Earning college credit by testing Published July 24, 2008 By Rosanne Pruitt Fairchild Education Center FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Airmen may earn up to 30 hours of college credit toward Community College of the Air Force and perhaps a few Airmen can complete CCAF without taking a class. Spouses and civilians are also able to test toward associate and bachelor degree requirements and will soon be able e-test at the Education Center this coming fall. Gone are the days of required in-classroom instruction. One alternative is the College Level Examination Program available through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support. CLEP, DANTES Standardized Subject Tests and Excelsior Examinations offer well over 100 subject titles. Testing has been around for several decades and remains a prominent option. They give great flexibility at no cost to active and reserve military personnel. Compared to tuition rates, the price is nominal for spouses and other civilians. The discerning student works carefully with the school advisor to ensure the exams are not only acceptable, but meet criteria in needed subject areas. For example, although most colleges accept them as electives, they may not accept them where needed, such as the General English CLEP may not satisfy the English writing requirement. Preparation is essential for most people. Expecting to walk into a college classroom, take a final exam without hearing instructor lectures, completing class assignments, or reading the textbook and still pass the exam is unrealistic. Astute students first review the online test description and take a practice test to determine readiness, then schedule the exam after appropriate preparation. Exams may be retaken six months later, but those who prepare up front usually pass the first time, saving time and government resources. The common CLEP and DANTES test descriptions and sample tests are at http://www.petersons.com/dod. The complete battery of CLEP, DANTES and Excelsior test descriptions and links to open college courses for videotaped and audio lectures, outlines, quizzes etc. are found at http://snipurl.com/1mpnm. Those without AF Portal access my contact rosanne.pruitt@fairchild.af.mil directly to request these links. The Base Library maintains more practice tests and videos. Contact the Fairchild Education Center for additional information at 247-4204.