How Long Are ASVAB Scores Valid? Two Years, With Fine Print
ASVAB scores can be used for enlistment for up to two years from the test date. What that means for school ASVAB scores, PiCAT, and retests.
Two years. The official ASVAB FAQ says your scores "may be used for enlistment for up to two years from the date of testing." That's the short answer. The fine print — school tests, at-home tests, retests — is where people get surprised.
The two-year clock
The clock starts on the date you tested, not the date you got your results or talked to a recruiter. If you tested on October 20, 2026, those scores can be used for enlistment for up to two years from that date.
Past that point, plan on testing again. If you're close to the edge, ask your recruiter how your enlistment timeline lines up with your test date.
If you took the ASVAB at school
Many students first take the ASVAB in high school, through the ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP). According to the official FAQ, those scores can also be used to enlist for up to two years after the test date, "provided that they can be verified as being yours."
There's one extra step for some students. If you took it through School Staff Testing (SST), you must take a Verification Test (Vtest) before the scores can be used for enlistment.
A few more differences between the school test and the enlistment test, from the official site:
- The content is the same, except Assembling Objects, which is given in the enlistment program but not the student one.
- The reports are different. Students get three composite scores — Verbal Skills, Math Skills, and Science and Technical Skills. The enlistment program reports an AFQT and each branch's composite scores for job assignment.
Tell your recruiter you tested at school. It may save you a test — or it may not, depending on the date and how it was given.
If you took the PiCAT at home
The PiCAT is an unproctored, online version of the computer ASVAB that you take with an access code from a recruiter. The official rules that matter for timing:
| Step | Official limit |
|---|---|
| Access code | Expires 30 days after it's issued |
| Finishing the test | Within 48 hours of starting |
| Verification Test (Vtest) at a MEPS or testing site | Within 45 days of taking the PiCAT |
The Vtest is much shorter — the official site says it generally takes 25 to 30 minutes — and you don't get a score from it. It only confirms your PiCAT result. If the Vtest is successful, your PiCAT scores become your official scores of record.
The PiCAT can be taken only once, and only by people who have never taken the ASVAB before.
Retesting resets your score
If you retake the ASVAB, the newer result becomes the one that's used. goarmy.com: "your most recent score — not your highest — will be used." So a retest is not a way to "refresh" an old score without risk: if the new one is lower, the lower one counts.
The retest waiting periods are fixed: one calendar month after the first test, one more month for the second retest, then six months between every retest after that. ASVAB Retake Rules covers the full policy, including the confirmation test triggered by a gain of 20 or more points.
When you'll see your scores
That depends on how you test:
- Computer test at a MEPS or testing site: scores are available right after your session.
- Paper-and-pencil test (given at only a handful of sites): answer sheets are scanned at the MEPS, which usually takes a few days.
- PiCAT: you don't see scores right away; you contact the recruiter who registered you.
Make the two years count
A valid score is only useful if it's the score you want. If you're planning to test in the coming months, find out where you stand first. Our free practice test covers the four AFQT sections with the computer version's time limits and ends with an AFQT estimate — a practice estimate, not an official score.
Already have scores? The calculator turns your VE, AR and MK standard scores into an AFQT percentile and category:
Work out your AFQT score from your VE, AR and MKOpen the calculator →Quick answers
Do ASVAB scores expire?
They can be used for enlistment for up to two years from the date of testing, according to the official ASVAB FAQ.
Can I use my high school ASVAB scores to enlist?
Yes, within two years of the test date, if they can be verified as yours. If you tested through School Staff Testing, you'll need a Verification Test first.
Can I take the PiCAT again?
No. The official site says the PiCAT can be taken only once, and only by people who have never taken the ASVAB before.
If I retake the ASVAB, which score is used?
Your most recent one, according to goarmy.com — even if it's lower.
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