Examinations Programs -
DSST
(Formerly known as the DANTES Subject Standardized Tests)
Civilian examinees should visit DSST: www.getcollegecredit.com/
The DSST program is an extensive series of 38 examinations in college subject areas that are comparable to the final or end-of-course examinations in undergraduate courses. ACE recommends 3 semester hours of credit per test. DANTES funds paper-based DSST testing for eligible Service members and civilian examinees at Base Education Offices and at National Test Centers (NTC) offering the Internet-Based Testing (IBT) DSSTs.
Prior to testing, the examinee needs to know the institution's acceptance policy and passing score requirements.
Beginning in 2006, Prometric® introduced an Internet-based version of the DSST tests at base-sponsored National Test Centers (colleges and universities). All DSST test titles are available on the IBT platform*.
*Principles of Public Speaking test is currently being offered in IBT at selected NTCs only.
Effective 1 October 2006, DANTES authorized up-front funding of the IBT DSST test fee for eligible military and civilian examinees at National Test Centers that administer the IBT DSST tests. DANTES does not fund the advance, non-refundable registration fee charged by on-campus national test centers to reserve a date and time for testing. This fee ranges from $15 to $25 per test and the examinee is responsible for paying this fee.
Effective 11 December 2011, DANTES no longer funds retesting on a previously funded DSST exam of the same title.
DANTES does not fund paper-based DSST testing at National Test Centers.
Advantages of testing at an IBT DSST national test center:
Instant score results**.
Quicker score reporting services to college and universities.
** Principles of Public Speaking IBT test requires a 4-week wait period for score reporting after the multiple choice and speech exams have been completed.
National Test Center Options
National Test Center – On-Campus Testing
On-Campus National Test Centers are located inside a university or college campus. These test centers agree to test any examinee that pays the non-refundable advance registration fee. Military or government identification is required for DANTES-funded testing. To find a testing location, please visit www.getcollegecredit.com/search.
National Test Center - Base-Sponsored Testing
A growing number of military installations are contracting with national test centers to provide IBT DSST testing through their on-base education centers. Currently this option is available at more than one hundred installations worldwide. Testing is free to eligible military and for a select group of civilian personnel. DANTES funds both the test fee and through our contract with Prometric pays for the administration of the test by the national test center. Check with your education center to see if this option is available.
DSST Paper-based Testing Availability:
Following DANTES reduction in paper initiative, only the following sixteen (16) DSST paper-based tests are available at your base education office:
Principles of Public Speaking
Ethics in America
Introduction to Computing
Principles of Supervision
Substance Abuse (formerly called Drug & Alcohol Abuse)
Here’s to Your Health
Human Resource Management
Organizational Behavior
Introduction to World Religions
Introduction to Business
Fundamentals of College Algebra
Management Information Systems
Environment and Humanity
The Civil War and Reconstruction
Human/Cultural Geography
Introduction to Law Enforcement
Additional DSST Program Information
For a complete list of DSST test titles available at National Test Centers, visit www.getcollegecredit.com
For descriptions of each DSST test, visit www.getcollegecredit.com/resources.html#factsheets
For academic counseling and credit-awarding purposes, a full description of the cut scores and B-grade equivalent scaled scores is available in the following link: www.getcollegecredit.com/images/uploads/documents/Technical_Data_Sheets_rev_20100108.pdf
Last Updated: 5/9/12