Tests Administered

If you are an incoming ECC student, you may have to take writing, reading, and math placement tests to assess your skill levels and place you in the appropriate classes. Get more information about placement tests here.

ECC’s Testing Center is your location to learn which level of classes you should take through the Adult Basic Education Center. Get more information about ABEC testing here.

These appointments are intended for students with testing accommodations approved by our Student Access & Disabilities Services office. Students with accommodations, please follow these steps:

• Extra Time:
• You can schedule the test/quiz at the ECC Testing Center two business days before it through this link.
• Students must use the instructions from the Student Access and Disabilities Services office to ensure accommodations are applied to the testing appointment.
• Reader/scribe/assistive technology on the computer/private room:
• Email sds@elgin.edu two weeks before the test/quiz.

For more information on accommodations, visit the webpage and next steps.

This offering is intended for students with an instructor-accepted excuse for not testing during an on-campus exam. The Testing Center is unable to proctor online exams at this time.

If approved by an instructor, students can take an exam that was missed in class in the Testing Center. The instructor must submit the exam proctoring instructions, and the student must schedule a makeup test appointment through this link at least two business days before testing. Instructors can find information on how to submit their exams on the intranet. 

The American College Testing (ACT) test is administered at ECC multiple times a year. Visit to www.actstudent.org for test dates and registration information.

ASE student certification is the first step in building a career as a service professional in the automotive industry. Marking the completion of career-entry studies in automotive technology, collision repair and refinishing, or medium/heavy-duty trucks, these tests can provide the student with their first industry certification through the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. ECC tests students once a year. Visit ASE website for more information.

The Certified Nurse Assistant exam is for those who have completed a Basic Nurse Assistant (BNA) training program that can be completed in one semester. Certified nurse aide competency testing is required to become a Certified Nurse Assistant.

Although ECC is an approved testing site, you must register and pay for the exam through SIU’s Nurse Aide Testing site.

Elgin Community College is a national test site offering CLEP exams to students and the community. Anyone who registers and pays the testing fees can sit for a CLEP Exam. With a passing score, academic credit may be awarded at participating colleges and universities.

For ECC students, please view the CLEP Scores & Equivalency Chart.

Students wishing to transfer CLEP credit to other institutions must refer to each school's CLEP policy for accepted credits. For more information about CLEP tests, please visit the CLEP website.

CLEP exams are administered by appointment in the Testing Center. Registration is a two-part process completed online.

1. Go to the CLEP registration page to create an account and pay for your CLEP test. CLEP tests are free to members of the military.
2. Schedule your CLEP exam at Elgin Community College.
• There is a $25 administration fee due at the time of registration.
• All testers must have an ECC student ID number and a valid email address to test.
• To obtain an ECC student ID, complete an inquiry form and select "Need an ID for Test Proctoring." Once processed, you will receive an email with your ECC ID number.

College Composition Modular Testing Process

Students who wish to receive proficiency credit for English Composition I (ENG 101) at ECC must complete a two-step CLEP testing process:

Pass the college composition modular exam with a score of 50 or higher. This exam includes approximately 90 multiple-choice items that measure knowledge of the fundamental principles of rhetoric and composition and the ability to apply the principles of standard written English.

If you receive a score of 50 or higher, you will need to complete two essays within 90 minutes, either on a computer or in a booklet provided by the testing center. In one of the two essays, the student must develop a position by synthesizing information from two provided sources, with citations to build an argument. Three ECC English department faculty members independently read and scored each essay based on the student learning outcomes for ENG 101 English Composition I. Students will be contacted with the final essay score results in approximately 3 to 10 business days after completion.

Elgin Community College is a test site for CompTIA certifications. Exams can be scheduled through PearsonVue or this link.

Credit by Proficiency offers an opportunity to gain credit for knowledge you have acquired in an occupation or educational environment outside of college, or through other life experience, related to specific Elgin Community College courses.

Through this process, students who demonstrate knowledge needed to complete an ECC course can gain college credit without taking the course. Proficiency exams are available in the Testing Center for the courses listed below and can be taken to gain credit. Students interested in seeking proficiency credit in an eligible course not listed below should contact the course faculty directly for testing information.

Modern Language Courses:

Computer Information Systems (CIS)

Student seeking proficiency credit for a course, the they must:

1. Meet with their academic advisor or faculty
2. Complete the Proficiency Request Form - PDF and gain approval from the advisor or faculty
3. Submit payment to Student Accounts
4. Schedule an appointment with Testing Services

Elgin Community College is partnered with PearsonVUE to provide you will a secure and convenient place to take your GED exams online. For more information about the GED and to choose which location you would like to test, create your profile and register at www.ged.com.

HVACR certification testing, including EPA 608 and residential exams testing, is available to students in ECC’s HVACR courses. A fee is required for the EPA 608 exam. For details, contact George Rosa at 847-214-7871 or go to Building O, Room O153.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme subject tests may be used to fulfill ECC course requirements in various areas. Download a guide to assessment to learn more about your IB diploma and college admission.

ECC Courses & Required Scores Chart

Addictions counselor certifications are offered at Elgin Community College through the Illinois Certification Board (ICB). ICB is a private, non-profit organization that promotes standards for professionals in the addictions field. ICB offers several certifications through the Testing Center including:

• CADC - Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor
• CAAP - Associate Addictions Professional
• CRSS - Recovery Support Specialist
• CFPP - Family Partnership Professional

For more information on how to apply to test for these exams, visit the Illinois Certification Board.

The Certified Nurse Assistant exam is for those who have completed a Basic Nurse Assistant (BNA) training program. ECC's NUR 105: Basic Nurse Training Program is a 7-credit hour course that can be completed in one semester. Students who complete this course are eligible to sit for the CNA test. There are several BNA programs in our area and across the state.

CNA test sessions are open for any eligible state of Illinois candidate, so they are not just for ECC students.

Testers register for testing through INACE. A list of FAQs for testers can be found here. Students can also reach out to inat@siu.edu for help.

Students in ECC's Digital Technology courses (CIS 241, CIS 242, CIS 243, and CIS 244) may apply for specific certifications. The first exam is free for each course. Contact your instructor for certification details. Students should create a Certiport account before coming to the test testing center on the exam date.

This paper-based test is administered to students who have completed the appropriate HVAC course. Students will work with their instructor to schedule this exam.

A State Seal of Biliteracy designated on a high school transcript may be used to earn proficiency credit in a language other than English. The State Seal of Biliteracy recognizes the completion of two years of high school language coursework. The courses for which a student can receive college credit based on the Seal of Biliteracy is denoted with a proficiency code in the catalog.

• Biliteracy course listings
• State seal biliteracy FAQ

Students completing ECC’s ACC 210 QuickBooks Online course can sit for the QuickBooks Online Certification Exam. Interested students should contact their instructor to obtain a testing voucher. Students should create a Certiport account before coming to the test testing center on the exam date and must bring their voucher to the test. A Certiport account is required for every test candidate who wishes to take an exam at a Certiport Authorized Testing Center (CATC).

ECC offers the ACT® WorkKeys® suite of tests, which can be used to gain Paraprofessional Licensure in the State of Illinois or a National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC). Please read the Illinois State Board of Education requirements for a Paraprofessional. For more information on WorkKeys and the NCRC, please visit Workkeys.org and check out their free online practice test. 

ECC offers an online study program for the WorkKeys® exams called WorkKeys Curriculum to prepare for your exam. WorkKeys exams are administered by appointment only. The exam fee is $25, due at the time of registration.

Please be aware that you must wait a minimum of 30 days before retaking a WorkKeys Exam. 

Register for a workkeys exam

Request Workkeys Study Guide