Currently enrolled matriculated students may take special examinations in approved academic subject matter offered by Seattle Pacific University to gain credit without being enrolled in specific courses. The policies and procedures for obtaining permission and filing the Credit-by-Exam request (PDF) are available here and in Student Academic Services.
- A student may receive credit by examination for any coursework that has been completed following high school graduation for which he or she has no formal record.
- A student may be tutored by a private instructor and challenge a course for credit by examination.
- A student may not receive credit by examination for a course in which he or she is currently registered.
- A student may not receive credit by examination for a course for which he or she previously earned credit or in which the student received an E, N, NC, Audit, or I grade at SPU.
- A student may earn a maximum of 45 quarter credits by examination, including SPU Credit by Exam, Advanced Placement (AP), Cambridge International Exam (CIE), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate (IB), National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX), or any international “13th year” exam.
- The required minimum 45 credits in residence may not include SPU’s credit by exam or credit awarded for external examinations.
- A student may not receive credit for a lower-level or prerequisite course when credit has already been received in a higher-level course within the same field.
- A student may not repeat an examination for credit.
- A student may not receive credit by examination for lower-division language courses in the student’s native language, if that language is other than English.
- A student is entitled to only one consultation with the professor administering the test.
- A student must pay for all special exam fees prior to scheduling and taking the exam.