CLEP Tests for Military: What You Need to Know
In addition to military experience counting for college, there is another way to save time and money on your education – the CLEP exam. The CLEP exam is free for the military and allows you to earn college credit for what you already know.
CLEP for Military: An Overview
What does CLEP stand for?
CLEP stands for the College-Level Examination Program.
How much does it cost to take a CLEP test?
Your first test is free for eligible people (see below).
Who can help me pay for my CLEP test?
For military college students, DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support) funds the cost of the exam.
Who can be funded by DANTES?
The list includes, but may not be limited to:
- Active Duty
- Reserves
- National Guard
- Spouses of Coast Guard, both active and reserve
- Civilian employees of the Air Force if they take the test at US fully funded test center or on base
What if I don’t pass the CLEP test?
If you do not pass the first time, you will need to re-test after a waiting period of 90 days.
DANTES will fund one attempt at the exams. If you do not pass the first time, you can retake the exam as “self-funded.” You will need to wait three months to try again.
CLEP Military Schools
This is a partial list of GI Bill-approved schools that award college credit for qualifying CLEP exam scores for veterans and military personnel.
Special consideration was given to these schools as promotional partners of CollegeRecon.
- Kansas State University Online
- Le Moyne College
- University of Cincinnati Online
- Colorado Christian University Online
- Post University Online
- Rutgers University
- East Tennessee State University
- Lewis University
- Central Washington University
- Concordia University
All Colleges Accepting CLEP From Military and Veterans
There are over 2,200 schools offer credit for CLEP for military and veterans. You can quickly find those schools that provide credit for CLEP exams by using the School Finder at CollegeRecon.
What are some details about CLEP exams?
- The exams are 90 to 120 minutes long and administered at over 2,900 colleges across the country as well as on base testing centers.
- You can earn three or more credits for each exam, based on your institution.
- There are 33 introductory-level college subject exams.
CLEP Exam Sections
Composition and Literature
Topics related to American and British literature
World Languages
French, German and Spanish.
History and Social Sciences
Topics related to history, economics, and psychology.
Science and Mathematics
Various science disciplines and different levels of math.
Business
Various business disciplines.
For a full list of courses/exams for CLEP, please see bottom of article.
What is a fully funded CLEP test center?
The College Board and DANTES partnered to launch a program that provides more fully funded test center locations to qualified test takers. At these centers, participants who take the exams for the first time will not only have their exam fee taken care of but also have their administrative fee funded.
On-base centers may also waive the administrative fee for DANTES-funded students. The test center search feature can help you find these fully funded centers.
What do you need to do to take CLEP exams?
To take these exams you will need to:
- Find the college you want to attend and verify that it accepts CLEP credits.
- Sign up for an account. In My Account, you will be asked if you are eligible for the DANTES-funded exams.
- You can select your test center and where you want to send your scores. You can also purchase study materials.
- Schedule your exam.
- Show up and take your exam at the correct time and date.
- Receive your scores and order transcripts if needed.
On your testing day you will need:
- Valid registration ticket
- Registration forms or printouts if required
- Administrative fees if you need to pay them
- Identification
- Anything else required on your registration forms
What if I have special needs?
If you have a learning or physical disability, you can request accommodations. These include ZoomText, modifiable screen colors, the use of a reader, an amanuensis, or a sign language interpreter, extended time, or untimed rest breaks.
What will happen with my scores?
Scores for those serving in the Air Force will automatically be reported to the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) . Scores from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard will automatically go to their Joint Service Transcript (JST.) Scores for those who are self-funded are not reported to the CCAF or JST.
If you are a non-DANTES-funded test taker, you can order your transcripts online. If you are DANTES funded and would like to order your transcripts, you will need to complete and submit a military transcript order form.
How are the exams scored?
The multiple-choice section is scored by a computer, and the essay section is graded by two or more college English professors. Some colleges require optional essays for American Literature, Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, College Composition Modular, and English Literature. The essays are graded and evaluated by the colleges that require them.
If you do decide to go back to school, taking CLEP exams will help you get your degree faster as well as safe you money. You will be able to receive credit for what you already know instead of having to take a class for it. With DANTES funding these exams for most military service members, you should at least look and see if the CLEP exams are a good option for you and your educational plans.
Full CLEP Exam List
Composition and Literature
-
- American Literature
- Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
- College Composition
- College Composition Modular
- English Literature
- Humanities
World Languages
-
- French Language: Levels 1 and 2
- German Language: Levels 1 and 2
- Spanish Language: Levels 1 and 2
History and Social Sciences
-
- American Government
- History of the United States I
- History of the United States II
- Human Growth and Development
- Introduction to Educational Psychology
- Introductory Psychology
- Introductory Sociology
- Principles of Macroeconomics
- Principles of Microeconomics
- Social Sciences and History
- Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648
- Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present
Science and Mathematics
-
- Biology
- Calculus
- Chemistry
- College Algebra
- College Mathematics
- Natural Sciences
- Precalculus
Business
-
- Financial Accounting
- Information Systems
- Introductory Business Law
- Principles of Management
- Principles of Marketing
Featured image courtesy of Alex Radelich at Unsplash
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