DSST Exams
(DANTES Subject Standardized Tests)
*Administered be PROMETRIC---but found on GetCollegeCredit.com
Perhaps the “ABSOLUTE LEAST KNOWN OR USED”
Credit-by-Exam Options are the DSST exams.
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They are so “NOT well known”, that Admissions, Registrars, Academics, Academic Advisors, Student Services, and EVEN DEANS often do not know what they are. (We talked with 5 Colleges recently and looked up about 30). But here’s the funny part: almost all schools will take them, but you rarely find them in their catalog. Why? We'll get to that.
For now, just know it is estimated that only 3-4% of students have ever taken one, & the majority are typically Military or Veterans.
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** So, Let's Hit the Basics on DSSTs **
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1. Like CLEPs, 1 passed test = 1 college class DONE
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2. 37 different exam Subjects available (as of Nov. 2025). Ex. Criminal Justice, Health & Human Development, Supervision, Human Resources, Statistics, Intro to Business, Computing & IT, Ethics in America etc...
​*So, when added to the 34 CLEPs, that brings the total to 70+ Exams available .
3. According to most sources, about 50-60% correct answers will usually get
it done. (Which if you remember--CLEPs typically average 60-70% to pass)
4. Multiple Choice (you get 120 mins)---but unlike CLEPs, there are generally
four possible answers, thus positively influencing PASS RATES.
NOTE: Nearly ALL students we know or work with only took 60-90 mins or less to complete these exams (outside of the Math's & Composition). They just have 100 questions for nearly all tests. Like with CLEPs: Moving forward we will reference 60-90 mins estimated time commitment per test.
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5. Like CLEP Tests (and unlike AP's), You GET IMMEDIATE RESULTS on almost all Exams. That's HUGE!
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6. VERY IMPORTANT: Unlike CLEPs, most colleges who accept them just take the American Council on Education (ACE) recommendation for passing scores. With DSSTs---that is 400.
Some Colleges have raised the CLEP scores required on SPECIFIC subjects
(but it's typically not by much and those are STILL VERY do-able as well).
*So, here’s a “teachable moment”. Which schools do you think CollegeDawg might look at first? Yeah, those with the regular ACE score recommendations
(on both the DSST & CLEPs) are quite attractive!
7. They're typically $100 per test with your choice of live at a PROMETRIC site, or via REMOTE PROCTOR at Home (very similar to the CLEP setup)
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8. DSSTs have a nice combination of subjects. For most students they will be used for "other required" courses or elective spots mainly---with the exception of Technology, Criminal Justice, or Business which can sometimes be applied to MAJOR CLASSES. There aren't as many Gen Eds as CLEPs---but there are several that will work for those slots.​
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So why do Colleges typically not know much about them?
*HISTORY LESSON on DSSTs (& WHAT YOU MUST KNOW)
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Well, until 2006 they were generally only open to the Military or certain Governmental Agencies. They were created and administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service) but were offered to the Military AND PAID FOR BY DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support).
So, these often only showed on Active Duty or Veteran Transcripts, along with the recommended credits Military Members get for schools & training they completed (AS TRAINING OR LIFE EXPERIENCE CREDITS). So essentially, Schools took whatever credits were “recommended” if they fit into their degree program as either a required course or an elective. Why? Well, you’ll get that big secret shortly (it's not too applicable here).
Anyway, if a school says they DO NOT TAKE DSST exams (or do not even know what they are)…
Ask them about DANTES exams/credits accepted for Military Veterans. A few more College Administrators know them by that name, even though DANTES is just an agency affiliated with them, and who takes care of the bill for the Military & certain Governmental employees.
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So---THAT'S THE STARTING POINT. Bottom line, you too can get credit if they are accepted for other students at the College. You'll just have to make that point with conviction. We're not talking Military Training here (which is exclusive), we're talking about a standardized test available to all. Now go make your case---it could save you a Semester or Two & about 10k-30k in Tuition and other College-Related expenses (depending on the Institution).
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So, here are several examples of WELL KNOWN schools that accept DSSTs (along w/ CLEPs)---
And Show It in Their Catalog
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* Virginia Tech
* Kansas State
* Mississippi State
* Texas A&M
* Florida
* Typically, those listed above show they will take 10-20 DSST titles (but one actually ACCEPTS ALL). There are MANY Colleges that accept most, you’ve just got to do the shopping & maybe make a few phone calls to the "short list" of schools you are considering.
Have fun, there are roughly 1500+ schools that take them at some level (almost 100% of those also take CLEPs).
PS: Even though not listed, THE MAJORITY OF COLLEGES IN SOUTH CAROLINA will take them (w/ a little effort as shown above).
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Here’s the link to all the DSST exams
When you want to register for one, it will move you to Prometric’s site
https://getcollegecredit.com/dsst-exams/​
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Lastly, if you are interested in seeing a list of the
HIGHEST PASS RATE TESTs for both CLEPs & DSSTs
you can find a couple lists in the "Data Hub" section of our site.
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*Additionally, in that section you'll find some actual EXAMPLES of how
CLEP & DSST Acceptance outlines are typically listed in College Catalogs
In case you missed our real-life example following the initial CLEP overview--there is a very detailed saga that we satirically called "AN ORIGIN STORY". Essentially, it's just a quick overview of my experience with 20 specific CLEPs & DSSTs.
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If you want to see the TITLES/SUBJECTS and how they all worked out---it's there for you.
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*Coming from a VERIFIABLE formerly unmotivated student with below-average High School grades, it should give ANYONE a ton of confidence committing, prepping,
& successfully passing a high percentage of these exams!
FOR REAL
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