Departmental proficiency tests have been created by Harper College faculty for many courses not available through the CLEP program. In some academic areas, students may show proficiency through appropriate means other than written tests. Alternative forms of testing include musical performance, review of art portfolios, review of credentials, work skill evaluations, or any other means.
Step 1. Apply to the College.
Step 2. Receive testing permission from the academic department faculty contact. Information about the eligible courses and the individual to contact are found below.
Step 3. After you have received permission, you must pay for the proficiency test in the Testing Center (Building A, Room A148). Each exam costs $30 per course credit hour. For example:
ENG101 Composition is a 3 credit hour course. 3 x $30 per credit hour = $90 to take the ENG101 Proficiency Test.
Step 4. Make arrangements to take the test. Some experiences such as comprehensive tests will be given in the Testing Center, while others are given by the faculty contact.
Step 5. The Faculty Contact will review your submission to determine if credits have been earned. If you have successfully earned course credits, they will be posted to your permanent record as ungraded credit but will not show on your end of semester grade report.
Proficiency Credit can be earned by one or a combination of the following methods:
Comprehensive Exam - A exam that tests the student's understanding of the course's learning outcomes. Testing methods include, but are not limited to multiple-choice exams (paper/pencil or computer-based), written submissions/essays, short answer tests, etc.
Portfolio Review - An assemblage of relevant materials such as industry credentials, certificates, licenses, physical artifacts such as works of art, etc.
Practical - A "hands-on" demonstration of the necessary skills required to meet the core learning outcomes of the course.
| Course | Credit Hours | Methodology | Faculty Contact |
| ACC101 - Introduction to Financial Accounting | 4 | Comprehensive Exam | Cammy Wayne |
| ACC112 - Quickbooks | 2 | Comprehensive Exam | Cammy Wayne |
| CAS160 - Introduction to Business Software Packages | 3 | Comprehensive Exam | CIS Coordinator |
| CIS100 - Computer and Digital Literacy | 3 | Comprehensive Exam | CIS Coordinator |
| CIS106 - Computer Logic and Programming Technology | 3 | Comprehensive Exam | CIS Coordinator |
| CIS211 - IT Project Management | 3 | Comprehensive Exam | CIS Coordinator |
| DCS106 - Ultrasound Physics/ Instrumentation II | 2 | Portfolio Review | Kelly Hamontree |
| ECE101 - Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 3 | Portfolio Review (see below) | Kathleen Nikolai |
| ECE140 - Family Child Care Management | 3 | Portfolio Review (see below) | Kathleen Nikolai |
| ECE149 - Topics in Early Childhood Education | 3 | Portfolio Review (see below) | Kathleen Nikolai |
| ECE292 - Early Childhood Practicum II | 3 | Portfolio Review | Kathleen Nikolai |
| ELT110 - Introductory Electronics | 4 | Comprehensive Exam & Practical | Kurt Billsten |
| ELT111 - Semiconductor Devices and Circuits | 2 | Comprehensive Exam & Practical | Kurt Billsten |
| ELT120 - Introductory Industrial Electronics Maintenance | 2 | Comprehensive Exam & Practical | Kurt Billsten |
| ELT140 - Introduction to Programmable Logic Controllers | 2 | Comprehensive Exam & Practical | Kurt Billsten |
| ELT143 - Commercial Wiring | 2 | Comprehensive Exam & Practical | Kurt Billsten |
| EMG101 - Introduction to Emergency Management | 3 | Portfolio Review | Norman Bemis |
| EMG103 - Leadership, Influence & Decision Making | 3 | Portfolio Review | Norman Bemis |
| EMG107 - Incident Management Systems | 3 | Portfolio Review | Norman Bemis |
| EMG150 - Public Information-Community Relations | 3 | Portfolio Review | Norman Bemis |
| EMG151 - Emergency Management Policy-Planning | 3 | Portfolio Review | Norman Bemis |
| EMG153 - Hazard Analysis and Mitigation | 3 | Portfolio Review | Norman Bemis |
| EMG155 - Social Dimensions of Disaster | 3 | Portfolio Review | Norman Bemis |
| ENG101 - Composition | 3 | Comprehensive Exam | Margaret King or Paul Peterson |
| FIS100 - Fundamentals of Fire Protection | 3 | Portfolio Review | Norman Bemis |
| FIS102 - Fire Service Management I | 3 | Portfolio Review | Norman Bemis |
| FIS103 - Fire Strategy & Tactics I | 3 | Portfolio Review | Norman Bemis |
| FIS104 - Building Construction | 3 | Portfolio Review | Norman Bemis |
| FIS109 - Firefighter II (BOF) | 12 | Portfolio Review | Norman Bemis |
| FIS121 - Fire Behavior and Combustion | 3 | Portfolio Review | Norman Bemis |
| FIS122 - Fire Prevention Principles I | 3 | Portfolio Review | Norman Bemis |
| FIS132 - Hazardous Materials I | 3 | Portfolio Review | Norman Bemis |
| FIS145 - Fire Service Instructor I | 3 | Portfolio Review | Norman Bemis |
| FIS240 - Fire Apparatus Engineer | 3 | Portfolio Review | Norman Bemis |
| FIS250 - Industrial Fire Protection | 3 | Portfolio Review | Norman Bemis |
| FIS260 - Emergency Services Safety | 3 | Portfolio Review | Norman Bemis |
| HIT165 - Pathopharmacology for Health Information Professionals | 3 | Portfolio Review (see below) | Paula Akialis |
| HIT196 - Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Coding | 3 | Portfolio Review (see below) | Paula Akialis |
| HIT197 - International Classification of Disease (ICD) Coding | 3 | Portfolio Review (see below) | Paula Akialis |
| HIT199 - Healthcare Reimbursement | 3 | Portfolio Review (see below) | Paula Akialis |
| HIT235 - Advanced Medical Coding | 3 | Portfolio Review (see below) | Paula Akialis |
| HSC104 - Health Care Technology and Informatics | 2 | Comprehensive Exam | Susan Grant |
| HSC105 - Introduction to Health Care Today | 2 | Comprehensive Exam | Susan Grant |
| HSC112 - Medical Terminology | 2 | Comprehensive Exam | Susan Grant |
| HSC165 - Basic Pharmacology | 1 | Comprehensive Exam | Susan Grant |
| HSC201 - Advanced Pharmacology | 2 | Comprehensive Exam | Susan Grant |
| HSC213 - Legal & Ethical Issues In Health Care | 2 | Comprehensive Exam | Susan Grant |
| LEJ101 - Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 | Portfolio Review | Frank Trost |
| LEJ225 - Crisis Intervention Communication in Law Enforcement | 3 | Portfolio Review | Frank Trost |
| MFT105 - Machining Processes | 3 | Comprehensive Exam & Practical | Kurt Billsten |
| MTP100 - Introduction to Massage Therapy | 1 | Comprehensive Exam | Jeremy Miller |
| MUS111- Theory of Music I | 3 | Comprehensive Exam | Edward Hamel |
| MUS115 - Aural Skills I | 3 | Comprehensive Exam | Edward Hamel |
| NET105 - IT Fundamentals | 3 | Comprehensive Exam | CIS Coordinator |
| NET111 - A+ Hardware | 3 | Comprehensive Exam | CIS Coordinator |
| NET112 - A+ Operating Systems Technologies | 3 | Comprehensive Exam | CIS Coordinator |
| NET121 - Computer Networking | 3 | Comprehensive Exam | CIS Coordinator |
| NET122 - Internet Protocols | 3 | Comprehensive Exam | CIS Coordinator |
| NET240 - Linux Administration | 3 | Comprehensive Exam | CIS Coordinator |
| NET260 - Windows Server Administration | 3 | Comprehensive Exam | CIS Coordinator |
| NET270 - Cisco Networking | 3 | Comprehensive Exam | CIS Coordinator |
| NET280 - IT Security | 3 | Comprehensive Exam | CIS Coordinator |
| SUR110 - Fundamentals of Sterile Processing | 3 | Portfolio Review | Laura Smith |
| SUR111 - Fundamentals/Sterile Processing Lab | 1 | Portfolio Review | Laura Smith |
| WLD110 - Welding I | 3 | Practical | Kurt Billsten |
| WLD210 - Welding II | 3 | Practical | Kurt Billsten |
| WLD211 - Welding III | 4 | Practical | Kurt Billsten |
Students with a current (i.e. not expired) Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ could earn the following Early Childhood Education (ECE) credits at Harper College:
Preschool CDA: ECE 101, ECE 149
Infant/Toddler CDA: ECE 101, ECE 149
Family Childcare CDA: ECE 101, ECE 140
The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ is a widely recognized credential in early childhood education administered by the Council for Professional Development. The CDA Credential guides early child care professionals as they work toward becoming qualified teachers of young children. Obtaining a CDA is an important accomplishment and one that develops well informed practitioners knowledgeable in child development and best practices for teaching young children.
For more information, please contact ECE Department Chairperson, Kathleen Nikolai.
CCS®
Students with a current (not expired) Certified Coding Specialist (CCS®) Certification could earn the following Health Information Technology (HIT) credits at Harper College:
The Certified Coding Specialist (CCS®) credential is offered through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and demonstrates a practitioner’s tested skills in data quality and accuracy as well as mastery of coding proficiency.
For more information, please contact HIT Program Coordinator, Paula Akialis.
CCS-P®
Students with a current (not expired) Certified Coding Specialist—Physician-based (CCS-P®) Certification could earn the following Health Information Technology (HIT) credits at Harper College:
The Certified Coding Specialist (CCS-P®) credential is offered through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and demonstrates mastery-level coding proficiency performed in physician offices, group practices, multi-specialty clinics, or specialty centers.
For more information, please contact HIT Program Coordinator, Paula Akialis.
CPC®
Students with a current (i.e. not expired) Certified Professional Coder (CPC®) Certification could earn the following Health Information Technology (HIT) credits at Harper College:
The Certified Professional Coder (CPC®) credential is offered through AAPC and demonstrates expertise in coding medical services and procedures performed by physicians.
For more information, please contact HIT Program Coordinator, Paula Akialis.
Bypass and proficiency exams are available for certain CAS, CIS and NET courses. Whenever possible, nationally recognized education and industry exams are used to determine course placement or proficiency. Bypass allows students to skip (bypass) the course indicated. Bypass exams do not grant academic credit. Proficiency exams grant academic credit for the indicated course. The full list of eligible courses and exams can be found here.
Talk with an advisor about Credit for Prior Learning. To request information or chat, visit the One Stop.
