Joint Service Transcripts

As of 2013, the Sailor-Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART) has been replaced by the Joint Service Transcript (JST). The JST can be used by Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel to assists academic institutions in awarding credit for military occupational experience and training.


Joint Service Transcripts

As of 2013, the Sailor-Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART) has been replaced by the Joint Service Transcript (JST). The JST can be used by Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel to assists academic institutions in awarding credit for military occupational experience and training.

What is the Joint Service Transcript?

The Joint Service Transcript provides recommended college credit for military occupational experience and training. These recommendations are made by the American Council on Education (ACE), which publishes the "Guide to the Evaluation of Learning Experiences in the Armed Services," to be used by colleges and universities around the country.

By receiving credit for military experience, military personnel may reduce their tuition expenses and complete degree programs more quickly. The JST is available for all active and reserve Sailors and Marines and Sailors who separated or retired on or after January 1, 1975 or Marines who separated or retired on or after January 1, 1990.

How do You Get a Joint Service Transcript?

To receive a Joint Service Transcript, qualified military personnel can register via the JST website to have a transcript created online. The official copy will then be sent directly to the designated college or university. Academic institutions will not accept transcripts directly from the service member. JSTs are free and there is no limit to the number that can be requested.

Who Accepts the Joint Service Transcript?

Academic institutions establish their own policies on accepting transfer credits. The amount of credits awarded will depend on each school's policy and the degree program the service member is enrolled in. Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Navy (SOCNAV) and Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Marine Corps (SOCMAR) have agreed to accept military experiences for credit toward a degree.

What is on the Joint Service Transcript?

  1. American Council on Education (ACE) credit recommendations for:
    • Military occupations held - ratings, Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs), certain Navy Enlisted Classifications (NECs), and Limited Duty Officer/Chief Warrant Officer (LDO/CWO) specialties.
    • Military training courses that have been completed.
    • College-level examinations taken at a military testing site (CLEP, DSSTs, Excelsior Examinations, DLPT).
  2. Other Learning Experiences - military courses taken for which there are no matching ACE credit recommendations and an explanation of why this is relevant.
  3. Summary Transcript - a streamlined overview of all the credits ACE recommends in a format that closely resembles many college transcripts.
  4. Tuition Assistance (TA)/Navy College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE) funded courses.
  5. Academic degrees and certificates earned from institutions accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the Department of Education.
  6. Non-academic certifications and licensures.
  7. Degrees from foreign colleges/institutions of higher education, if the transcript is from a college/institution that is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

My experience with using the SMART transcripts was very pleasant but a little time consuming. Finding the information necessary for this to happen was not easy and hardly anyone knew what I was talking about at my college. I had to personally research and find the website and then request the transcript to be mailed to my institution. This was a lengthy process because it took 4-6 weeks for the school to receive it in the mail and then it took the university about 2 weeks to verify and calculate which training and experiences to count as credit towards my graduation. They eventually accepted 16 credit hours towards my electives so that I could just focus on my primary classes. If I had not known about the SMART transcripts then it could have been a significantly worse experience.

-Brian, USMC Veteran

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