What is there for you: DANTES College Credit-by-Examination Program

  • Published
  • By Kalina G. Hill
  • National Test Center coordinator
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Airman 1st Class Richard Ryan, fictitious character, joined the Air Force in late 2006. He was determined to get his associates degree before his re-enlistment. Due to regulations, he was not allowed to take college classes while working on his career development course. His only feasible option to attain his degree was the credit-by-exam program.

Airman Ryan checked the list of exams in undergraduate college courses offered through DANTES. For five months he studied and successfully passed six CLEP/ DSST exams.

Some of the benefits of credit-by-exam program Airman Ryan gained are:

Transferability: College credit examinations are widely accepted by thousands of colleges nationwide and the Community College of the Air Force. Currently, over 2,900 colleges accept credits from College Level Examination Program, and over 2,000 schools and universities accept credits from DANTES Standardized Subject Tests.

WITFY: By passing some of these exams, up to 30 semester hours may be earned toward a CCAF Associates in Applied Science degree. Other schools award credit at their discretion. Consult each school's catalog about transferability of CLEP and DSST credits. 

Cost efficiency: An average college course can cost $300 or more. Credit-by exam offers CLEP and DSST exams free of charge to active-duty military. In addition, by taking an electronic-based testing or Internet-based testing exam at Dyess National Test Center, test takers save the additional $15-$25 administration fee charged by many schools and colleges.

WITFY: Free exams and no administration fee for active-duty military personnel.

Time management: The shortest time to complete a college course is five weeks. Depending on depth of knowledge, a CLEP or DSST exam may be taken in much shorter period of time. Depending on the test, 3 to 12 semester hours of college credit can be earn in less than two hours.

WITFY: Fast and timely degree completion; flexibility in choosing study materials: videos, tests, booklets, study groups and etc.

Convenience: Unlike taking college courses, enrollment in a college is not necessary to take these exams. To schedule CLEP or DSST exams, logon to the Coastline Community College's Web site, at http://military.coastline.edu, and select the National Test Centers' link. Testing is available weekdays at alternate morning and afternoon sessions.

WITFY: Convenient 24/7 exam scheduling. Instant score results upon completion of the test. Five CLEP general examinations cover broad topic areas and test general knowledge on a given area. Subject exams are more specific and test knowledge on specific subject matters. 

Airman Ryan successfully completed his CCAF Associates of Applied Science degree in less than two years. Today, he is 21 credit hours short of completing his bachelor's degree, and eager to get it done. Airman Ryan has bigger plans for his career and his personal academic development.

The reality is there are many Airmen like him. Are you one of them and do you utilize what is there for you?

For more information, call (325) 696-5543 or e-mail khill@coastline.edu. To register for exams, logon to http//military.coastline.edu, select National Test Centers, select Dyess, and follow the prompts to make a reservation to test. The National Test Center is located on the third floor in building 7232, Room 306. Testing is conducted weekly with the exception of Federal holidays and down days.