Students may earn general education or lower-division major credits by taking a CSU-accepted external examination in place of a course. The CSU faculties have determined the passing scores, minimum units of credit earned, and certification area (for General Education Breadth and/or U.S. History, Constitution, and American Ideals) of standardized external examinations, such as Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). Each campus in the California State University system determines how it will apply credits earned by external examinations toward the degree major. Contact a campus admissions office for more information.
Disclaimer: All information provided here is for academic year 2023-24. Information is current as of January 2024 and subject to change without prior notice. Please visit the
CSU campus websites or contact a specific campus for up-to-date information.
Exam Type
Exam Name
American Institutions and/or GE Breadth Area
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| AP Art History | 3 | 6 | 3 | C1 or C2 | - | 12/18/2008 | | AP Art History | 3 | 6 | 3 | C1 | Fall 2009 | 8/12/2008 | | AP Biology | 3 | 6 | 4 | B2+B3 | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP Calculus AB | 3 | 3 | 3 | B4 | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP Calculus BC | 3 | 6 | 3 | B4 | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP Calculus BC/AB Subscore | 3 | 3 | 3 | B4 | - | 5/10/2010 | | AP Chemistry | 3 | 6 | 4 | B1+B3 | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP Chemistry | 3 | 6 | 6 | B1+B3 | Fall 2009 | 8/12/2008 | | AP Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | 3 | C2 | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP Comparative Government & Politics | 3 | 3 | 3 | D8 | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP Computer Science A | 3 | 3 | 0 | n/a | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP Computer Science AB | 3 | 6 | 0 | n/a | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP Computer Science Principles | 3 | 6 | 3 | B4 | - | 8/2019 | | AP Computer Science Principles | 3 | 6 | 0 | n/a | Fall 2019 | 4/21/2017 | | AP English Language | 3 | 6 | 3 | A2 | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP English Language and Composition | 3 | 6 | 3 | A2 | - | 1/30/2015 | | AP English Literature | 3 | 6 | 6 | A2+C2 | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP English Literature and Composition | 3 | 6 | 6 | A2+C2 | - | 1/30/2015 | | AP Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | 4 | B1+B3 | | 12/18/2008 | | AP Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | 4 | B1+B3, B2+B3 | Fall 2009 | 8/12/2008 | | AP European History | 3 | 6 | 3 | C2 or D6 | - | 5/10/2010 | | AP European History | 3 | 6 | 3 | D6 | Spring 2009 | 8/12/2008 | | AP French Language | 3 | 6 | 3 | C2 | Fall 2011 | 8/12/2008 | | AP French Language | 3 | 6 | 6 | C2 | Fall 2009 | 8/12/2008 | | AP French Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | 3 | C2 | - | 1/30/2015 | | AP German Language | 3 | 6 | 3 | C2 | Fall 2011 | 8/12/2008 | | AP German Language | 3 | 6 | 6 | C2 | Fall 2009 | 8/12/2008 | | AP German Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | 3 | C2 | - | 1/30/2015 | | AP Human Geography | 3 | 3 | 3 | D5 | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | 3 | C2 | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | 3 | C2 | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP Latin | 3 | 6 | 3 | C2 | | 1/30/2015 | | AP Latin Literature | 3 | 6 | 3 | C2 | Fall 2009 | 8/12/2008 | | AP Latin: Virgil | 3 | 3 | 3 | C2 | Fall 2012 | 8/12/2008 | | AP Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | 3 | D2 | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | 3 | D2 | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP Music Theory | 3 | 6 | 3 | C1 | Fall 2009 | 8/12/2008 | | AP Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | B1+B3 | - | 4/1/2014 | | AP Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | B1+B3 | - | 4/1/2014 | | AP Physics B | 3 | 6 | 4 | B1+B3 | Fall 2015 | 8/12/2008 | | AP Physics B | 3 | 6 | 6 | B1+B3 | Fall 2009 | 5/10/2010 | | AP Physics C (electricity/magnetism) | 3 | 4 | 4 | B1+B3 | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP Physics C (mechanics) | 3 | 4 | 4 | B1+B3 | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP Precalculus | 3 | 3 | 3 | B4 | | 3/17/2023 | | AP Psychology | 3 | 3 | 3 | D9 | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP Seminar | 3 | 3 | 0 | n/a | - | 1/30/2015 | | AP Spanish Language | 3 | 6 | 3 | C2 | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP Spanish Language | 3 | 6 | 6 | C2 | Spring 2014 | 5/10/2010 | | AP Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | 3 | C2 | - | 1/30/2015 | | AP Spanish Literature | 3 | 6 | 3 | C2 | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP Spanish Literature | 3 | 6 | 6 | C2 | Spring 2014 | 5/10/2010 | | AP Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 6 | 3 | C2 | - | 1/30/2015 | | AP Statistics | 3 | 3 | 3 | B4 | - | 8/12/2008 | | AP Studio Art | 3 | 3 | 0 | n/a | Fall 2010 | 8/12/2008 | | AP Studio Art - 2D | 3 | 3 | 0 | n/a | - | 5/10/2010 | | AP Studio Art - 3D | 3 | 3 | 0 | n/a | - | 5/10/2010 | | AP Studio Art - Drawing | 3 | 3 | 0 | n/a | - | 5/10/2010 | | AP U.S. Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | 3 | D8+US-2 | - | 12/18/2008 | | AP U.S. Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | 3 | D8 | Fall 2009 | 8/12/2008 | | AP U.S. History | 3 | 6 | 3 | (C2 or D6)+US-1 | - | 12/18/2008 | | AP U.S. History | 3 | 6 | 3 | D6 | Fall 2009 | 8/12/2008 | | AP World History | 3 | 6 | 3 | C2 or D6 | - | 12/18/2008 | | AP World History | 3 | 6 | 3 | D6 | Fall 2009 | 8/12/2008 | | AP World History Modern | 3 | 3 | 3 | C2 or D | | 8/2019 | | CLEP American Government | 50 | 3 | 3 | D8 | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP American Literature | 50 | 3 | 3 | C2 | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature | 50 | 3 | 3 | C2 | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Biology | 50 | 3 | 3 | B2 | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Calculus | 50 | 3 | 3 | B4 | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Calculus | 51 | 3 | 0 | n/a | Fall 2009 | 8/12/2008 | | CLEP Chemistry | 50 | 3 | 3 | B1 | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Chemistry | 48 | 3 | 0 | n/a | Fall 2009 | 8/12/2008 | | CLEP College Algebra | 50 | 3 | 3 | B4 | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP College Algebra - Trigonometry | 50 | 3 | 3 | B4 | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP College Composition | 50 | 0 | 0 | n/a | - | 4/21/2017 | | CLEP College Composition – Modular | 50 | 0 | 0 | n/a | - | 4/21/2017 | | CLEP College Mathematics | 50 | 0 | 0 | n/a | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP English Composition (no essay) | 50 | 0 | 0 | n/a | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP English Composition with essay | 50 | 0 | 0 | n/a | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP English Literature | 50 | 3 | 3 | C2 | Fall 2011 | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Financial Accounting | 50 | 3 | 0 | n/a | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP French Level I | 50 | 6 | 0 | n/a | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP French Level II | 59 | 9 | 3 | C2 | | 4/21/2017 | | CLEP French Level II | 59 | 12 | 3 | C2 | Fall 2015 | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Freshman College Composition | 50 | 0 | 0 | n/a | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP German Level I | 50 | 6 | 0 | n/a | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP German Level II | 60 | 9 | 3 | C2 | - | 4/21/2017 | | CLEP German Level II | 60 | 12 | 3 | C2 | Fall 2015 | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP History, United States I | 50 | 3 | 3 | D6+US-1 | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP History, United States II | 50 | 3 | 3 | D6+US-1 | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Human Growth and Development | 50 | 3 | 3 | E | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Humanities | 50 | 3 | 3 | C2 | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Information Systems and Computer Applications | 50 | 3 | 0 | n/a | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Introduction to Educational Psychology | 50 | 3 | 0 | n/a | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Introductory Business Law | 50 | 3 | 0 | n/a | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Introductory Psychology | 50 | 3 | 3 | D9 | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Introductory Sociology | 50 | 3 | 3 | D0 | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Natural Sciences | 50 | 3 | 3 | B1 or B2 | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Pre-Calculus | 50 | 3 | 3 | B4 | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Principles of Accounting | 50 | 3 | 0 | n/a | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Principles of Macroeconomics | 50 | 3 | 3 | D2 | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Principles of Management | 50 | 3 | 0 | n/a | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Principles of Marketing | 50 | 3 | 0 | n/a | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Principles of Microeconomics | 50 | 3 | 3 | D2 | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Social Sciences and History | 50 | 0 | 0 | n/a | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Spanish Level I | 50 | 6 | 0 | n/a | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Spanish Level II | 63 | 9 | 3 | C2 | - | 4/21/2017 | | CLEP Spanish Level II | 63 | 12 | 3 | C2 | Fall 2015 | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Spanish with Writing I | 50 | 6 | 0 | n/a | - | 05/10/10 | | CLEP Spanish with Writing II | 63 | 9 | 3 | C2 | - | 05/10/10 | | CLEP Trigonometry | 50 | 3 | 3 | B4 | Fall 2006 | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Western Civilization I | 50 | 3 | 3 | C2 or D6 | - | 5/10/2010 | | CLEP Western Civilization II | 50 | 3 | 3 | D6 | - | 5/10/2010 | | IB Biology HL | 5 | 6 | 3 | B2 | - | 5/11/2009 | | IB Chemistry HL | 5 | 6 | 3 | B1 | - | 5/11/2009 | | IB Economics HL | 5 | 6 | 3 | D2 | - | 5/11/2009 | | IB Geography HL | 5 | 6 | 3 | D5 | - | 5/11/2009 | | IB History (any region) HL | 5 | 6 | 3 | C2 or D6 | - | 5/11/2009 | | IB Language A: Language and Literature HL | 4 | 6 | 3 | C2 | - | 4/1/2014 | | IB Language A: Literature HL | 4 | 6 | 3 | C2 | - | 4/1/2014 | | IB Language A1 (any language) HL | 4 | 6 | 3 | C2 | Fall 2013 | 5/11/2009 | | IB Language A2 (any language) HL | 4 | 6 | 3 | C2 | Fall 2013 | 5/11/2009 | | IB Language B (any language) HL | 4 | 6 | 0 | n/a | - | 5/11/2009 | | IB Mathematics HL | 4 | 6 | 3 | B4 | - | 5/11/2009 | | IB Mathematics HL: Analysis and Approaches | 4 | 6 | 3 | B4 | - | 11/02/21 | | IB Mathematics HL: Applications and Interpretation | 4 | 6 | 3 | B4 | - | 11/02/21 | | IB Physics HL | 5 | 6 | 3 | B1 | - | 5/11/2009 | | IB Psychology HL | 5 | 6 | 3 | D9 | - | 5/11/2009 | | IB Theatre HL | 4 | 6 | 3 | C1 | - | 5/11/2009 |
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For more information on the CSU External Exams Policy download a copy of the CSU Systemwide Credit for External Examinations in PolicyStat.
1These units count toward eligibility for admission. The units may not apply towards Associate Degrees for Transfer (AD-T) or the baccalaureate degree. The units may not all apply toward certification of the corresponding GE-Breadth area. See Executive Orders
1036 and
1100 for details.
2Areas of GE Breadth (A1 through E) are defined in
EO 1100. Areas of American Institutions (US-1 through US-3) are set forth in Sections IA and IB of
EO 1061, and at
assist.org. Numerical subcategories for Area D were removed and no longer apply effective 4/11/2018 but are provided for historical reference.
3Students seeking certification in GE Breadth prior to transfer must have passed the test before this date.
4If a student passes more than one CLEP test in the same language other than English (e.g., two exams in French), then only one examination may be applied to the baccalaureate. For each test in a language other than English, a passing score of 50 is considered "Level I" and earns six units of baccalaureate credit; the higher score listed for each test is considered "Level II" and earns additional units of credit and placement in Area C2 of GE Breadth, as noted.
5The IB curriculum offers language at various levels for native and non-native speakers. Language B courses are offered at the intermediate level for non-natives. Language A1 and A2 are advanced courses in literature for native and non-native speakers, respectively.
6If a student passes more than one AP exam in calculus or computer science, only one examination may be applied to the baccalaureate.
7Students who pass AP Environmental Science earn 4 units of credit. Tests prior to Fall 2009 may apply either to B1+B3 or B2+B3 of GE Breadth. Fall of 2009 or later, those credits may only apply to B1+B3.
8If a student passes more than one AP exam in physics, only six units of credit may be applied to the baccalaureate, and only four units of credit may be applied to a certification in GE Breadth.