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Military and veterans: who pays for your CLEP or DSST exam?

If you serve, DANTES pays your first attempt at each exam College Board DSST (Prometric). If you're a veteran with a GI Bill benefit, you pay first and VA pays you back, even if you don't pass College Board VA. Pick who you are and your exam to see exactly what's paid.

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2. Which exam?

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Who pays, for which attempt, what a retake costs, and how to claim, each with the official page it comes from.

Serving now: DANTES pays your first attempt

CLEP

  • Covered: active duty, Reserve and National Guard, including the Coast Guard. College Board
  • Also covered: spouses of Coast Guard members and SpouseWorks-eligible military spouses, and Air Force civilian employees (at on-base or U.S. fully funded centers). College Board College Board
  • DANTES pays the $97 exam fee and the $30 home-testing fee for the first attempt at each exam. College Board College Board
  • On-base and DANTES-funded test centers waive their own fee for you. College Board
  • A free CLEP exam guide for your exam; your score goes to the Community College of the Air Force automatically. College Board College Board
  • A retake isn't funded: wait three months and pay yourself. College Board

DSST

Confirm funding with your installation education office before you register.

Veterans: the GI Bill pays you back

DANTES doesn't pay for veterans, but the GI Bill pays back CLEP exam and administration fees College Board. DSST and AP are on VA's approved list too VA.

  • Who: anyone already covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chapter 30) or Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606), or Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35). VA VA
  • What: the cost of the test, including registration and administrative fees, charged to your entitlement by the amount paid. VA VA
  • Even if you don't pass, and for the same test taken again, as many tests as your entitlement and time limit allow. VA VA
  • How: pay first, then send VA Form 22-0810 (online, uploaded or by mail) with a copy of the receipt and a copy of your test results. VA VA
  • Not paid back: pretest costs, fees to get scores quickly, and optional items not required to take the test. VA
VA's page on national tests

Education office staff: you're welcome to link this page for your service members and veterans. Every rule on it is quoted from College Board, DSST or VA, with the link and the day we read it.

Questions about DANTES and the GI Bill

Does the GI Bill pay for CLEP exams?

Yes, by paying you back. College Board: “DANTES doesn't cover the exam fee for veterans. However, veterans can claim full reimbursement for CLEP exams and exam administration fees under the Forever G.I. Bill.” College Board VA pays back the cost of the test, including registration and administrative fees, and charges your entitlement by the amount it pays VA VA.

Does the GI Bill pay if I fail the exam?

Yes. VA: “We’ll pay you back even if you don’t pass the test. We’ll also pay you back if you need to take the same test more than once.” VA

Does DANTES pay for a CLEP retake?

No. DANTES pays the first attempt at each exam College Board. To retake, you wait three months and pay the exam fee and any test center fee yourself College Board.

Does DANTES pay the $30 remote proctoring fee?

Yes, for the first attempt at a CLEP exam College Board.

How do veterans get paid back for a CLEP or DSST exam?

Send VA Form 22-0810, the Request for Reimbursement of National Exam Fee VA, with a copy of the receipt for the testing fee and a copy of your test results VA. You must already be covered by a GI Bill benefit (Chapter 33, 30 or 1606) or by Chapter 35 VA.

Does DANTES or the GI Bill pay for study materials?

VA won't pay back pretest costs or optional items not required to take the test VA. DANTES pays the exam fees College Board, and DANTES-funded CLEP test takers get a free CLEP exam guide College Board.

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/help-center/if-i-am-active-military-service-member-do-i-have-pay-exam-fee-take-clep-examDANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support) pays your exam fee and remote proctoring fee for the first exam attempt per test title.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  2. VA: va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/national-testsOptional items not required to take an approved testChecked 7 Nov 2026
  3. DSST (Prometric): getcollegecredit.com/test-takers/active-duty-veteranExam fees for the first attempt at any DSST title are covered by DANTES for eligible military service members.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  4. 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
  5. DSST (Prometric): getcollegecredit.com/resources/questions-and-answersAll test takers are eligible to retest after a 30 day wait period.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  6. DSST (Prometric): getcollegecredit.com/test-takers/active-duty-veteranService members are responsible for funding a retest of any DSST exam title if they do not receive a passing score.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  7. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/clep-military-benefitsMilitary personnel (active duty, reserve, National Guard)Checked 7 Nov 2026
  8. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/clep-military-benefitsCoast Guard (active and reserve) and SpouseWorks eligibleChecked 7 Nov 2026
  9. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/clep-military-benefitsAir Force (must test at on-base or U.S. fully funded test centers)Checked 7 Nov 2026
  10. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/register-for-an-exam/military-how-to-register-under-dantesLike DANTES funded test centers, the $30 remote proctoring fee for the first attempt at a CLEP exam is covered by DANTES.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  11. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/clep-military-benefitsDANTES-funded test centers and all on-base military test centers will also waive the administration fee for DANTES-funded test takers.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  12. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/clep-military-benefitsDANTES-funded candidates who register for a CLEP exam receive a free CLEP exam guide based on your chosen exam topic.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  13. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/register-for-an-exam/military-how-to-register-under-dantesScores are automatically sent to the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) for all DANTES eligible examsChecked 7 Nov 2026
  14. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/clep-military-benefitsIf you want to retake an exam previously funded by DANTES, you must wait three months and self-pay the exam fee and any administrative fees required by the test center.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  15. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/help-center/does-dantes-cover-exam-fee-veterans-and-if-not-exam-andor-administration-feeDANTES doesn't cover the exam fee for veterans. However, veterans can claim full reimbursement for CLEP exams and exam administration fees under the Forever G.I. Bill.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  16. VA: va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/national-testsDSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests)Checked 7 Nov 2026
  17. VA: va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/national-testsTo get paid back for national tests, you must already be covered under 1 of these benefitsChecked 7 Nov 2026
  18. VA: va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/national-testsSurvivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)Checked 7 Nov 2026
  19. VA: va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/national-testsWe’ll pay you back for the cost of the test, including registration and administrative fees.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  20. VA: va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/national-testsWe’ll charge your entitlement based on the amount we paid back to you.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  21. VA: va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/national-testsRequest for Reimbursement of National Exam Fee (VA Form 22-0810)Checked 7 Nov 2026
  22. VA: va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/national-testsA copy of the receipt for the testing fee, andChecked 7 Nov 2026
  23. VA: va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/national-testsWe’ll pay for as many national tests you want to take as long as you have remaining entitlement and use your benefits within the time limit.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  24. VA: va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/national-testsWe’ll pay you back even if you don’t pass the test. We’ll also pay you back if you need to take the same test more than once.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  25. 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
  26. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/register-for-an-examExams cost only $97 plus your test center or remote proctoring administration feeChecked 7 Nov 2026
  27. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/register-for-an-exam/registering-remote-proctoringIn addition to the CLEP exam fee, you'll be charged $30 for remote proctoring.Checked 7 Nov 2026
  28. College Board: clep.collegeboard.org/test-day/what-to-bring-on-test-dayEach test center charges an additional fee and sets its own policy for payment.Checked 7 Nov 2026

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