Voluntary Education - Information

Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) sponsors a wide range of examination programs to help service members meet their education goals. These examinations are administered on more than 530 military installations by the DANTES Test Control Officer (TCO), who is generally the Education Services Officer or Navy College Education Specialist for the military installation. About 150,000 DANTES sponsored examinations are administered each year to military personnel.

DANTES Sponsored Exams

ACT - ACT is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides college entrance testing and a broad array of assessment, research, information, and program management solutions in the areas of education and workforce development.

College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP) – CLEP provides the opportunity to earn credit for knowledge acquired through independent study, prior course work, on-the-job training, professional development, cultural pursuits, or internships.

DSST - The nationally recognized DSST Program allows students to receive college credits for learning acquired outside the traditional classroom such as from outside reading, on-the-job training, or independent study. DSST offers students a cost-effective, time-saving way to use knowledge acquired outside of the classroom to accomplish their education goals.

Excelsior College Examinations (ECE) – Formerly Regents College Examinations, ECEs are used to meet specific requirements for Excelsior College degrees and are accepted for college credit by over 900 colleges and universities. Formerly called the ACT Proficiency Examination Program (ACT PEP), Excelsior College now administers these examinations worldwide.

General Equivalency Diploma (GED) - The GED is a battery of examinations administered by states and jurisdictions to measure the skills and knowledge similar to a high school course of study. The five subject area tests which comprise the GED test battery are mathematics, language arts reading, language arts writing (including essay), science, and social studies.

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) - The GMAT is a computer-adaptive test (CAT) available exclusively through Pearson VUE and selective college and university test centers. The GMAT CAT includes verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing questions that the examinee answers on the computer.

GRE® - The GRE General is a computer-based test (CBT) available exclusively through Prometric and selective college and university test centers. DANTES funds only one administration each of the GRE General CBT and GRE Subject (paper-based) exams per lifetime for eligible service members. GRE Subject exams taken at a national test center are not reimbursable.

Praxis Series Test (PRAXIS) –

Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST) - The PPST consists of three separate tests: reading, mathematics, and writing. Some states require students entering college-level teacher preparation programs to pass the PPST; however, others states use the PPST as a teacher licensing exam.
Praxis II: Subject Assessment/Specialty Tests - Praxis offers over 100 tests in specific subjects and specialties including the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT). Some states use these tests to credential or certify a teacher to teach in a specific area. The time limits on all of them are either one or two hours depending on the specific test.

SAT Reasoning Test - The SAT Reasoning Test, formerly called the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), is a globally recognized college admissions test that almost all colleges and universities use to make admissions decisions. The SAT tests an applicant’s knowledge of critical thinking, problem-solving, reading, writing, and math.

SAT Subject Tests – SAT Subject Tests, also referred to as SAT II, give students an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of a specific subject, such as math, science, history, or languages. Some colleges recommend and others require SAT Subject Tests for admission or course placement.