What This Exam Covers
The Health and Human Development DSST exam covers all aspects of health, including physical fitness, nutrition, mental health, relationships, addiction, disease prevention, and environmental factors.
The exam is very broad, so you will only need a surface knowledge of each area.
Exam at a Glance
| Questions | 100 multiple choice |
| Time | 120 minutes |
| Passing score | 400 (scaled score) |
| College credits | 3 semester hours (typical) |
| Exam fee | $100 (military free) |
What's on the Health and Human Development DSST / DANTES*?
| Category | Weight | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Health, Wellness, and Mind/Body Connection | 20% | Dimensions of wellness, health and lifestyles, Healthy People 2030 Initiative, prevention, mental health and mental illness, behavior change models, health systems |
| Human Development and Relationships | 15% | Reproduction, sexuality, relationships, healthy aging, death and bereavement |
| Addiction | 15% | Addictive behavior, drugs and alcohol, tobacco, other addictions |
| Fitness and Nutrition | 20% | Components of physical fitness, exercise physiology basics, nutrition and its effects on health |
| Risk Factors, Disease, and Disease Prevention | 20% | Infectious diseases (including STIs), the cardiovascular system, types of cancer, immune disorders, diabetes, arthritis, and other chronic disorders, common neurological disorders |
| Safety, Consumer Awareness, and Environmental Concerns | 10% | Safety, intentional injuries and violence, consumer awareness, environmental concerns |
Source: For a full breakdown of what is on the exam, see the DSST / DANTES Health and Human Development exam fact sheet.
How hard is the Health and Human Development DSST / DANTES*?
This is one of the easier DSST exams because you have probably come across some of the knowledge in your everyday life.
No scientific background is required because the exam tests general health knowledge rather than clinical or technical knowledge. Many can study in as little as a week, but a month will be more than enough time.
How to study for the Health and Human Development DSST / DANTES*
- Work through the InstantCert flashcards with extra attention on the disease and risk factors. Cardiovascular disease, cancer types, STI transmission, and immune disorders are heavily tested and require specific vocabulary to get right.
- Download some free official sample questions.
- Crash Course Health and Anatomy is a good free video resource. The episodes are short, visual, and cover a lot of the material you will need to know.
What score do you need to pass?
A score of 400 is the standard passing threshold at most institutions. Credit typically counts toward a health, physical education, or general elective requirement.
Confirm with your institution how the credit applies before you start to study, as different schools have different policies. Passing the exam earns credit with no letter grade. Fail and the attempt does NOT appear on your transcript at all.
Can you pass Health and Human Development DSST / DANTES* with just flashcards?
Yes, many of our students have passed with only the flashcards. The material is broad but not deep, and the flashcards help you memorize what you need to know.
1,499 out of 1,555 students who submitted results passed, which is a 96% pass rate (last updated 2026).
Health and Human Development DSST / DANTES* vs. taking the class
A semester of health at a community college typically costs a few hundred dollars. At a four-year university, a single course runs $1,000 to $3,000 or more. The DSST gets you the same 3 credit hours for $100, and active duty military pay nothing.
| Exam fee | $100 (military free) |
| Typical tuition equivalent | $700–$3,000+ (one semester) |
| Credits earned | 3 semester hours (typical) |
| Time to prepare | 3–4 weeks self-study |
| GPA impact | None, pass/fail only |
| Failed attempt on transcript | No |
For students who want the credit and have any familiarity with health topics from everyday life, this is an easy credit to test out of. If you are pursuing a health-related career and want the structured classroom environment, professor feedback, and discussions, the class has more value.
Happy testing!