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Undergraduate Academic Advising Advising
  1. Undergraduate Academic Advising
  2. Students
  3. Academic Policies
  4. Credit by Exam

Credit by Exam

Students may want to earn credit for a course by taking an examination that covers the work for the entire course. This Credit by Exam option may be allowed by some departments. 

Requirements

  • The student requesting credit by examination must not have already received a grade or a W in the course.
  • The student requesting credit by examination must be registered for the term and in good academic standing.
  • If credit by examination is authorized, the student will receive a grade of A+, A, A–, B+, B, B–, C+, C, C–, D, or F unless the student’s petition for examination specifies the grade to be Pass or Not Pass.
  • The student’s record will indicate that the course was attempted through credit by examination, and the course will appear in the term that the exam is taken. 
  • Important Fee Information:
    • A part-time student who, by registering to take a course credit by examination, surpasses the number of units allowed for part-time status, must register and pay fees as a full-time student.
    • If the student is planning to do credit by exam during the summer session, the student is responsible for the per unit summer fees in addition to the $5 Credit by Exam fee.

Step 1: Consult the department

Review the requirements above carefully.

Then contact the department advisor in the home department of the course, via the Virtual Advising Center (VAC.ucsd.edu), to ask about their policy for credit by exam. This varies by department, and there may be a specific section or instructor you will need to contact.

Step 2: Start the petition and contact the instructor

Access the Credit by Exam petition form. Complete the top portion.

Obtain the instructor's permission and discuss when the exam will be taken. Do not take the exam until your petition has been approved.

Send the form to your College Advising office.

Step 3: College advising submits the petition

Your College's advising office will review the form, verify you meet the requirements for credit by exam, and send the form directly to the Office of the Registrar.

This must be done by the end of the quarter that you plan to take the exam. Do not take the exam yet.

Step 4: Take the exam

Do not take the exam until after the petition has been approved by the Registrar's Office.

The Registrar's Office will notify you once the petition has been approved. Then, you should take the exam as arranged with your instructor. The Registrar's Office will have added you to the course so the instructor can assign a final grade.