A description of the College Board's College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) presents a statement of its purpose; its five major objectives; a list of prospective users; the role of colleges, business and industrial organizations, and certification and licensing agencies in determining the nature and character of the program; and a description and comparison of the types of examinations -- the General and the Subject. The major objectives are to provide a national program of examinations that can be used to evaluate nontraditional college-level education, specifically including independent study and correspondence work; stimulate colleges and universities to become more aware of the need for and the possibilities and problems of credit by examination; enable colleges and universities to develop appropriate procedures for the placement, accreditation, and admission of transfer students; provide colleges universities with a means by which to evaluate their programs and their students' achievement; and assist adults who wish to continue their education in order to meet licensing requirements or qualify for higher positions. Other information focuses upon how the program is being used, its future, inspection of the examinations, trial test administration, institutional testing program, and test centers. (nl)