The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) offers two different types of achievement tests. If a military spouse wishes to be tested concerning her general knowledge of college course study, she takes the CLEP general examination. The examination comes in a paper format or can be taken on the computer at a certified testing facility. The CLEP general examination tests the military spouse on broad topics in the areas of English composition, natural sciences, humanities and college mathematics.
The other type of CLEP examination consists of testing the spouse's knowledge of specific topics, including U.S. history, computer information systems, American government and business areas such as accounting or management principles. The CLEP subject examination can be taken as either a paper-based or computer examination.
A spouse can take an achievement examination testing in specific college subject fields as well as vocational and technical topic areas. The DANTES subject standardized tests (DSST) are tests similar to what a college student would take as an undergraduate end-of-course examination. The military spouse can be tested in six different subject areas: mathematics, business, social sciences, physical science, technology and humanities. These tests can be taken in paper-based format administered by DANTES test control officers or computer-based format at national test centers.
The achievement tests can give spouses semester hours of college credit to go toward a degree. For both of the CLEP examinations, spouses can earn between three and 12 semester credit hours in 34 different achievement tests. The DSST awards three semester credit hours for each of 37 subject examinations. Spouses must pay a small fee to take the CLEP and DSST examinations. Spouses should be aware that not every college will accept some or all of the credits for a degree and should contact colleges to find out more information regarding accepted DSST and CLEP credits.