Transfer and Testing Credits

Military Transfer Credit Sources

Joint Service Transcript (JST)

If you're an active-duty military student or a veteran, it's important to submit your Joint Service Transcript (JST) and/or Defense Language Institute (DLI) transcript to the Undergraduate Admissions Office at admissions@psu.edu.

Please note that Penn State does not accept DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Penn State only accepts the JST for transfer credit evaluations.

Students who are current or former members of the Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Navy may use their Common Access Card (CAC) to log in to a portal to have a JST made available to our university.

Courses listed within the Military Courses portion of the JST will be considered for transfer credit, while items listed within the Military Experience portion or the Other Learning Experiences portion of the JST will need further action to be considered for transfer credit.

Please note that some majors might utilize more military credits than others. This is because some majors, like Organizational Leadership, for example, lend themselves better toward the types of credits you earn in the military. One area of transfer credit that you can be sure of is that your basic training will cover the General Health and Wellness/Physical Activity requirement in your degree.

Community College of the Air Force (CCAF)

Students who are current or former members of the Air Force should submit an official transcript from the Community College of the Air Force to the Undergraduate Admissions Office (UAO) at admissions@psu.edu.

Evaluations for courses on your JST and those taken at CCAF are available via the Transfer Credit Tool Links to an external site..

Testing Credits

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) are subject tests that Penn State recognizes as methods of receiving college credit. Successful completion of CLEP or DANTES is not a guaranteed method of earning Penn State transfer credits, so if you haven't yet taken the test, you can always speak with a transfer credit specialist or your academic adviser to see how a given test might transfer.

The first attempt at a subject test may be available at no cost to

• military personnel (active duty, reserve, and National Guard) from the following branches: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, Army Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army, and Air National Guard;
• spouses of Coast Guard members (active duty and reserve); and
• civilian employees of the Air Force, who test on base or at fully funded U.S. test centers.

One thing to note is that GI Bill–eligible students can be reimbursed for all required fees for CLEP and DANTES exams. The money reimbursed will be deducted from your GI Bill entitlement. For more information, visit the CLEP Links to an external site. or DANTES Links to an external site. website.

If you have questions about testing for credit or funding for these tests, you can also reach out to your education center for further information.

Defense Language Institute (DLI)

Another way you might receive transfer credit at Penn State is for coursework completed at the Defense Language Institute (DLI). If you've taken training at the DLI, be sure to supply your transcript to the Undergraduate Admissions Office (UAO) at admissions@psu.edu so that we can determine the type and amount of credit you can use.

Some DLI courses have been pre-evaluated. These evaluations can be found in the Transfer Credit Tool. However, if you've completed a course or language not found on the tool, you should still send your transcript to UAO, as they will have the course/language evaluated for possible transfer.

Credit by Validation and Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)

The final methods of transferring credit that we're going to address are Credit by Validation and Prior Learning Assessment. The first of these, Credit by Validation, is a method by which nonstandard forms of credit (like courses taken at a nonaccredited institution) can be applied to your record for credit at Penn State. Current students can request this process by filling out a form obtained from the Undergraduate Admissions Office. This procedure will take some time, as it requires an academic review of the coursework in question, but if you can maximize the use of credit that you've already earned, it's time well spent.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is another way to earn credit for past experience. In this process, credit can be awarded based on a portfolio outlining prior learning experiences. Current students should contact their academic college for the proper procedure, as it differs from major to major. If you need help identifying the person at the college you would speak to, you should reach out to your academic adviser for assistance. This process requires you to identify the specific Penn State course that you're trying to fulfill with prior experience. Once the course is identified, you'll then need to complete a portfolio of your experiences in accordance with your college’s procedure, and then make the request for portfolio review by petition.