DSST Testing
Out of an abundance of caution and in compliance with the CDC’s social distancing guidelines, all physical Bucks County Community College campuses are closed and the Testing Center is unable to offer external services, including DSST Testing, indefinitely. We apologize for any inconvenience.
For most up-to-date information regarding Bucks reopening, please refer to www.bucks.edu.
The Testing Center administers DSST exams (formerly known as DANTES) for Bucks students and the general public. Testing takes place at our Newtown Campus Testing Center only in the Rollins Center, Room 100.
A current government issued ID (e.g., a driver's license, nondriver's State ID card, or passport) is required for any test at the Bucks Testing Center.
You will be asked to indicate the code for the school that you wish to have your DSST exam transcripts sent to. YOU MUST KNOW THIS CODE IN ORDER TO TAKE A DSST EXAM. If you do not know this please visit the Get College Credit and enter your college.
Preparing for a DSST Examination
Even when you feel confident of your knowledge of the material, be sure to prepare for the exam. Download free individual Fact Sheets for each DSST exam. The current edition of the Official DSST Test Preparation Guide is in the reference section of the Bucks Library at all three campuses and it is also available for purchase in the Bookstore.
(BUCKS STUDENTS) While the Testing Center at Bucks administers all DSST exams, only the exams listed here may be taken to challenge the associated Bucks course. Scores at or above the minimum will lead to equivalent credit for the associated Bucks course, but no letter grade will be awarded. Students who do not achieve the minimum score must wait at least 90 days to repeat the exam. Credit awarded from a DSST exam will not replace a course grade that is on your Bucks transcript.
Students will need to work with two areas of the College for the process of challenging a Bucks course by standardized exam:
1) DSST EXAM REGISTRATION
The total fee for each exam is $115 ($85 for the exam and $30 for administration fees). $80 per exam will be paid on the testing day by Visa, Master Card or American Express. You will be directed to PayPal upon completing this registration to make your $30 administrative fee payment. Please print out and bring your paid
receipt with you on the day of your exam.
The fees for this exam are non-transferable/non-refundable. Students that reschedule an appointment will be required to pay the $30 administrative fee again.
Identification:
All test takers are required to present a valid form of identification to take an exam. The identification must be non-expired, government-issued (driver's license, state-issued identification card, passport, or military identification card) and must have your current photo and signature and exactly match the name used to register for the exam. Military personnel are required to show a military ID and a U.S. government or state photo ID.
You must have a valid Visa, MasterCard or American Express on the day of your DSST exam so that you can make the $80 payment for the exam you are taking.
You will not be able to proceed with the exam before making payment or without acceptable ID.
Please remember to arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your exam.
All fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
2) The Office of Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)
Complete the top portion and Section 1 of the PLA Application (PDF), also available online, read and sign the back and return it to Student Services.
When the Office of Prior Learning Assessment is in receipt of both your PLA Application and DSST transcript showing a score at or above the cut-off a proposal for you to receive equivalent credit for the Bucks course you are challenging is processed. When that Equivalent Credit Award is fully signed and approved it is sent to Records for transcribing and a follow-up email is sent to the student. There will be no grade(s) associated with the course(s) and the code “CL” will be indicated where the grade would be.
Credit based upon examination may not be transferable. However, many colleges and universities will have a similar process for awarding equivalent credit based upon DSST results. You can request that Prometric (the test publisher) submit official DSST transcripts to your transfer institution and work directly with the transfer institution to request that they consider them for credit.
Bucks students should familiarize themselves with Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) at Bucks to ensure that they meet and follow the eligibility guidelines and do not miss any potential opportunities to pursue equivalent credit.