DSSTs - DANTES (Defense Activities for Non-Traditional Support) Subject Standardized Tests

The DSST® Program is a nationally recognized testing program that gives examinees the opportunity to receive college credit for learning acquired outside the traditional college classroom. Examinees can choose from 38 titles in the areas of Social Science, Business, Mathematics, Applied Technology, Humanities, and Physical Science. Please refer to the Candidate Information Bulletin on the DSST Web site for a brief description of each exam. Exam Fact Sheets are also available for each exam on the DSST website. The Testing Center currently administers paper and pencil DANTES exams.

Important Policies / Updates

Some policies regarding DANTES exams are at the discretion of individual colleges and universities, i.e. course credits. All candidates must contact their school’s Registrar prior to testing to ensure the DANTES exam they wish to take will meet the recipient school’s requirements. The Testing Center strongly recommends that candidates visit the DSST website to obtain the most current information regarding all testing policies and procedures.

Fees / Payment Method / Remittance Policy

Fees

DANTES examinees must pay a $80.00 DSST fee per exam plus a $15.00 APSU fee per exam.  There is an additional $6.50 shipping fee per test administration.

Please Note: Internet-based DANTES exams are funded by the U.S. government through Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) for eligible military examinees. Please visit Military on the DSST website for more information or contact the National Testing Center at Fort Campbell, operated by Hopkinsville Community College, at (270) 707-3970 for  internet-based DANTES (DSST) exams. 

Payment Method

For the $80.00 DSST fee (all exams) – Certified check, money order, or credit card (including Visa, MasterCard, or American Express). Please make all checks and money orders for the DSST fee payable to Prometric. Please Note: Internet-based DSST fees must be paid with a credit card.

For the $15.00 APSU fee (all exams) – Cash, check, money order, or credit card (including Visa, MasterCard, or American Express). Please Note: The APSU fee must be paid separately from the DSST fee. Please make all checks and money orders for the APSU fee payable to Austin Peay State University. APSU students must write their name and APSU student I.D. number on all checks and money orders.

For the $6.50 shipping fee (all exams) - Cash, check, money order, or credit card (including Visa, MasterCard, or American Express).  This fee may be paid at the same time as the $15.00 APSU fee.

Remittance Policy

Payment is due on the day of the exam. Please report to the Ellington Building, Room 202 to obtain a payment invoice at the time of your scheduled exam.

If you have any questions regarding a payment method for the DSST fee, please contact Prometric at (877) 471-9860.

If you have any questions regarding a payment method for the APSU fee, please contact the APSU Business Office at (931) 221-6285.

Test Dates / Times

DANTES exams are scheduled on an individual basis. Please contact the Testing Center to schedule a date and time. Please Note: Examinees must schedule a minimum of 2 weeks in advance.

Testing Location

On the day of the test, report to the Ellington Building, Room 202 at your scheduled test time.

Parking

During peak times on campus, parking availability in the area around the Ellington Building can be limited. The Testing Center strongly encourages examinees to obtain a visitor parking permit. Visitor parking permits are issued by public safety/campus police at the Shasteen Building behind the football stadium. If you are unfamiliar with campus, please click on the following link to access a Campus Map. Please allow adequate time to acquire parking prior to your scheduled test time.

Identification Requirements

Examinees must present a valid form of government-issued identification that includes a current photo and the examinee’s signature. Acceptable forms of identification include a driver’s license, passport, state-issued identification card, or military identification. The Testing Center will NOT admit any student who does not meet the I.D. requirement.

Registration Requirements

To register for a DANTES exam, please call the Testing Center at (931) 221-6269.  Please schedule two weeks in advance to allow for shipment/receipt of the requested exam. 

Permissible Test Aids

Examinees may bring their own non-mechanical, No. 2 (soft-lead) sharpened pencils; however, the Testing Center will provide scratch paper and pencils. Examinees must bring their own black pen if they are taking a DANTES exam that requires a written essay. For some DANTES exams, basic four-function calculators are allowed; for detailed information please refer to the “Auxiliary Testing Materials” section in the Candidate Information Bulletin which can be downloaded from the DSST website. The Testing Center will not provide calculators.

Prohibited Items

The following items are prohibited in the Testing Center: reference materials, books, papers, study aids, and electronic equipment including cell phones, PDAs, pagers, beepers, cameras, alarm watches that beep, tape recorders, etc., and personal items such as digital watches, outerwear that is not being worn while testing (jackets, etc.), briefcases, purses, etc. Pocket items such as keys, wallet, etc. must remain in your pocket during testing. 

Results / Score Reports / Transcripts

Examinees should receive a score report approximately 4 weeks after testing. Please Note: Scores for the Principles of Public Speaking exam are available 6 to 8 weeks from receipt by Prometric. Principles of Public Speaking speech topic cassette tapes and essays are kept on file at Prometric for one year from the date of administration.

Official score reports are also sent to the college or university that examinees select on test day approximately 4 weeks after testing, except for the Principles of Public Speaking exam.

Written essays are sent to the examinee-designated college or university for review. Please contact the recipient school regarding essay scoring.

To order additional transcripts please download a Transcript Order Form from the DSST website.

Cancellations

The Testing Center has a limited number of seats available for testing. If you are unable to keep your appointment, please contact the Testing Center as soon as possible so your reserved seat can be made available for other examinees.

Retest Information

Examinees may not repeat a DANTES exam of the same title within six months.

Accommodations

Please contact the Testing Center at (931) 221-6269 regarding all accommodation requests prior to testing. Please review the “Testing Accomodations for Students with Disabilities” section of the Candidate Information Bulletin which can be downloaded from the DSST website.  

Additional Information

Please dress in layers so that you can adjust to any room temperature.

Food and drink are not allowed in the Testing Center.

Visitors are not permitted in the testing room while testing is in progress.

Children are not allowed in the testing room at any time.

APSU Students: The Testing Center strongly recommends that APSU students discuss any potential DANTES examinations with their APSU-assigned advisor and the Office of the Registrar prior to testing to ensure that the satisfactory completion of the DANTES exam(s) will provide the examinee with appropriate, degree-required credits.

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact the Testing Center at (931) 221-6269.

Test Schedule