Academic Tests

Advanced Placement (AP)

High school students who have participated in the Advanced Placement Program during high school or have developed an equivalent background through self-initiative may take tests offered by the College Board each year during the month of May, and scores will be reported to three colleges of the student’s choice. The student must have successfully completed one quarter at YVC before advanced placement credit will be placed on the transcript. Scores in computer science, economics, and music may also be submitted and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

About AP

All Washington state community and technical colleges award credit for students who achieve certain scores on the Advanced Placement (AP) exams.

  • Students pay exam fees.
  • Located at the high school.

Community and technical colleges have developed the following crosswalks for awarding credit:

Submit scores

Steps to submit your scores for placement into courses at YVC:

  • ​Advanced Placement exam scores must come directly from College Board.
  • Advanced Placement Exams
    PO Box 6671, Princeton, NJ 08541-6671
    Phone: 609.771.7300

Credit Acceptance Policy

Washington state community and technical colleges will award unrestricted Elective Only credit for an Advanced Placement (AP) score of 3 or higher. Credit will be awarded on the basis of official AP results, not transcript notation. Credits granted for general education or major requirements will be specified by the receiving institution’s AP credit policies; otherwise, Elective Only credit will be granted.

ACT/SAT Placement

The goal of placement is to assess skills to ensure students are able to successfully engage with course content and have the best chances at passing the course. Many students now take both the ACT and SAT. Once you have your test scores, you need to determine which scores will benefit you more in the college placement process.

About ACT/SAT

The ACT and SAT are entrance exams used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. The idea (in theory, at least) is to provide colleges with one common criterion that can be used to compare all applicants. However, it is just one factor in the admissions decision. Schools also consider your high school GPA, and academic transcripts.

Submit scores

Steps to submit your scores for placement into courses at YVC:

  • When taking the SAT you can select Yakima Valley College and we will be able to view them. If you did not submit your scores at the time of testing, you may log into your College Board account and request your scores be sent.
  • When taking the ACT, you can select Yakima Valley College (code # 4622) and we will be able to view them. If you did not submit your scores at the time of testing, you may log into your ACT account and request your scores be sent or download a copy request form
  • Test scores are valid for placement for two years past test date.

Course placement after scores submitted

ACT/SAT Test score Placement
ACT Reading 21+ English 101
ACT English 20+ English 101
SAT Critical Reading 500+ English 101
ACT Math 19 – 21 Math& 107, 131, 146, or Math 095
ACT Math 22 – 26 Math& 141 or 111
ACT Math 27 Math& 142 or 148
ACT Math 28 Math& 151
SAT Math 450 – 499 Math& 107, 131, 146, or Math 095
SAT Math 500 – 609 Math& 141 or 111
SAT Math 610 – 629 Math& 142 or 148
SAT Math 630+ Math& 151

Cambridge International (CI)

Learners can choose from a range of assessment options, including Cambridge International AS Level qualifications alone, or as part of a progression to Cambridge International A Level. Credit will be award within the distribution area of the subject matter for each Cambridge International (CI) Examination for scores of E(e) or higher on A and AS level.

About CI

Washington community and technical colleges will grant a minimum elective credit for each Cambridge International Examination for A-level exam with a passing grade or above for approved examinations. Credit will be awarded on the basis of official Cambridge International Examination results, not transcript notation. Duplicate credit for the same subject taken on different exams will not be granted. No grades are posted for A-level exams.

Community and technical colleges have developed the following crosswalks for awarding credit:

Submit scores

To submit your scores for placement into courses at YVC, have them sent directly from Cambridge to admission@yvcc.edu or mailed to:

Yakima Valley College
Admissions Office
P.O. Box 22520
Yakima, WA 98907-2520

How Course placement after scores submitted

Credit will be awarded on the basis of official CI results, not transcript notation. Credits granted for general education or major requirements will be specified by the receiving institution’s CI credit policies; otherwise, elective credit will be granted. See Cambridge International (CI) Test Score Equivalencies for more information on Cambridge International Examination placement.

​College-Level Examination Program

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations are based on undergraduate courses offered during the first two years of college study. They are developed by college instructors for the purpose of awarding college credit. Like end-of-course examinations, CLEP exams demand comprehensive subject knowledge. Some CLEP examinations may yield credit at YVC when satisfactory performance levels are reached.

About CLEP

Successfully completed CLEP examinations receive ‘S’ grades. Several YVC degrees and certificates limit the total number of ‘S’ grades, so it is important to speak with an advisor about taking CLEP examinations. CLEP credits may also be limited to general electives depending on a student’s degree plan. Students must successfully complete one quarter at YVC before CLEP credits will be placed on their transcript.

To schedule a CLEP exam, call YVC’s Testing Services at 509.574.4738.

Submit scores

Steps to submit your scores for placement into courses at YVC:

  • ​CLEP examination scores must come directly from College Board:
  • CLEP- Transcript Services
    PO Box 6600, Princeton, NJ 08541-6600
    Phone: 800.257.9558

CLEP Testing Cost

YVC now offers CLEP exams in Testing Services. CLEP exams cost $107 each ($87 to College Board and $20 YVC administration fee (payable to the YVC Cashier) and are available by appointment only. Register at the link below to purchase a test.

Register for College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Contact YVC Testing Services at 509.574.4738 to make an appointment.

Dantes Standardized Subject Test (DSST)

DANTES Standardized Subject Test (DSST) examinations are based on undergraduate courses offered during the first two years of college study. They are developed by college instructors for the purpose of awarding college credit. Similar to CLEP examinations, DSST exams demand comprehensive subject knowledge. DSST examinations yield credit at YVC when satisfactory performance levels are reached.

Successfully completed DSST examinations receive ‘S’ grades. Several YVC degrees and certificates limit the total number of ‘S’ grades, so it is important to speak with an advisor about taking DSST examinations. Students must successfully complete one quarter at YVC before DSST credits will be placed on their transcript. If the DSST class does not match a YVC class, credit will be granted as elective credit in the distribution area listed.

About DSST

If experience is the world’s greatest teacher, then your experiences may well qualify you for college credit. The nationally recognized DSST Program helps you receive college credits for learning acquired outside the traditional classroom through a suite of more than 30 exams in college subject areas such as Social Sciences, Math, Applied Technology, Business, Physical Sciences and Humanities.

A form of prior learning assessment, DSSTs offer students a cost effective, time saving way to use their knowledge acquired outside of the classroom (perhaps from reading, on-the-job training, or independent study) to accomplish their educational goals.

Submit scores

Steps to submit your scores for placement into courses at YVC:

Course placement after scores submitted

The following credit will be granted to students entering YVC who have submitted scores from the College Board Advanced Placement Examinations Program.

Exam Score Credit YVC Courses
A History of the Vietnam War 49 5 Social Sciences Distribution
Art of the Western World 48 5 Humanities Distribution
Astronomy 48 5 ASTR& 100
Business Law II 52 5 Elective Credit
Business Mathematics 48 5 MATH 111
Contemporary Western Europe: 1946-1990 48 5 Social Sciences Distribution
Criminal Justice 49 5 CJ& 101
Environment & Humanity 46 5 Natural Science Distribution
Ethics in America 46 5 Humanities Distribution
Foundations of Education 46 5 EDUC 210
Fundamentals of College Algebra 47 5 MATH& 141
Fundamentals of  Counseling 45 5 Elective Credit
General Anthropology 47 5 Social Sciences Distribution
Here’s to Your Health 48 5 Elective Credit
Human/Cultural    Geography 48 5 GEOG& 200
Introduction to Business 46 5 BUS& 101
Introduction to Computing 45 5 IT 101
Introduction to Law Enforcement 45 5 Elective Credit
Introduction to the      Middle East 44 5 Social Sciences Distribution
Introduction to World Religion 48 5 Humanities Distribution
Lifespan Development Psychology 46 5 PSYCH 213/214
Management Information Systems 46 5 Elective Credit
Money & Banking 48 5 Elective Credit
Organizational Behavior 48 5 Social Sciences Distribution
Personal Finance 46 5 Elective Credit
Personnel/Human   Resource Management 46 5 BA 161
Physical Geography 46 5 GEOL& 101
Principles of Finance 46 5 Elective Credit
Principles of Financial Accounting 49 5 ACCT& 201
Principles of Physical Science I 47 5 PHSCI 101
Principles of Public Speaking 47 5 CMST& 220
Principles of Statistics 48 5 BA 256
Principles of Supervision 46 5 BA 160
Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union – Present 45 5 Social Sciences Distribution
Technical Writing 46 5 PTECH 120
Substance Abuse (Drug & Alcohol Abuse) 49 5 CD 261
The Civil War & Reconstruction 47 5 Social Sciences Distribution

​International Baccalaureate (IB)

Yakima Valley College (YVC) is proud to recognize students who have completed International Baccalaureate (IB) courses as part of their high school curriculum. IB courses are challenging and demanding, and YVC believes they provide exceptional readiness for the rigors of higher education.

About IB

All Washington state community and technical colleges award credit for students who achieve certain scores on the International Baccalaureate (IB) exams.

  • Students pay exam fees.
  • Located at the high school.

Community and technical colleges have developed the following crosswalks for awarding credit:

Submit scores

Steps to submit your scores for placement into courses at YVC:

Credit Acceptance Policy

Washington community and technical colleges, including YVC will grant a minimum elective credit for an International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher Level (HL) exam score of 4+ or higher. Credit will be awarded on the basis of official IB results, not transcript notation.