Free Testing, Certification, and Licensing
Overview:
The Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) offers various educational assistance programs to support servicemembers in the pursuit of their educational objectives
Benefit:
Testing Program:
- eCLEPS (online free instant testing) available for ARNG member, spouse, or civilian employees at National Test Centers (local colleges) - see college Board web site below for more details.
- Over 150 free tests available to ARNG soldiers including, CLEP, DSST, ECE, GED, ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, Etc...
- CLEP, DSST and ECE tests equate to college credit and save soldiers time and money!
- ARNG members may test at any ARNG test center, other military service’s sites; i.e. DANTES sponsored sites, or any of the National Test Centers (colleges)
- ARNG spouses and civilian employees are eligible at ARNG/DANTES Test Centers (only CLEP and DSST are free)
- Contact your State ESO, the DANTES web site or visit the following links for more info:
- www.collegeboard.com/clep/ (CLEP)
- www.getcollegecredit.com/materials.htm (DSST)
- www.excelsior.edu/pub_page.htm#ecx (Excelsior)
- Also see helpful links tab at left for more links.
Certification Program:
- Over 200 exams from 40 different agencies
- Over 30 national certification exams including; Food Services, Fitness, Electronics, Medical, Auto, etc.
- Excellent opportunity to use military experience to gain valuable civilian certification/licensure
Exam must be related to your MOS
- Only exam costs are reimbursed, contact the professional organization for application and study materials
- Contact your Education Office, the DANTES web site or visit the following links for more information:
Distance Learning - the future of higher education:
- Various Non-Traditional degree opportunities
- Nationally Accredited Distance Learning Programs
- Independent Study Programs
- External Degree Programs
- Catalogs with hundreds of schools/programs are available on the DANTES web site
- Contact your Education Office or visit the DANTES Distance Learning web site for more info:
Troop to Teachers (TTT):
- A program to assist military personnel transition to a new career as a public school teacher
- Stipends up to $5,000 and bonus incentives up to $10,000 for agreeing to teach in a ‘high need’ district
- Provides mentoring opportunities, placement information and alternative teacher credentialing opportunities
- ARNG soldiers must have 10 years of service or have retired with 20 or more years of service to qualify for stipends
- Soldiers enlisting in the ARNG directly from active duty with six or more years of service are also eligible
- Contact your State Education Offie or visit the TTT link for more info
Spouse to Teacher:
- Program only available to military spouses (active duty or reserve) in the following pilot states CA, CO, FL, GA, TX, VA, KS, NE, NM, NV, UT, LA, NC, SC
- Provides funding and support services to enable spouse to obtain teacher license
- See www.spousestoteachers.org
How to Apply:
Application procedures vary for each of ARNG’s DANTES sponsored program. For more info on how to apply for one of the DANTES programs:
- Contact your State ARNG Education Office
- Visit the DANTES web site at www.dantes.doded.mil
- Contact an education counselor at the ARNG Education Support Center (ESC) – open 6am to 6pm CST 1-866-628-5999
DANTES Help Info: