Free · No signupCLEP® & DSST®71 exams

CLEP and DSST study plan and deadline calculator

Pick your exam and your test date, or the date you need the credit by. You get a week-by-week plan around the $5 study guide, the date to register by, when your score should reach your college, and the earliest retake date, each with its official source. Each college decides whether to award credit for a CLEP or DSST exam, so confirm with your registrar before you book an exam.

Your exam and dates

I know

Not booked yet? Pick the day you'd like to test.

How well do you know the subject?

A planning number for you to change, not a promise: we start at 40 hours if you're new to the subject, 25 if you know some of it and 12 if you know it well.

Your plan shows here

Week by week, with the dates that matter: register by, score at your college, earliest retake. Every date links to the official rule behind it.

The rules behind the dates

CLEP (College Board)

  • No fixed test dates: each test center sets its own College Board.
  • Register with College Board, then book a test center or a remote appointment: two separate steps College Board. The exam is $97, plus the center's or remote proctoring's fee College Board.
  • The registration ticket expires six months after you buy it College Board.
  • Your score is on screen when you finish College Board; College Composition and Spanish with Writing take 2–3 weeks College Board.
  • Send your score free to two colleges when you register College Board. If your college hasn't got it within 15 business days of the score send, call College Board College Board.
  • No retake of the same exam within three months of your test date College Board.

DSST (Prometric)

Free resources to use with your guide

  • The official outline. Every plan starts with your exam's official page: CLEP exams (College Board) or DSST exams.
  • College Board's free sample questions. A free resource guide with sample questions for each CLEP exam College Board. College Board also sells official Examination Guides with official practice questions College Board.
  • Free textbooks and lessons. OpenStax has free college textbooks OpenStax, and Khan Academy's lessons are free Khan Academy.
  • Your public library. Ask what it has for your exam before you buy anything.

Our $5 study guide is the core of every plan: a printable PDF for one exam, built from the official outline, with practice questions and a cram sheet. See all 72 study guides.

Questions about study time and dates

How long should I study for a CLEP or DSST exam?

It depends on what you already know, so the calculator asks. As planning numbers to change, not a promise, we start at 40 hours if you're new to the subject, 25 if you know some of it and 12 if you know it well. Set your own total and the plan follows it.

When can I retake a CLEP exam?

Not within three months of your test date: College Board cancels a retake inside that window, and the fee is lost College Board. The calculator gives the first day after that.

When can I retake a DSST exam?

After a 30-day wait DSST (Prometric).

When will my college get my score?

CLEP: your score is on screen when you finish College Board; if your college hasn't received it within 15 business days of the score send, College Board says to call them College Board. College Composition takes 2–3 weeks College Board. DSST: check with your school 4–6 weeks after testing DSST (Prometric); it should arrive within 90 days DSST (Prometric). Your college then posts the credit in its own time.

When should I register?

CLEP has no fixed test dates; each test center sets its own College Board. You register with College Board, then book a test center or remote appointment College Board, and the registration ticket expires six months after you buy it College Board. For DSST you register and pay at the test center on the day DSST (Prometric), so book your seat with the center first DSST (Prometric).

Sources

Every fact on this page, the official page it comes from, the words it says there, and the day we read it.

  1. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/clep-exam-policiesThe retest policy states that a candidate may not retake an exam of the same title within three months of the test date. If you violate the CLEP retest policy, the administration will be considered invalid, your score will be cancelled, and any test fees will be forfeited.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  2. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/scores/get-scoresScores are displayed on your test screen immediately following the CLEP test.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  3. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/scores/get-scoresScores for College Composition and Spanish with Writing will be available in My CLEP student portal 2–3 weeks after exam day.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  4. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/help-center/i-just-took-college-composition-exam-how-long-does-my-institution-have-wait-my-scoreYour institution will receive your score report 2–3 weeks after your test date.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  5. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/help-center/who-do-i-contact-if-my-institution-has-not-received-my-score-report-or-transcriptIf your institution has not received your score report or transcript within 15 business days after your score send or transcript request was submitted, contact CLEP customer service at 800-257-9558.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  6. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/scores/send-scores-transcriptsYou can send your scores to two institutions for free when you register for your CLEP exam.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  7. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/help-center/does-my-clep-exam-registration-ticket-expireYes, for non-DANTES-funded test takers, a CLEP exam registration ticket expires six months from the date of purchase.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  8. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/help-center/are-there-specific-test-dates-or-can-i-administer-clep-any-timeThere are no specific exam administration dates. When and how often a test center administers CLEP exams is up to the discretion of the individual test center.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  9. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/register-for-an-examRegistering for an exam and scheduling your test with a test center are separate steps.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  10. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/register-for-an-exam/registering-remote-proctoringWithin 24 hours after registering for your exam, you'll receive an email confirmation from CLEP with a Ticket ID and a link to the Proctortrack website.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  11. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/prepare-for-an-exam/practice-questions-study-guidesSelect and download exam-specific fact sheets featuring details about the exam breakdown, credit recommendations and free sample questions.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  12. DSST (Prometric): getcollegecredit.com/resources/questions-and-answersAll test takers are eligible to retest after a 30 day wait period.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  13. DSST (Prometric): getcollegecredit.com/resources/questions-and-answersExam results are available to the test taker immediately after Internet-based exams are taken.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  14. DSST (Prometric): getcollegecredit.com/resources/questions-and-answersCheck with your school 4-6 weeks after testing to verify your scores have been received.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  15. DSST (Prometric): getcollegecredit.com/scores-transcriptsYour school/institution should receive your score report within 90 days of your test date.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  16. DSST (Prometric): getcollegecredit.com/resources/questions-and-answersyou must provide the institution’s 4-digit DSST code at the time of your examinationChecked 7 Nov 2026
  17. DSST (Prometric): getcollegecredit.com/resources/questions-and-answersRegistration and payment is completed at the testing center within the testing platform on the day of the exam.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  18. DSST (Prometric): getcollegecredit.com/resources/questions-and-answersYou should contact the selected testing center prior to taking the exam to understand their policies. Some locations do not allow walk-ins and require exams to be scheduled.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  19. OpenStax: openstax.orgOpenStax offers free college textbooks for all types of studentsChecked 7 Nov 2026
  20. Khan Academy: khanacademy.org/aboutKhan Academy's mission is to provide a free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  21. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/register-for-an-examExams cost only $97 plus your test center or remote proctoring administration feeChecked 7 Nov 2026
  22. DSST (Prometric): getcollegecredit.com/resources/questions-and-answersThe test fee is $100 per exam. This fee does not include any administrative costs the testing site may require.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  23. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/prepare-for-an-exam/practice-questions-study-guidesCollege Board official Examination Guides (e-guides) contain official CLEP practice questions to help you prepare for your exam.Checked 7 Nov 2026

Not sure where to start?

Ask Iris, our AI assistant, which exams your college takes and which guide fits. A person on our team answers at team@transfercredit.org.

Find my college

Each college decides whether to award credit for a CLEP or DSST exam, so confirm with your registrar before you book an exam. CLEP® is a registered trademark of the College Board and DSST® is a registered trademark of Prometric; neither was involved in making these tools, and neither endorses TransferCredit.org. Terms