully complete examinations approved by the College with the recommended score or higher will be granted college credit and advanced standing in the academic areas in which they have demonstrated proficiency and that conform to the curriculum of St. John Fisher College.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

St. John Fisher College recognizes the International Baccalaureate organization. Equivalent college credit, in harmony with the College curriculum, will be granted to those students who complete the International Baccalaureate high school curriculum and exams, according to policies (including scores) developed by individual St. John Fisher College departments. A chart of tests and required scores can be found at www.sjfc.edu/admissions-aid/freshman-admissions/applying-to-fisher/credit-by-examination/.

Credit by St. John Fisher College Examination

In specific courses or academic disciplines in which standardized examinations are not available, students may obtain credit for the St. John Fisher College course by satisfactorily completing a testing procedure developed by the appropriate department of the College. Faculty may accommodate students with a specific need for this type of testing but are under no obligation to do so. Examinations are written tests but may also involve oral examination, laboratory demonstration, or the satisfactory completion of a major essay.

These are not placement examinations but are designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge gained outside of the traditional classroom environment. This program is not meant to alter the traditional educational orientation of the College. Therefore:

  • Only matriculated students who have earned 30 credits in residence may apply for credit by a St. John Fisher College examination.
  • Credit for the examination will count toward meeting the residence requirement. The examination grade will appear on the transcript at the end of the semester in which the examination is taken.
  • An unsuccessful attempt will be recorded as an “F” grade and will be calculated into the GPA until the examination is repeated and passed or the course is taken. If unsuccessful, the examination may be repeated once, after a six-month waiting period.
  • The fee for the examination for one three-to-four-credit-hour course will be the equivalent of the current charge for one undergraduate credit and must be paid prior to taking the examination.

Completion of the Application for Undergraduate Credit by St. John Fisher College Examination is required at least two weeks before the exam may be taken. The form requires verification by the Registrar; documentation of fee payment; and approval of the examiner, the chair of the department in which the examination will be taken and the appropriate school dean.

A student may not receive credit for successful completion of an examination if he or she has taken and passed the same examination or course (or its equivalent) or a higher-level course in the same subject area or has ever audited or enrolled in the course at St. John Fisher College. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the chair of the department in which the exam is to be taken.

Credit for a maximum of two courses may be earned by St. John Fisher College examination. Exceptions to this limit require approval of the provost or the provost’s designee.

Note: Students who have studied successfully in a school where primary instruction was conducted in a language other than English will not receive credit by examination in that language at the 101/102 level. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures.