The Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board permits high school students to take college equivalent courses while in high school, and based on comprehensive qualifying examinations, receive advance placement and credit at participating universities and colleges. AP exams passed with a score of 3, 4 or 5 are granted 3 to 6 semester units of credit grades (CR) and are not calculated in the GPA.

Credits earned through advanced placement are not included among the maximum of 30 units of Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) that may be credited toward a bachelor's degree. To view Fresno State's General Education pattern visit: http://www.fresnostate.edu/catalog/generaleducation/index.html

Request Process: Students may direct the Advanced Placement Program to send a copy of their exam scores to Fresno State upon completion of the exam. If students do not request their scores be sent to Fresno State at that time, students will need to request an official copy of their test scores directly from the College Board at a later date. For ordering information, visit the College Board website at: https://apscore.collegeboard.org/scores/scorereporting.

Processing Time: For matriculated students, test scores are updated weekly and will be reflected on the academic record. 

For new applicants: Use your AP Code when applying through Cal State Apply 

For questions regarding exam credit, please contact the Admissions Office at 559.278.2261 or visit the Joyal Administration North lobby.

Note: All electives are lower division

Credit is granted for International Baccalaureate Higher Level examinations passed with a score of 4 or higher (some exams require a score of 5 or higher). International Baccalaureate examinations taken spring 2018, or later, will be applied to general education areas as noted below. 

Credits earned through the international baccalaureate (IB) program are not included among the maximum of 30 units of Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) that may be credited toward a bachelor's degree. To view Fresno State's General Education pattern visit: http://www.fresnostate.edu/catalog/general-education/index.html

Request Process: Students may submit their International Baccalaureate transcript before or after the official release date of grades. To send in before the release date of grades, you will have to meet with your Diploma Programme Coordinator to submit a request. To send the transcript after grades are released, you may send them electronically by visiting https://rrs.ibo.org/.

Processing Time: For matriculated students, test scores are updated weekly and will be reflected on the academic record. If you are sending by hard copy, please note it may take up to 14 working days.

For questions regarding exam credit, please contact Admissions at 559.278.2261 or visit the Joyal Administration Building, North lobby.

* Only three units of credit is applied to the noted GE Area for these exams. 

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is designed to be a means through which recognition, academic credit, and placement may be given for less conventional forms of educational experience or learning. 

Within the restrictions of systemwide policy, this university awards up to 6 units of credit for successfully completed CLEP examinations. Such credit is applied to the total units required for the baccalaureate degree. Effective with exams taken spring 2018, some exam credit is applied to the General Education requirements as detailed in the chart below. Not all CLEP examinations are acceptable under system policy. It is the responsibility of the student to check with the appropriate department to determine whether it accepts CLEP credit to meet any degree requirement. This should be done prior to taking the CLEP exam.

Credits earned through CLEP are included among the maximum of 30 units of Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) that may be credited toward a bachelor's degree. 

Request Process: Students may request to send their transcripts to California State University, Fresno when registering for the CLEP exam: https://clep.collegeboard.org/scores/send-scores-transcripts

Processing Time: For matriculated students, test scores are updated weekly and will be reflected on the academic record.

Application forms concerning CBE can be obtained in the Office of the University Registrar's website. Arrangements for an examination must be made through the department chair, after conference with the department chair and/or the instructor who will administer the examination.

A student who has completed and filed an application for CBE must complete the examination itself by the end of the fourth week of instruction. It is the responsibility of the instructor who agrees to give this examination to cooperate in making such an arrangement possible.  An examination is administered only by a regular faculty member on duty at the time the test is given.

The instructor must report the grade prior to the close of the sixth week of instruction. The results must be submitted with the Credit by Examination Results form provided by the Office of the University Registrar.

Email form from your Fresno State email to: 5592786020@fax.csufresno.edu or fsregistrar@mail.fresnostate.edu

Processing Time: 2-5 business days

The following regulations apply:

1. Departments or programs may develop and provide challenge exams for major and elective courses to matriculated students. Courses meeting University Requirements (UR) and General Education (GE) requirements are not available for challenge exams.
2. Credit shall not be awarded for passage of an external examination when credit has already been awarded at a level more advanced than the content of the examination.
3. Students may not challenge a course that is a prerequisite to a course for which academic credit has already been earned. Further, a student may not elect to challenge a course for which any grade (including "F", "WU", "IC", "NC", or "AU") was received in a previous semester, for which academic renewal has been granted, or for which a prior challenge exam or prior learning assessment has been unsuccessful.
4. Credit earned by examination may not be applied toward fulfillment of a residence requirement for any degree.
5. Credit shall not be awarded twice for the same demonstrated course equivalency, unless otherwise specified in the Catalog; the rule is against duplication and credit.
6. The maximum units to be earned by CBE in any semester or term is the number of units completed in regular enrollment during that semester or term. A maximum of 30 semester units is allowed for Credit for Prior Learning, including Credit by Examination (CLEP, DANTES, etc.), military credit, and Prior Learning Assessment towards the bachelor's degree total units.
7. Students must be matriculated. CBE credit may not be secured while enrolled through open university or Extension.
8. Graduate Students: Credit by examination for coursework may be used to fulfill prerequisites and/or toward the determination of admission eligibility and may not be applied toward the total units required for a master’s degree.