Credit for Prior Learning: CLEP, DSST, Military Training and Portfolios
If you already know the material, you shouldn’t have to pay to sit through the course. Most colleges have ways to give you the credit.
Credit for prior learning (CPL) lets you earn college credit for knowledge you gained outside a college classroom: at work, in the military, through training programs or on your own. Done well, it can take a semester or more off a degree.
The main routes
| Route | How it works | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| CLEP exams | 34 College Board exams covering introductory courses | General education subjects: history, math, languages, business |
| DSST exams | Exams in a wider range of subjects, many at upper level | Business, technology, social sciences |
| ACE credit recommendations | The American Council on Education reviews training programs and recommends credit | Corporate training, apprenticeships, certifications |
| Military transcripts | The Joint Services Transcript (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard) or a Community College of the Air Force transcript | Training and occupations during service |
| Portfolio assessment | You document your learning and a faculty member evaluates it | Experience that doesn’t fit a standard exam |
Before you take an exam
- Check your college’s CPL policy. Find out which exams it accepts, the minimum score and which course each one replaces.
- Make sure the credit fills a requirement you actually need. A passed exam that only counts as an elective may not shorten your degree.
- Check the cap on credits earned by exam or portfolio.
- Study with official guides. The College Board publishes CLEP study materials and practice questions.
Adviser’s tip: If you’re transferring as well, ask how your new school treats CLEP or ACE credits awarded by your old one. Some schools re-evaluate them from the original score reports, so keep copies.
Military service members and veterans
Your training and occupational specialty may already have ACE credit recommendations attached. Request your Joint Services Transcript or Community College of the Air Force transcript, send it to the colleges you’re considering and ask for an evaluation. Base education centers can help, and many offer exams like CLEP and DSST.
Watch for overpromises
Legitimate CPL earns credits toward a real program at an accredited college. A business that offers a whole degree for your life experience is something else; see how to spot a diploma mill. For how all your credits fit together, read transferring college credits.
In brief
- CLEP offers 34 exams, each worth the credit of an introductory course at schools that accept it.
- The American Council on Education recommends credit for many workplace and military courses.
- Service members can send a Joint Services Transcript or Community College of the Air Force transcript.
- Each college sets its own rules and limits, so check the policy before you test.
Readers ask
How much does a CLEP exam cost?
The College Board’s fee was $97 per exam for the 2025–26 year, and test centers usually charge their own administration fee on top. Eligible veterans may be able to have testing fees reimbursed through the GI Bill.
Is there a limit on prior learning credits?
Usually. Many colleges cap the number of credits you can earn by exam or portfolio, and some don’t allow them for courses in your major.
Do these credits count for financial aid?
They don’t count toward your enrollment status for a term, but they reduce the number of courses you need to pay for.
Admission rules, accreditation status and licensing requirements change. This guide is general information for students in the U.S.; confirm the details with the school, its accreditor or your state licensing board before you enroll.