Our high school doesn’t offer two AP courses (Physics C), but my kid wants to challenge them. The school claims the College Board won’t allow him to take it there at the school (i.e. the school would presumably purchase the tests and they would proctor the exams) but that instead he has to go elsewhere where it is currently offered. Problem is elsewhere for us in west Texas is likely hundreds of miles away, the two tests are not offered on consecutive days (and he has nine additional AP tests besides these two), meaning two separate trips are likely and so far the closest schools distance-wise are refusing him for not living in their area.
Does it make sense that the College Board wouldn’t allow the tests to be given at his own school?
Someone from our school is calling College Board to verify this, but thought I’d get someone’s opinion. ty
If the school doesn’t offer the class, why would they offer the test?
Life isn’t fair.
If he doesn’t take the course, he shouldn’t take the test. Or at least they have no need to offer the test.
The geographical limitations of where you live aren’t the College Board’s responsibilty.
Not taking the class won’t be held against him by colleges and this is not the kind of course he should test out of.
He’s taking 9 tests in one year - which is unheard of.
This doesn’t seem a fight worth pursuing and in the long run, can hurt the student, as strong as they think they are, when they get into a class in college they are not remotely prepared for.
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Does your son’s high school offer AP Physics 1 and/or 2, algebra-based?
Also is taking dual enrollment college level physics at a local college an available option?
It’s pretty tough to get College Board to do something they’re not inclined to do. I’m sorry. The good news is that (a) no college will hold an applicant responsible for not taking a course that’s not offered at their HS, and (b) it’s always better to take a class than it is to self-study. So advanced Physics will be there for him in college, if there is no other resolution.
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As long as the HS is registered as a CB testing venue, it’s at the HS’s discretion if they will allow students to take AP exams in classes the HS doesn’t offer. These would be exam-only students.
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He’s taken AP physics 1 and currently taking AP physics 2. We have a university, sorry not sure if DC is an option.
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I’m glad to hear that both classes are available & that he is working on successfully completing them. I would ask the guidance department if dual enrollment classes are offered in your school district. Also, check local community colleges & universities, if any are located within a reasonable distance, about the possibly of registering for college-based physics. Both face-to-face & online instruction might be available.
I wouldn’t expect much response from The College Board. Only about 100,000 test-takers worldwide currently take either or both exams.
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ty, this was my impression and echoed by another school district i called. but our school district is stating their hands are ties, that CB is not allowing them to offer it since they didn’t offer a course. ty , i’ll read through this manual.
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Will the other school district you called allow home to sit for the test there? If not, you might tap in to the home school peeps in your area…they have this issue all the time and know which schools will allow outsiders to take tests there. Good luck.
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No, unfortunately, (because they don’t administer to anyone outside their district) as it was only 2 hours away so manageable. Everything else is 3 1/2 hours away or more 
. ty
If the school is authorized to offer AP courses, they can order any exam even if they don’t offer the course.
That said, just because they can, doesn’t mean they will. For many reasons, an individual school may choose not to do so. So in this instance, it seems the school is blaming the CB because it’s easier for them to say it.
Regardless, your issue is with the school. The CB can’t compel them to order the exam. And if you’re unable to get the school to make an exception, the only option is to find another school that will offer the exam for your kid. And the school may be far away. Your situation, while frustrating, is not unique.
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Yes, ty this is what I have thought.
The closest faraway school is >240 miles away, so guess I’ll start calling if my school doesn’t change their mind pretty quick.
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You might have already tried parochial and private schools too, but if not, sometimes those schools are more apt to allow outsiders to test.
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Thank you!! Yes, there’s a small private school that’s not too far away, and I’ve neglected to call them! I’ll call them tomorrow morning. No stone left unturned. Thanks for the advice.
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100%
One of my kids schools definitely does this (there is always one kid who manages to take some weird AP at the school) and the other kids offers exams even though the school has NO official AP courses 
(clearly they have permission of the College Board through whatever mechanism). They send an email out and ask if anyone wants to take one, and then you need to discuss with the school and they order them if they agree it makes sense.
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If he does not need the physics courses for high school requirements, and the university calculus based physics courses are offered at doable times and not expensive to non matriculated students, then could he just enroll in them without dual enrollment?
I am wondering if your school is pushing back because of payments/cost issues? have you discussed that piece? or needing an extra room or monitor or something?
Does your school normally pay for kids to take the exam and they don’t want to cover this “extra” one - possibly due to lack of reimbursement or budgeting or some mechanism? At my kids schools parents have to cover the cost of the exam, (unless of hardship) but I know in many places that isn’t the case and am curious if that factors in here..
Just make sure they are aware that Mechanics and E&M are two separate 3-hour exams, $99 each in the U.S. Before 2025, each C exam was 90 minutes and the student was able to sit for both exams for the price of one. Some high schools that offer AP Physics irregularly or last offered the class years ago might not be aware. Some schools may not even be aware that AP Physics B was replaced by AP Physics 1 & 2. Many private schools have replaced programs like AP & IB with their own homegrown advanced curriculum.
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That’s not entirely correct. The Physics C Mech and E&M exams were indeed 90 minutes each until 2025, but the 2 for 1 pricing ended in 2006.
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