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Education Center to open test center

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Timothy R. Capling
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 325th Mission Support Squadron Education Center and Gulf Coast Community College are scheduled to open a national test center here July 11.

The center will provide computerized CLEP and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support exams at 9 a.m. every Friday. Instead of waiting six to eight weeks, students will get instantaneous results following the completion of the test.

"Starting next week, we're shutting down paper-based testing, except for speech and Excelsior testing," said Larry Brooks, 325th Mission Support Squadron education services officer. "But by the time students would have gotten their results back, the test center will be open."

Mr. Brooks also said distance learning, professional military education, and some upgrade testing will still be administered in the traditional paper format by the education center. In addition, the Principles of Public Speaking exam will be administered in the paper format as well.

"We're the third Air Education and Training base to implement this program," said Mr. Brooks. "There are only 35 bases Air Force-wide and 90 bases in the entire Department of Defense with these test centers. The Air Force's goal is to get 90 percent of our bases with test centers."

The center, overseen by GCCC personnel at Tyndall, requires students to schedule the tests no later than two days prior to the requested test date. There is no charge for the tests, as long as they are taken on base.

Mr. Brooks said the greatest advantage of transitioning to the national test center is the instantaneous results.

"Students will now know if they need to take that certain class or not a lot faster," he said. "Each test passed will save the students up $750 in tuition assistance and the cost of textbooks."

He also stressed the amount of time passing a CLEP or DANTES can save a student.

"I hate to see students sit in a class when they don't have to," said Mr. Brooks. "Passing a CLEP can save a student 40 hours of class time. I like to save their money, but I really like to save their time waiting for a test result."

To schedule a test, call Gulf Coast Community College at 283-4332 after July 11. All tests must be scheduled via telephone; voice mail or e-mailed requests will not be processed.