Credit by Examination (CBE)

Credit by Examination (CBE) allows a student to receive college credit for prior learning by demonstrating mastery of course outcomes—skills and knowledge—by taking the course exam(s). Some exams may require performance of a skill set, while other exams may be written tests covering course content.

Requirements For CBE

1. To be eligible for Credit by Examination, both the student and the course(s) in question must meet all conditions of the policy on Credit for Prior Learning.
2. A student may challenge a course through Credit by Examination only once.
3. The fee for CBE is a flat fee of $50.00. This non-refundable fee will be billed once the grade has been submitted, regardless of the results of the examination.
4. International students on F-1 visas must be currently enrolled as full-time students at Lane to qualify for Credit by Exam.
5. A student must accept the grade earned once the examination is evaluated and the grade is processed.
6. A student may choose to have credit earned under CBE procedures transcripted either as a letter grade or as a grade of "Pass" at the time of the exam. (A maximum of 16 credits for any Lane degree or certificate may be Pass/No Pass.)
7. The grade will be entered on the transcript followed by a tilde sign (~) to signify Credit by Examination. The grade entry will be noted on the back of the transcript in the notes column as "~Credit by Examination."
8. For Lane degrees and certificates, all Credit for Prior Learning (by assessment and by exam) is limited to 25% of any degree or certificate. However, a maximum of 16 credits may be Pass/No Pass, the only grade option for CBA. Understanding the limits on CBA requires careful attention to these degree and certificate limits.
   
   For example, if a one-year certificate requires 45 credits, 25% of 45, or 11 credits, may be granted through Credit for Prior Learning, whether by assessment or by exam, and graded "Pass." Thus, under the 16 credit limit for P/NP grades, five additional Pass credits (not earned through CBA) may count toward the certificate.
   
   In a two year degree program requiring 90 credits, 25% of 90, or 22 credits, may be granted through Credit for Prior Learning, but only 16 may be through Credit by Assessment since the remaining 6 credits must be graded.
   
9. To meet requirements for a degree or certificate, a student must complete a minimum of 24 credits at Lane in addition to any credits earned through Credit for Prior Learning (CBA and CBE).  Career Pathway Certificate are not included in the 24 credit minimum.
10. Any student who intends to transfer CBE credits to a four-year institution must verify the other institution's policies toward grades of "Pass" (P) and toward acceptance of credit by examination from Lane. Many institutions do accept credit by examination, but students must take responsibility for checking.
11. CBE may not be used to substitute for regular class registration. The purpose of CBE is to validate prior learning rather than current learning. If a student has attended a class for more than six class hours (one class hour equals 60 minutes, with 10 minute optional break) and wishes to receive credit for the class, the student must register for the class and pay tuition and class fees.

Student CBE Steps

Step 1  The student must check with the appropriate academic division to verify test availability for the selected course and make an appointment to take the exam.

Step 2  The student must complete the examination(s) for CBE by the deadline date for schedule changes (before the end of the eighth week of the term). The student will notify the division of name, address, and other information for purposes of grade reporting, and will notify the examiner if electing to take the exam for "Pass/No Pass" credit.  

Step 3  The student will be responsible for the billed amount on their account that will be placed there two weeks after completing the examination. Failure to pay will result in the student's inability to receive an official transcript.

Divisional Procedures For CBE

1. Develop or identify the appropriate examination(s) by which a student may demonstrate mastery of the learning outcomes of a course in the current catalog.
2. Provide examination copies if Testing is to proctor the tests and to provide scoring criteria if Testing is to do the scoring.
3. If examinations are to be administered in the department, establish a system which prevents the exam from being completed by anyone other than the student (no take-home tests, for example, and check identification and proctor all examinations).
4. Record the student's name, address, and choice for Pass/No Pass credit or a letter grade.
5. Record earned grades according to institutional and divisional policies and report with an Add Grade Change Form to Enrollment/Student Records. Complete the following information on the form:
   • Student L number and name
   • Course name and number
   • For the registration number write CBE
   • Term and year
   • Add grade and number of credits earned
6. Grades earned through CBE will be included in the grade report at the end of the term during which the entire CBE process is completed.
7. Within two weeks of the completion of the exam, notify the student of the grade administered.