ACE recommends college credit for many military courses and occupations — your Joint Services Transcript shows what your training is worth
What Is ACE?
The American Council on Education (ACE) evaluates military training and experience and recommends college credit equivalencies. When you went through Basic Training, your MOS/AFSC school, PME, or any formal military course — ACE was reviewing those programs and assigning credit recommendations.
How It Works
- 1. ACE subject matter experts review military courses
- 2. They determine equivalent college courses and credit hours
- 3. Recommendations are recorded on your military transcript
- 4. Colleges decide whether to accept the recommendations
Important: ACE recommendations are just that — recommendations. Colleges are not required to accept them. Some schools accept nearly all ACE credits; others accept very few. Always verify with your target school before enrolling.
What Military Training Gets Credit
Almost every formal military course has been evaluated by ACE. Here are the most common sources of credit:
Basic Training / Boot Camp
Often earns lower-division credit in physical education, health, and first aid. Check your JST for the ACE recommendation.
MOS / AFSC / Rating Technical Schools
Your primary job training. Often the biggest source, and the amount depends on your specialty. Technical fields (IT, medical, aviation) tend to yield the most.
Professional Military Education (PME)
ALS, NCOA, SNCO Academy (Air Force), WLC, SLC, MLC (Army), and equivalents. Often earns credit in leadership, management, and organizational behavior.
Additional Technical Training
Supplemental courses, upgrade training, instructor courses, and specialty qualifications. Each one may carry ACE credit recommendations.
Language Training (DLIFLC)
Defense Language Institute courses often carry substantial credit in foreign language studies. Check your JST for the ACE recommendation.
Get Your JST / SMART Transcript
Your military transcript is the official document that lists all ACE credit recommendations. The name depends on your branch:
| Branch | Transcript Name | Where to Get It |
|---|---|---|
| Army | Joint Services Transcript (JST) | jst.doded.mil |
| Navy | Joint Services Transcript (JST) | jst.doded.mil |
| Marine Corps | Joint Services Transcript (JST) | jst.doded.mil |
| Air Force | Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript | au.af.edu/barnes/ccaf |
| Space Force | CCAF transcript | au.af.edu/barnes/ccaf |
| Coast Guard | Joint Services Transcript (JST) | jst.doded.mil |
Steps to Request Your Transcript
- 1
Go to jst.doded.mil (or CCAF for Air Force/Space Force)
- 2
Log in with your CAC or DS Logon credentials
- 3
Review your transcript — verify all training and courses are listed
- 4
Send it directly to your target school(s) — most schools accept electronic delivery
How Many Credits You Might Already Have
The number of credits varies by MOS/AFSC, years of service, and training completed. Your JST lists the exact ACE recommendations. Here is what tends to add credit:
20 ACE credits finish one semester (15 credits) early, about $6,500 to $16,000 of tuition from a public four-year to a mid-tier private, and skip one more course — and more importantly, cut months off your degree timeline so you preserve GI Bill entitlement for advanced courses.
Schools That Accept the Most Military Credit
Not all schools are created equal when it comes to accepting military credits. Here's what to look for:
Military-Friendly Designations
Schools with dedicated Veterans Affairs offices and military credit policies tend to accept more ACE credits.
Community Colleges
Often accept the most military credit; check each school's transfer limit for military training.
Regionally Accredited Online Schools
Schools like UMGC, SNHU, WGU, and Excelsior are known for generous military credit acceptance.
Watch Out For
Some schools accept credits as electives only, not toward your major. Ask specifically if credits will apply to degree requirements.
College Decoded's Military Credit Lookup Tool
College Decoded built a dedicated tool to help you understand your military credit potential before you even request your transcript.
What the Tool Does
Look up ACE credit recommendations by your military occupation code
See estimated credit hours for your specific training and MOS/AFSC
Understand which college courses your training maps to
Plan your degree path knowing what you already have
Combining ACE Credits with CLEP for Maximum Savings
Here's where it gets powerful. ACE credits from your military training plus CLEP exams (which are free for service members through DANTES) can stack to cover a massive portion of your degree.
The Stacking Strategy
Get your ACE transcript — identify credits you already have
Map those credits against your degree requirements
Take free CLEP exams to fill remaining gen-ed requirements
Use your GI Bill for upper-level and major-specific courses only
Example: E-5 with 8 Years of Service
That's nearly a year and a half of college already done — saving GI Bill months and getting you to graduation faster. Use College Decoded's Credit Lab to plan your complete credit strategy.
Related Military Guides
Check Your Military Credits Now
Use College Decoded's ACE Credit Lookup tool to see how many college credits your military training is worth — before you even request your transcript.
Look Up Your Credits