Testing Centers
Course Placement
Course placement testing is important as it provides skill-based information that, combined with a student’s academic background, goals and interests, is used by the College to determine appropriate course placement, course selection and educational planning. ACCUPLACER® is used to assess skills in reading and writing. ALEKS® is a math placement assessment to determine readiness for math courses. A Prep and Learning Module is available to review and learn material and to improve placement.
If ALEKS® (math) is taken remotely, there is a $5.00 fee paid to ALEKS - for more information, please go to: ALEKS Remote Proctor FAQ's
A fee of $20 is required for third and subsequent retests in reading and writing. Retests for math may be done up to five times within twelve months at no cost; a fee of $15 is required thereafter.
Complete and submit the placement score release form to have your ACCUPLACER® and ALEKS® scores sent to another college. Fees apply: $20 for ACCUPLACER® and $20 for ALEKS® score transfers.
High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) Testing
HiSET testing is available by appointment at the Dubuque Center and Calmar campus location, contact the testing center to schedule your testing appointment.
CLEP Testing
The College Board’s College-Level Examination program (CLEP) is a rigorous program that allows students to demonstrate their mastery of introductory college-level material and earn college credit. Students can earn credit for what they already know by getting qualifying scores on any of the 34 examinations.
NICC will grant the same amount of credit to a student who earns a satisfactory score (of at least 50) on a CLEP exam as it does for a student who successfully completed the related course. NICC will grant a total of 42 credits for successful completion on CLEP exams.
Register for CLEP exam: Students must first register with College Board and pay exam fees prior to scheduling a testing appointment at NICC.
Test fees: College Board assesses an $89.00 exam fee, which is payable to CLEP at the time the student registers for the exam. A $35.00 proctor fee, per exam, will be assessed and payable in the form of cash, check or credit card at the NICC testing location on exam day. CLEP exam and proctor fees are waived for Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) funded candidates. Refer to the Veterans page for more information.
Schedule an appointment for CLEP exam: Exams are given by appointment at the Calmar or Peosta Campus. Testing hours vary at each location, please contact the site for hours of service and to schedule an appointment. Each examination takes 90 minutes, with the exception of College Composition which is approximately 120 minutes.
Exam day procedures: On exam day, a student must present a valid, government-issued ID (such as driver’s license or passport) that has both a photo and a signature. The CLEP registration ticket, with the voucher number, is also required the day of the test. No personal items are permitted in the testing area. CLEP scores are received immediately upon completion of the exam, with the exception of the College Composition with essay with may take approximately 4-5 weeks for the score.
How to prepare for CLEP exams: visit the CLEP Practice site for testing taking tips, free study materials and to review exam descriptions. Free online CLEP courses are also available via Modern States. Additional free study resources are also available through the iTunes store and Khan Academy.
If student does not meet the minimum score required to receive credit, student must wait three months before retaking the same exam. Retest fees apply. Credit will not be granted if the examination duplicates a course previously passed or failed at NICC.
For more information on the CLEP exams, visit the College Board CLEP site.
Proctoring Services
The College provides proctoring services for professional assessments and other institutions. To inquire about proctor services and applicable fees, contact your nearest NICC location.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
NICC is committed to serving individuals with documented disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations appropriate to the individual's diagnosis and needs. For test accommodations:
- Apply for accommodations
- Provide current documentation to the AccessibilityServices Coordinator
- Meet with Coordinator to set up individualized accommodations plan at least 2 weeks prior to test date
Times and Locations
Testing hours vary depending on the campus or center attended. Please contact the nearest NICC testing center in Calmar, Peosta or Dubuque to schedule your testing appointment.
Inclement Weather/College Closed Policy: If the testing location is closed due to inclement weather or unforeseen campus closure, all exams scheduled during that time are cancelled. To check for campus closures, go to www.nicc.edu or call 844.642.2338.
Exam Day Procedures
On exam day, a student must present a valid, photo ID prior to beginning their exam. No personal items or guests are permitted in the testing area.
Review the Testing Center Policy for more information.