ELA Program Experiential Learning Portfolios 
Challenge Exams
A Challenge Exam is an exam developed by Strayer University that allows a student to demonstrate that he/she can meet the learning objectives of a course. Students who successfully complete a Challenge Exam earn credit for that course. Exams are often similar to final exams or a final project for a course. However, Challenge Exams do not fulfill residency requirements. If a student fails a challenge test, he/she must register for that particular course at Strayer University.
Which courses are eligible for Challenge Exams?
- For a full list of courses with Challenge Exams available, click here. Please note, Challenge Exams are not available for courses where an equivalent CLEP or DSST exam already exists.
How can I apply to take a Challenge Exam?
To request to take a Challenge Exam in order to potentially waive a course in your undergraduate certificate/diploma or degree program at Strayer University, please follow the following steps:
- Confirm that a Challenge Exam exists for the course for which you are seeking credit.
- Complete the Challenge Exam Application Form.
- Pay the $100 fee per exam through the Business Office at your campus.
- Submit your Challenge Exam Application Form to the Academic Office at your home campus. If you are sending the Application Form electronically, please make sure you send it via e-mail to the Campus Dean.
Once the Dean has reviewed and approved your request, you will receive specific instructions pertaining to your exam, including how to access the exam as well as the exam deadline. You should expect to receive such instructions within 10 business days.
After you are given access, you will have one week to complete the exam. On average, you should allow about 2 hours to complete the exam. Duration may vary – you will be given specific instructions upon registration for the exam.
Upon completion of the exam, the Faculty Administrator will grade your results. You will receive an e-mail with your results within 10 days of taking the exam. Should you not receive a response within this time frame, you may contact your home campus Academic Office for information on obtaining the results of your exam.
Policies regarding Challenge Exams:
There is a non-refundable fee for taking a Challenge Exam of $100 per exam.
Students may not take a Challenge Exam in their final term.
Challenge Exams are graded as pass/fail regardless of the grade received on the exam. Challenge Exam courses appear on your Online Academic Record as “TC” (for “transfer credit”).
You may take the test only once for each course.
If you fail the Challenge Exam, the course must be taken for credit at Strayer University. It may not be fulfilled through any other prior learning credit option.
Challenge Exam credit is counted toward your total number of evaluated credits. Credit granted does not apply toward the residency requirements of an undergraduate certificate/diploma or degree program. Click here to see more information about residency requirements.