Departmental Test-Out
Departmental test-out differs from advanced placement in that the examinations are administered and credit awarded solely by the department, and not through national institutions such as CLEP, ACT, etc. Therefore, the student should contact the department for information on which courses are available for test-out and examination dates.
Policies: Students expecting to test out of a course should not enroll in the course. The student must be enrolled at Northwest, however, for the period during which the test-out is administered and credit is awarded.
The student must apply for test-out with the appropriate department chairperson. The chairperson or dean determines what courses are available for test-out and will arrange for the test-out process in accordance with department policy. Where a test-out will result in schedule changes, the entire test-out process should be completed before the end of the 100% refund period.
Test-out may not be taken to supersede a "C," “D” or “F” grade. Test-out may be repeated twice in eligible classes, subject to department approval, but a period of six months must elapse between testings. A letter grade of “A,” “B,” “C,” or “D” will be assigned.
Procedure: Each time a test is taken, the student must purchase a test-out form from the Bursar/Cashiering Office. (See “Fees and Costs” section.) A separate form must be purchased for each course, except for unit courses with labs. The student is to submit the form to the department prior to testing. The department chairperson or coordinator will complete the form and return it to the Office of the Registrar for processing immediately after the testing period.