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DANTES tests now offer immediate results

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Christopher A. Marasky
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  College isn't cheap. It would cost roughly $1,800 for a person to achieve 64 credit hours of college using College Level Examinations Programs.

For members of the military, however, the cost of taking those same exams and enhancing their military careers is absolutely free.

CLEPS and DANTES are computer based tests that are worth college credits equal to the course that they represent. Each test takes roughly two hours, and provides military members a way to achieve college credits in a shorter amount of time.

"People can always come in before registration and take one of the tests," said Mr. Lee Jackson, information technology manager for the University of Maryland branch located here. "If they pass, then they don't need to take the whole class."

But taking one of the tests requires some planning ahead, as the average wait time for a CLEP test is around one and a half weeks.

"If you really want to take a test, then show up before test time, in the morning or afternoons," said Mr. Jackson. "Often we get cancellations or no-shows, and we do take walk-ins if we have space available."

On top of no costs, testing has now become easier and more accessible here due to recent changes in the tests themselves and upgrades to Osan's computer testing laboratory.

As of August, the DANTES subject standardized tests were converted to an entirely online program here, allowing for quick and easy access to members' results to match the already instant CLEP results.

"One of the biggest benefits is a quick turn around," said Mr. Jackson. "Within two days of the test, it's in the members' records. That's compared to the six to eight weeks it used to take to get the test results back."

With DSST offering 37 classes for testing, and CLEP offering 34, there are a total of 71 tests that members of Team Osan can take for free to earn college credits.

Before camping in line for a test, people should make sure they're prepared. Just like any exam, studying will yield the best results.

"People think they just know the information," said Mr. Jackson. "But to make these tests really effective, be sure to study before the test."

For more information, visit the Osan Education Office at Bldg. 789, or call the Education Flight at 784-4220 or the University of Maryland at 784-6786.