Testing and Placement

Ways to earn credits

Advanced placement (AP)

Earn credit by passing AP exams related to completed courses. Learn more about AP credit.

College credit while in High School

If your high school partners with North Park for dual credit, you’ll need to decide whether to enroll as a first-year or transfer student. First-year students entering North Park with dual credits from high school can transfer those credits while maintaining first-year status for merit-based scholarships, orientation, and CORE 1000 registration. Students must enroll in the semester after high school graduation, submit official college transcripts, and follow standard transfer guidelines. A grade of D or higher is required for credit, with a C or higher for major coursework. Transfer credits count toward graduation requirements but may not apply to major requirements.

College level examination program (CLEP)

Earn credit for university-level knowledge through CLEP exams based on personal study or career experience. Learn more about CLEP.

Credit by examination

North Park University offers Credit by Examination to help students meet prerequisites and requirements. Check with the relevant department or professor to confirm if this option is available.

Student responsibilities:

• Obtain the Examination Grade Report form from Student Engagement ($42 fee).
• Schedule the exam with the department/professor. If unavailable, you may need to test at another institution at additional cost.
• Bring the report to your exam and have it completed by the test administrator.
• Return the completed form to Student Engagement for credit posting (posting fee applies).
• You can earn up to 8 credits per department.
• A grade of B or better qualifies for credit, recorded as ‘P’ for passing.

Exemption vs. credit hours:

An exemption fulfills a requirement without awarding credit. To receive credit hours, a posting fee per credit hour is required. For modern language exams, additional guidelines apply.

Start at Student Engagement on the first floor of the Johnson Center.

Dual credit transfer policy

High school students who earned college credit (dual credit) may transfer it to North Park while maintaining first-year status. Credit will be awarded based on standard transfer guidelines.

International baccalaureate (IB)

North Park may grant academic credit for IB scores of 5, 6, or 7 on higher-level exams. You can earn up to 30 credits, depending on departmental evaluation.

Modern language requirement

North Park’s Core Curriculum requires students to be proficient in a language other than English through the 1020 level. This can be achieved by taking two semesters of a language such as Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese, or Swedish.

If you already speak another language:

• Native English Speakers: Fulfill the requirement by completing coursework or taking a placement exam. If your language isn’t offered, arrange testing at another university (fees apply).
• Non-English Native Speakers: Show proficiency in English through ESL coursework, a proficiency exam, or exemption.

Additional notes:

• Language proficiency will be posted after completing one semester at North Park.
• No credit is awarded for testing out of the 1010/1020 level.
• Students majoring in language-related fields may receive credit for proficiency beyond the 1020 level (fees apply).

State seal of biliteracy

Students with the State Seal of Biliteracy are exempt from the Modern Language Placement Exam but may still test into higher-level language courses. No credit is awarded for meeting this requirement.
For more information, visit Student Engagement or contact the appropriate department.

Subject placement tests

Students can take placement tests in subjects like modern languages, music, mathematics, and writing to qualify for advanced courses. Learn more about subject placement tests.