Register to participate in the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). The CLEP allows military personnel to transfer up to 12 college credit hours by taking any of the 33 exams it offers. Colleges all over the United States will honor such credit hours toward a degree. Any military personnel, active or reserve, may take the exam and have it funded by the government.
Verify that you qualify to take the exam for free from the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES). DANTES offers to pay for CLEP exams for military personnel and eligible civilian employees.
Choose a testing site to take the CLEP exam. You may choose between taking the exam at a college campus, military base or DANTES Education center.
The test is computer-based, except if you're taking the exam in a DANTES center, which requires paper and pencil. Taking the exam at DANTES will also delay your scores, which are normally available after the exam. The delay is an estimated six weeks after completion.
Prepare for the CLEP exam by ordering exam guides from the College Board website. Guides will include content you will be tested on and materials to help you get acquainted with the exam format.
Also check with your local DANTES testing center for free study materials.
Obtain a CLEP transcript from the College Board website. The transcript will include every CLEP exam you have taken, computer or paper. Schools will request this transcript to calculate your degree progress.
Request a transcript from the military unit your served in. The American Council on Education (ACE) evaluates military training and allocates credits where merited. Each unit will provide transcripts to ACE for the type of military education and experience you were given, including Basic Training.
Research the school you are seeking to apply to by visiting the college website or meeting with admission officers. Ask if they will take your ACE transcripts and include those credits towards your degree plan. Each college reserves judgment on whether or not to accept such credit, so try to see if they are "military friendly."
Submit the ACE transcript to the school you are applying to, and any additional transcripts from other branches you served or previous colleges you may have attended. The more information you provide, the more likely your experience will turn into credit hours.