Navy SMART Transcript

Your navy smart transcript reflects your military training/experience, any college courses taken while on active duty which were funded by military tuition assistance, any CLEP/DSST/ECE Exams you have successfully completed which were funded by the military, any degrees you have completed since joining and any other sources of credit which you have submitted to be included in your transcript.

If you attended college prior to entering the navy have your college send an official transcript to the navy college office and any courses that you recieved credi for (passed) will be added to your smart. Additionally, when you complete a degree and have that added to your smart it is worth points on your next advancement exam. Associates is worth two points and bachelors four, these points are not however cumulative, example: having two associates degrees is still only worth 2pts, and having one associates and one bachelors is still only worth 4pts.

To view your current navy smart transcript log into the link below by following the NKO user link and then entering your NKO username and password.

Navy Smart Link

Smart Transcript Request Form

Finding a school/degree program

Start out by either visiting your local navy college office or by looking around at schools online. Look for a _ accredited school with a degree program that makes the most of your current experience/credits, that has a residency requirement close to the amount of credits you require to complete your degree, and finally a school which is covered by tuition assistance.

Once you find a school that interests you it is a good idea to meet with an advisor from the school, or if that is not possible to email an advisor from the college. Bring a copy of your Navy SMART Transcript and copies of any other credits/transcripts not yet included on your smart, or attach these files to your email if you are going that route. Request to have an unofficial evaluation of your credits towards whichever degree/program interests you, or simply towards a general AA/BA or AS/BS. Once you select your school enrol and have copies of all of your official transcripts including your smart sent to your nex college (Your Navy College Office can be of great assistance in doing this).

Tuition Assistance (TA)

While active duty in the navy you are entitled to up to $4500 TA per year all the way up to one year prior to your EAOS. There is a limit of 16 credits/year at $250/credit hour but you may request a waiver to exceed this amount. Also, if you do not pass or complete the course you are required to pay back the TA amount.

When applying for TA for the first time start off by finding a school/degree program that interests you. Next decide on the first course or two you want to take. Enroll with your school and then begin filling out your TA application form. Explain how, if you need help comment me here or stop by your Navy College Office. Next route the completed form up your chain of command for CO's approval then turn in the completed and approved for to your Navy College Office in person, via email (email address) or through fax (fax number. You will recieve a TA authorization for back which you then turn in to your college.

CLEP/DSST/ECE Exams

These axams are all 100% free for active duty military personel regardless of whethger you pass or fail. Most colleges grant 3-6 lower level semester hour credits for each exam successfully passed, some are worth as much as 8 upper level credits. The only limitation to these exams is that you may only retake a failed exam after waiting 6 months, there is no limit to how many times you may retake an exam. Each exam takes approximately 1-2 hours each to compete.

My input: Start with easy/familiar subjects and take as many as possible as early as possible, especially before leaving on a deployment. Reviewing exam pass/fail rates by other military members can be helpful in determining which exams are easier and which are more difficult. Exams are given Mon-Friday 0830-1430 (for personel stationed on Oahu, Hawaii so talk to your chain of command about scheduling some during working hourse, otherwise use leave/POM periods. Once you have attempted the ones you feel comfortable with figure out which ones will be most useful to you and begin studying!

Location Days Times

Pearl Harbor Tue, Thur 0830, 1030, 1300

Hickam AFB Mon, Wed 0830, 1030, 1300

Tripler Medical Center Fri 0830, 1030, 1300

CLEP/DSST Brochure

CLEP/DSST/ECE Exam pass/fail rates

Files:

Pearl Harbor CLEP/DSST Exam Brochure - Lists exams and test location hours.

Helpful links:

NavyCollege Blog - Learn from experiences and ask any questions you have.

Navy Knowledge Online - Lots of good information.

MGIB - Updated news on GI Bill.

Smart Transcripts (requires NKO login) - Navy SMART transcript and Degree roadmap/SOC information.

USMap - Journeyman

DANTES - Information on DSST, CLEP, ECE, GRE and other exams.

CLEP pass/fail rates - DSST pass/fail rates - ECE pass/fail rates

HPU Testing information for Hawaii (Pearl Harbor, Hickam, Scholfield, K-Bay, and Tripler)

Degree Roadmaps

GSE:

Coastline Community College - AA: Electrical Mechanical Technology

Excelsior College - BS: General Business - Finance