Quick answer: homeschoolers can take both AP and CLEP exams. For AP, College Board says homeschooled students cannot order exams directly, so you find a school that offers the exam through the AP Course Ledger and ask its AP coordinator to include your teen; schools must place exam orders by College Board’s November deadline (November 13, 2026 for May 2027 exams). For CLEP, your teen registers directly with College Board, pays the $97 exam fee plus a test center or $30 remote-proctoring fee, and can test year-round. Each college decides what credit to give for either exam, so check policies first.
AP and CLEP are two of the main ways a homeschooled teen can show college-level knowledge to an outside party. Both are run by College Board, and both can earn college credit at many schools. They work in very different ways, though, and the right choice depends on your teen’s goals.
This guide explains how each exam works for homeschoolers, from registration to scores, and how to fit them into the course and testing plan described in our guide to homeschooling high school.
Sources: College Board, AP Students help center (“I’m homeschooled. How can I take an AP Exam?”), AP Central ordering pages and AP Course Audit pages; College Board, CLEP “Information for Test Takers” bulletin 2026-27, CLEP registration and exam pages; NCAA Eligibility Center, Home School Toolkit. Checked October 2026. Fees and deadlines change each year; confirm on College Board’s site.
AP and CLEP at a Glance
| Feature | AP exams | CLEP exams |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | College Board | College Board |
| When | Once a year, in May | Year-round |
| Where | A school that administers AP exams | A CLEP test center or remote proctoring |
| Registration | Through a school’s AP coordinator | Directly through the My CLEP portal |
| Number of exams | Dozens of subjects | 34 exams |
| Scoring | 1 to 5 | 20 to 80 |
| Level | College-level courses usually taken over a full year | Introductory college course content |
| Typical use | Admissions evidence plus possible college credit | Mainly college credit |
How AP Exams Work for Homeschoolers
Finding a testing school
College Board’s help page for homeschooled students explains that you cannot order AP exams yourself. Instead:
- Search College Board’s AP Course Ledger for schools near you that offer the subject.
- Call the school and ask for the AP coordinator.
- Ask whether the school accepts outside or homeschooled test-takers, and about its local deadline, fees, testing location and any device requirements for digital exams.
Contact schools early in the fall. Some schools do not accept outside students, and those that do may fill up or set early internal deadlines.
The ordering deadline
Schools order exams through College Board’s system. For the 2026-27 school year, College Board’s final ordering deadline is November 13, 2026, for exams in May 2027. College Board notes that homeschooled students can still be added after that date, up to March 12, 2027, though late orders may carry additional fees unless the coordinator requests a waiver. Aim to have a school agreement in place by October so you are not relying on late ordering.
Fees
College Board sets a base exam fee, and many schools add their own administration fee for outside students. Ask the testing school for the total cost. College Board offers fee reductions for eligible students with financial need, which are applied through the school.
Exam day
AP exams are given in May over a two-week period, with set dates and times for each subject. Some exams are fully digital and taken in the Bluebook testing app, while others are partly or fully on paper. The testing school will tell your teen what to bring.
Preparing for AP at home
Each AP subject has a course and exam description published on College Board’s AP Central site. It lists the units, the skills tested and the format of the exam, including the multiple-choice and free-response sections. Use it as the backbone of a home course: map each unit onto your calendar, then match textbook chapters or lessons to it. College Board also publishes past free-response questions with scoring guidelines for many subjects, which show exactly what earns points. Practicing those questions under timed conditions in the spring is one of the most useful steps a self-studying teen can take. If your teen uses an authorized online AP course, the teacher will usually follow the same framework, and you mainly need to secure the testing school.
The AP Course Audit and Your Transcript
Taking an AP exam and taking an “AP course” are different things.
What the Course Audit is
College Board’s AP Course Audit authorizes specific courses to use the AP label. A teacher submits a syllabus showing the course meets College Board’s curricular requirements. Only authorized courses can be called “AP” on a transcript.
What this means for homeschoolers
- Authorized online AP course: many online providers have completed the audit. Your teen can list the course as “AP Biology” on the transcript.
- Parent-taught course without audit: list it as “Honors Biology” or “Biology (Advanced)” and report the AP exam score separately. Colleges see the rigor through the score.
- Self-study for the exam: no course label is needed. Report the score on applications.
A strong AP exam score after a parent-taught honors course is valuable evidence that home grades are accurate.
AP Scores and College Credit
AP exams are scored from 1 to 5. College Board describes a 3 as “qualified”, a 4 as “well qualified” and a 5 as “extremely well qualified” to receive college credit or placement.
How colleges use AP scores
Each college sets its own policy. Some grant credit for scores of 3 or higher, others require a 4 or 5, and some highly selective colleges give placement but limited credit. College Board maintains a searchable AP credit policy database, and most colleges also publish their own charts. Look up the colleges your teen is considering before deciding how many AP exams are worth the effort.
AP for admissions
Beyond credit, AP scores help admissions officers interpret a homeschool transcript. An outside score in a subject your teen studied at home supports the grade you gave.
How CLEP Works for Homeschoolers
Registration
CLEP is simpler for homeschoolers because there is no school in the middle. Your teen:
- Creates an account in the My CLEP portal.
- Chooses and pays for the exam.
- Either schedules an appointment directly with a CLEP test center or, for remote proctoring, follows College Board’s emailed instructions to schedule through its proctoring service.
College Board’s 2026-27 bulletin notes that registration and scheduling are separate steps, and that test centers operate independently and set their own administration fees.
Fees
College Board lists the CLEP exam fee as $97 per exam. Test centers usually charge a separate administration fee, and remote proctoring costs $30 when registering through the portal. A $10 rescheduling fee may apply. The College Board materials note that fees can change, so check before registering.
The 34 exams
CLEP exams cover introductory college subjects in five areas: composition and literature, world languages, history and social sciences, science and mathematics, and business. Examples include College Composition, American Literature, U.S. History I and II, American Government, Introductory Psychology, Biology, Chemistry, College Algebra, Precalculus, Calculus, Spanish and Principles of Marketing.
Scores
CLEP exams are scored from 20 to 80. Most exams give an instant score report on screen; College Board notes that College Composition and the Spanish with Writing exam are exceptions, since they include written portions scored later. Colleges set their own passing scores, and many use a score of 50 on most exams.
Retakes
Retakes of the same exam title are not allowed within three months, according to the bulletin, so plan study time before the first attempt.
Free preparation
College Board points test-takers to free fact sheets with sample questions for every exam and to free online CLEP courses offered by Modern States Education Alliance.
CLEP and College Credit
According to College Board’s bulletin, nearly 3,000 colleges and universities award credit for CLEP. That still leaves many that do not, and policies vary by exam. Some colleges cap the total number of credits earned by exam, and some selective colleges do not accept CLEP at all.
Before your teen spends time on CLEP, search College Board’s CLEP policy tool for colleges they might attend, or call the admissions office. A CLEP exam is most valuable when your teen is fairly sure of the type of college they will attend, such as a state university or an adult degree program with a generous policy.
Important Limits
NCAA eligibility
The NCAA Eligibility Center’s Home School Toolkit states that CLEP and other credit-by-exam courses are not NCAA-approved core courses and cannot be used in an academic certification. Student athletes should take real courses for their core requirements and use CLEP only for extra college credit.
Not a replacement for a course
On a homeschool transcript, an exam is not a course. If your teen studied U.S. history for a year and then passed the CLEP exam, list “U.S. History” as a course with the grade you assigned, and report the CLEP result in a test score section.
Transfer between colleges
A college that accepts a CLEP or AP score may record it as credit, placement or both. If your teen later transfers, the next college may treat that credit differently.
Choosing Between AP and CLEP
| Situation | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Applying to selective colleges | AP, especially with an authorized course or strong scores |
| Seeking credit at a state university with a generous policy | CLEP, AP or both |
| Wanting flexible timing | CLEP |
| Student athlete needing core courses | Neither replaces a course; take real courses for NCAA |
| Studying a subject without a local AP testing school | CLEP, or an online AP course with a partner testing school |
| Wanting an outside score to support home grades | AP for most subjects |
Many families use AP exams in subjects where the teen took a full, demanding course, and CLEP for introductory subjects the teen learned well along the way.
Planning the Timeline
| When | AP | CLEP |
|---|---|---|
| Summer before the school year | Choose subjects, check college policies | Check college policies |
| September to October | Contact AP coordinators and secure a testing school | Begin study for a planned exam |
| By early November | Confirm the school has placed the order | Register when ready |
| Spring | Final review | Any time year-round |
| May | Take AP exams | |
| July | Scores released | Most scores available immediately |
Put these dates into your family’s school-year calendar; our guide to year-round homeschool calendars shows a format that works for planning testing seasons. Record results in the test section of the transcript as described in our homeschool transcript guide.
Fitting exams into a four-year plan
Most students take AP exams in tenth through twelfth grade, after a full course in the subject. CLEP is often used in eleventh and twelfth grade once a student has the reading and test-taking skills of a first-year college student. If your teen is still in middle school planning for high school, our 8th grade checklist includes a note on when to begin thinking about testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can homeschoolers take AP exams?
Yes. College Board says homeschooled students arrange to test at a school that administers AP exams by contacting its AP coordinator, using the AP Course Ledger to find schools nearby. The school orders the exam on the student’s behalf.
Can I call my homeschool course AP?
Only if it is authorized through College Board’s AP Course Audit. A parent-taught course without authorization is usually labeled honors, with the AP exam score reported separately.
How much does a CLEP exam cost?
College Board lists the exam fee as $97, plus a test center administration fee or a $30 remote-proctoring fee. Fees can change, so check the current amount before registering.
Do all colleges accept CLEP?
No. College Board says nearly 3,000 colleges award credit for CLEP, but each sets its own policy and some do not accept it. Check each college’s policy before relying on CLEP credit.
Should homeschoolers take AP or CLEP?
AP is often better for admissions to selective colleges and for showing rigor in a full-year course. CLEP is flexible and inexpensive for earning introductory credit at colleges that accept it. Many families use both.