Army workers who are seeking to enter college may have quite a bit of life experience under their belt. That experience may be enough to meet up with some college credits without getting college courses, what the College Boards’ CLEP makes possible through examining. Those assessments (exams), when passed, may be replaced for credit at hundreds of universities across the nation, saving military workers cash. CLEP examinations have a price, but for our men and women in uniform, the price for getting any one of the 33 determining introductory-level subject examinations can be waived. Through an agreement with Defense Activity for Non Traditional Education Support (DANTES), active duty, reserve and National Guard personnel have their CLEP examination expenses covered.
The coverage refers to Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard personnel, as well as members of the Army Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve and the Army and Air National Guard. Moreover, partners and private workers of the Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Army National Guard, Army Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve qualify for CLEP fee waivers too.
Under the military’s CLEP agreement, the first examination attempt is free. However, if military workers want to retake a test previously financed by DANTES, they must wait six months and pay both the $80 examination fee as well as the administration fee. The administration fee, however, is waived if the test is on base or is base subsidized. Is CLEP worth it? Absolutely. If you have the experience and knowledge, then getting and passing at least some of those assessments can reduce your degree pursuit. You will also reduce your overall expenses when you engage in CLEP through the DANTES program, yet another way to contain your college expenses.