PLA DSST- Dantes Exams

DSST® EXAMS (Dantes)

Formerly known as Dantes Exams,DSST® exams are delivered by Prometric, Inc.and offer college credit for 38 subject areas, different than those offered by CLEP®. What started out as an educational aid to military service personnel has now expanded to a universal testing program for any student. The USM faculty has reviewed these exams and recommended credit and passing scores for these exams. USM accepts DSST® (Dantes) scores with a B or better scaled score. You may want to view A Comprehensive Guide to DSST® for more information and background on the DSST exams.

Below are listed all the DSST® (Dantes) exams given at USM, their equivalent credits, and minimum test scores to achieve these credits only for USM. Please contact the college or university to which you wish to have your DSST scores sent to learn their minimum cut-off scores and course equivalents.

• DSST® tests and equivalencies for USM students matriculating Fall 2011 or thereafter
• DSST® tests and equivalencies for USM students matriculting prior to Fall 2011
• DSST® tests and equivalencies for students matriculated at the Lewiston-Auburn College

To Register for the DSST® Exams (Dantes) at USM

To take the test at USM, students or the general public must register directly with PLA/USM, Kate Mitchell, 100 Payson Smith Hall on the Portland Campus. Testing times are scheduled at the convenience of the candidate and the testing center on an individual basis, once your registration and payment have been received. The Testing Associate, Mike Wing (mwing@usm.maine.edu, 207-780-4578) will contact you, schedule your test, and send you a confirmation.

Submit your registration with an application payment of $45 to: Kate Mitchell, Prior Learning Assessment, 100 Payson Smith Hall, USM, 96 Falmouth Street, Portland, Maine 04104-9300

NOTE:  No registrations will be accepted by either fax or e-mail.

On the Day of the Exam:

1. You will test in the Testing Center at 240 Luther Bonney Hall, 85 Bedford Street, USM, Portland, Maine
   
2. Please bring a credit card ISSUED IN YOUR NAME to the Test Center on the day of the test. YOU WILL BE ASKED AT THE START OF THE COMPUTERIZED EXAM TO PAY THE EXAM FEE OF $80 PER EXAM WITH THIS CREDIT CARD.

How Often Can I Take the Same Exam?

Test takers who choose to retake the same exam must wait 90 days (6 months) between test dates.

To Study for the DSST® Exam (Dantes)

Study guides and additional information to prepare for the DSST® exams can be found at the  DSST® website.  Abbreviated fact sheets for each test can be downloaded freely, and we have them available for photocopy at the PLA Testing Center at 240 Luther Bonney Hall. You may also take DSST® practice exams for $5 per title (look on lower right of the webpage for the confidential link).

To Order an Official DSST® (Dantes)Score Transcript

To order a DSST® official score transcript, your may go directly to:

http://www.getcollegecredit.com/images/uploads/documents/DSST_Transcript_Order_Form.pdf  or  call 877-471-9860 or  review this page

Be sure to ask that the DSST® score transcripts be sent to the USM school code, test site #3691, if you wish to have your DSST credits posted to your USM academic transcript.

 Would You Like to Have Your DSST® (Dantes) Credits Posted to Your USM Transcript?

All you need to do is download the DSST Posting Fee form, complete it, and either bring or send it with your $15 fee to:

Kate Mitchell, Prior Learning Assessment, 100 Payson Smith Hall, USM, 96 Falmouth Street, Portland, Maine 04104-9300