College Credit by Examination — DSST and CLEP
Program Overview
Credit by Examination Purpose
The Credit-by-Examination program helps service members earn college credit for knowledge gained through previous experience.
Direct Benefits
Three Member Benefits
The program directly benefits service members by:
1. Reducing course completion time 2. Avoiding Military Tuition Assistance costs 3. Documenting scores on the: - Joint Services Transcript (JST) - Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript
Cost and Manager
DANTES-Managed
This no-cost program is managed by the Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support (DANTES).
Website: https://www.dantes.mil/
Available Exams
Two Exam Programs
Service members can choose between:
- College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
- Dantes Subject Standardized Test (DSST)
70+ Exam Titles
With more than 70 exam titles, the program provides options to suit most service members.
Credits Awarded
Individuals may earn recommended college credits by passing the examinations.
Institution-Dependent Credit
However, the amount of credits applied is dependent upon the policies of the accepting academic institution.
DSST Program
DSST Subject Count
The DSST exams are college subject tests service members can take to earn college credit for knowledge acquired outside of a traditional classroom.
There are 38 subject exams from which to select in disciplines such as:
- Business
- Humanities
- Mathematics
- Physical Science
- And more
How DSST Exams Are Built
DSST Source
Each DSST exam is based on several textbooks commonly used for a course of the same or similar title.
Free Prep Materials
No-cost test preparation materials are listed on the DANTES website.
CLEP Program
CLEP Subject Count
The CLEP exams are college subject tests service members can take to earn college credit for what they already know.
There are 34 college exams, covering subject areas such as:
- Composition and Literature
- World Languages
- History and Social Sciences
- Science and Mathematics
- Business
Credits per Exam
CLEP Credit Range
Test takers who pass these exams earn 3-12 recommended lower-level college credits, based on the exam taken.
Free CLEP Prep
No-cost test preparation content is outlined on the DANTES website.