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Prior Learning Exams
Students may earn college credit by passing tests that evaluate students' prior learning.
Jump to: CLEP | DSST | FLATS | PBSC Challenge Exams
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
The CLEP lets you earn college credit by passing tests that show you already know the material covered in certain college courses. By doing well on the exam, you can skip some introductory classes — saving both time and money as you work toward your degree.
Important Information
Palm Beach State College students must meet with an Academic Advisor to find out if a CLEP exam is accepted for their specific program. It’s the student’s responsibility to choose the correct CLEP exam.
Funding for CLEP exams is extended to eligible military veterans.
Study Materials
Appointments and Test Fees
Step 1: Students must register on the CLEP website and pay a $97 test fee by credit/debit card for each CLEP exam.
Step 2: After registering with CLEP website, make an appointment at your preferred Testing Center campus location and pay a $15 proctoring fee (per test) via PBSC eMarket prior to the exam.
Step 3: Students must bring their CLEP Test Voucher and PBSC receipt to the Testing Center on the day of testing. Students must also have a valid form of ID. If you are home schooled and do not have the required government issued ID, please complete a Student ID Form, which is valid for one year. The form must be accompanied by a recognizable photo, with a school or notary seal overlapping the photo. The form must be signed in front of a school official or notary. If you fail to present the appropriate ID, you will not be tested.
DSST (Formally DANTES Subject Standardized Tests)
A DSST exam is a standardized test that lets you earn college credit by showing what you know in a specific subject —whether you learned it through previous classes, work experience, or independent study.
Important Information
Palm Beach State students must meet with an Academic Advisor to find out if a DSST exam is accepted for their specific program. It's the student's responsibility to choose the correct DSST exam.
Testing candidates can retake the same test after 90 days (about 3 months). Taking it beforehand will result in an invalid exam and forfeit testing fees.
Study Materials
Appointments and Test Fees
Step 1: Students must register on the DSST website and pay a $100 test fee by credit/debit card for each DSST exam.
Step 2: After registering with DSST website, make an appointment at your preferred Testing Center campus location and pay a $15 proctoring fee (per test) via PBSC eMarket prior to the exam.
Step 3: Students must bring their DSST Test Voucher and PBSC receipt to the Testing Center on the day of testing. Students must also have a valid physical form of ID.
Foreign Language Achievement Testing Service (FLATS)
FLATS exams, designed by Brigham Young University (BYU), evaluate a student's proficiency in a foreign language and are often used to meet college-level language requirements. At Palm Beach State College, these exams can be used to satisfy the foreign language competency requirement; however, no college credit is awarded.
Important Information
The exams cover material equivalent to the first three semesters of language study. Most are computer-based and take up to 2.5 hours to complete, while some are offered in a paper-and-pencil format. The results are reported as pass/fail. | List of available languages
Appointments and Test Fees
Step 1: Students must register on the BYU-FLATS website. BYU charges $50 for an online exam and $75 for a paper/pencil exam. The BYU charges are payable online via a debit or credit card. For a guide on how to register on the website, view the FLATS Registration Process Guide.
Step 2: After registering with BYU-FLATS website, make an appointment at your preferred Testing Center campus location and pay a $15 proctoring fee via PBSC eMarket prior to the exam.
PBSC Challenge Exams
Certain courses at Palm Beach State College allow students to earn credit or clock hours through a challenge exam. If a passing score is achieved, the credit or hours will be added to the student’s transcript. Exams are not scored immediately; results are typically available within 24 hours.
For information about exams offered and to download the Challenge Exam form, visit the Challenge Exam webpage.
Test Fees
Please pay a $50 fee via PBSC eMarket prior to the exam.
Appointments
Challenge Exams are available at the Lake Worth campus only. Please contact the Lake Worth PBSC Testing Center at centraltesting@pbsc.edu or 561-868-3019 for more information.