Advanced placement exams
St. Ambrose University helps you find savings for the skills and knowledge you’ve acquired from previous work and training, including military experience, experiential learning, AP exams, and other experiences.
Credit for prior learning (CPL) at St. Ambrose University recognizes the experience you’ve gained outside of traditional academic settings. It’s a method that allows students to translate real world experiences—like work, military training, certifications—into college credits. By assessing your prior learning, SAU aims to recognize and credit your valuable experiences, accelerate your degree completion, and help you save time and tuition costs.
If you participated in an Advanced Placement program while in high school, you may be eligible to receive credit based on performance on your AP exams. St. Ambrose University recognizes most of the subject examinations of the AP Examination Program of the College Board.
St. Ambrose will not grant AP credit for coursework without the AP exam. Request for the College Board to send your AP score to our Office of the Registrar. To receive credit, you must achieve an AP score of 3, unless otherwise noted. Check out the AP test equivalency list.
St. Ambrose University recognizes and offers credit for several of the subject examinations for the IB Examination Program. You must score a 5 on the Higher Level IB examinations to receive credit. Work with your high school IB coordinator to submit a request to send the exam scores to the SAU Office of the Registrar. Download our IB exam equivalency list.
St. Ambrose University recognizes the Seal of Biliteracy from approved states – currently Iowa and Illinois – as demonstration of a level of language learning that is consistent with college level language study. To receive credit, you must provide your final high school transcript indicating a Seal of Biliteracy to the Office of the Registrar.
| Language | Sau equivalency |
|---|---|
| Spanish | span 101-102, span 201-202, 12 credits |
| Other | flan egen 1-2, 6 credits |
| Other | An additional 3-6 credits considered on an individual basis |
Veterans and Service Members that provide qualifying proof of service such as a DD 214 Member 4 copy or a Joint Service Transcript will receive credit for their kinesiology requirements. All other transcripts including JST and CCAF transcripts will be evaluated on an individual basis. Learn more about our military benefits.
SAU recognizes various CLEP exams covering subjects such as composition, literature, mathematics, and sciences. Make sure the exams you plan to take align with our accepted CLEP subjects. To be eligible for credit, you will need to achieve minimum qualifying scores set by the university for each exam.
We evaluate your test results once we receive your official score reports from CLEP. You must score at least 50 on the CLEP exams. If you meet or exceed the required score, we will award credit equivalent to specific courses in your program of study.
SAU’s policies regarding CLEP exams may vary based on the department standards and level of credit desired. Check with the Registrar’s Office or Academic Advising for specific details on accepted exams, minimum scores, and credit equivalencies. Download our CLEP exam equivalency list.
Students demonstrating college level learning through 3+ years of work experience may be able to obtain equivalency credits applicable to a degree. This process involves evaluating and assessing your work and life experience to determine if the learning outcomes match an SAU course or courses. Ways to demonstrate prior experiential learning typically include portfolio development or special examination by the department. These credits may or may not be transferable to other colleges. The maximum number of credits you can earn through experiential learning assessment is 25% of the total degree (typically 30 out of 120 credits).
An assessment non-refundable fee of $180 per 3-credit course and a $30 per credit transcript fee is also charged. Once you pay the assessment fee, the application will be reviewed. You will be informed of the number of approved credits, and upon payment of the transcript fee, the registrar will post grades for these courses.
To be eligible for CPL consideration, you must be an admitted student at St. Ambrose University.
Collect evidence of your prior experiences, like portfolios and certifications, then contact Registrar@sau.edu to start the application process.
Upon submission, your CPL materials undergo a thorough evaluation by qualified faculty or assessors.
The office of the registrar notifies you about the status of your CPL application and if credits are awarded based on how the experience applies to the academic program.
Accepted CPL credits are added to your academic record, contributing toward the fulfillment of degree requirements.
CPL at St. Ambrose University acknowledges various types of prior learning experiences. This broad range includes professional certifications, military training, work experiences, volunteer work, and portfolio assessments. Each experience is evaluated individually based on its relevance to the academic curriculum and learning outcomes defined by the university.
No, CPLs typically do not affect your GPA at St. Ambrose University. These credits are often considered as pass/fail or are graded separately from the traditional grading system. The focus is on awarding credit for prior learning experiences rather than impacting your GPA.
We evaluate CPLs by assessing the experiential learning gained through various experiences like work, military training, or certifications. This evaluation involves reviewing portfolios, exams, or documentation to match learning outcomes to specific course credits within the university’s curriculum.
The number of CPLs you can apply toward your degree varies. A maximum of 60 credits of CPL can be applied towards your degree with no more than 30 of those credits coming from PEL credits. It depends on the evaluation of your prior learning experiences and how they align with the university’s curriculum.
There isn’t a fixed deadline to apply for CPL. It is advised to initiate the process once you've been admitted or early in your academic journey at St. Ambrose University. Please allow ample time for evaluation before the start of the next semester.
Please contact the Office of the Registrar with any questions regarding your CPL decision results.
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