CLEP Testing Centers (finding them)

[alix]

Does anyone know if the CLEP site lists all testing centers? I've found it tricky to contact the few listed in my area. Most are listed by the College Board as "limited" (meaning, limited to students enrolled in the institution that houses the test center) though that's not necessarily true if you talk to them.

The hard part is getting them to answer their phones, return voicemail, or even answer email. I think it has taken me two weeks to get a hold of a UOP CLEP test center, only to find out that they only test at 9 am on Wednesdays and 2 pm on Thursdays AND are booked through to the end of May. I haven't been able to reach their DANTES center for about three weeks. National University has ignored my inquiries. They are 60 miles away from me, so they aren't my first choice, but they are the closest "open" center.

Of course, I will keep calling around...but in the meantime, I was curious as to whether there were CLEP test locations that people have found that were not listed in the official list on the website. It might give me hope, because at this rate, it's going to take forever just to get booked for all the tests I plan to take. I thought it would be easier in my area (San Francisco Bay area) but apparently not.

I appreciate hearing your experiences!

Alix

[gus]

I remember emailing Collegeboard with that same question (if they had other testing centers that weren't on the list). I believe that I was told that the ones listed were the only ones (but I was inquiring about international locations).

CLEP's site is so much better in that regard than DSST's, where in some countries, the listed testing centers haven't even heard of DSST/DANTES tests (and that's not after a simple phone inquiry, I always made sure I was talking to the people in charge)!

I hope other forum members will have some positive input on the matter...

[Epiphany]

I'm sure others will have more profound advice, but here is my 2c.

Many colleges/Universities have a testing center. You may not get answers on the phone, I never can. But walk in the door with your most disarming smile and you should get fast results. There are 2 in my area that say "Limited" but will take anyone on certain days. By cobbling together all the local schools open days I could theoretically test every day.

Take a look through the forums for someone from your area and PM them. There must be someone from the San Francisco area on here. I'm sure they'll be able to help.

[housemzk]

I too live in the SF Bay Area and I can't find anyone who will return my calls on Dantes testing.

alix- Did you find a testing center?

[alix]

For CLEP, University of Phoenix (UOP) seems to be the place to go in the Bay Area, but they are scheduling at least several weeks out. Despite what the CLEP list says, none of the UOP sites are closed to non-students, it's just they may restrict the days and times. Also, there is a $25 admin fee per test. Here are my research results for all tests types:

CLEP

UOP Pleasanton
Test days/times: Wednesdays at 9 am and Thursdays at 2 pm.
Lead time: About a month. As of 4/21/08, they were booked to the end of May.

UOP San Jose
Test days/times: Mondays 10:30 and 2 pm
Lead time: At least six weeks. As of the end of April, they were booked until June 23rd

National University San Jose
Did not hear back from the San Jose coordinator (Carlos Escobedo)
If you talk to them, be sure they are the San Jose not San Diego campus

UOP San Francisco
Will start testing in September

Dantes

Foothill College Los Altos
Computer-based Dantes
Test days/times: they will send you info, you schedule online
Admin fee: $25/hour (not sure how this works for Dantes)
Lead time: just a few days
They also do paper-based test proctoring for the same fee

UOP Fairfield
Computer-based Dantes
Test days/times: Varies, Tuesdays/Saturdays or Tuesdays/Fridays, 10 & 1, they will send you a calendar
Lead time: None

UOP Concord
Paper-based Dantes only
Test days/times: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8am
Lead time: a few weeks


I did not get a hold of Argosy, New College, Oxman, or UOP Livermore. Golden Gate University testing is only for their students.

Oh, and while I'm at it, here's the Pearson location for EC testing:

Pearson Professional Centers
Transpacific Center
1000 Broadway, Suite 470
Oakland, CA 94607
510-836-3171


Please let me know how this works for you or if you have other info!

Edited to remove UOP Fairfield from the CLEP list

[housemzk]

Great info, thanks!

Foothill called me back today confirming they do offer DANTES.

Spoke with William Jessup University in San Jose and they also offer DANTES.

Their info:
1190 SARATOGA AVENUE, SUITE 210
SAN JOSE, CA 95129
408-278-4341
William Jessup University

[alix]

Thanks for the info on William Jessup University. If you hear of any CLEP locations in the Bay Area that aren't on my list, let me know. Outside of UOP, I don't know where to go.

I didn't contact New College because I was hearing things about them being on rocky footing again with accreditation and funding (I don't know what's true and is not) and the rumor was that they were in a state of flux. Oxman doesn't have a home page that comes up on their website, which isn't exactly heartening. Both of these are in San Francisco.