Armed Forces Education Funding
Credentialing Assistance and Scholarships
It is an honor to support and enhance the educational achievement of military members and their spouses.
A credential in a particular field can be just as important as a traditional academic degree, or more so in some areas. Prepare for Industry Certification Online!
Popular Course Areas:
- Certified Paralegal (NALA)
- Certified Personal Trainer (NASM)
- Certified Six Sigma Black Belt
- Cisco CCNA Certification Training
- CompTIA A+ Certification Training
- CompTIA Security+ Certification Training
- Human Resources Professional (aPHR, PHR)
- HVAC Certified Technician (HVAC/R)
- Medical Billing and Coding (CBCS, CCA)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
The MyCAA Scholarship helps you be successful on your path with:
- An individualized coaching session with a SECO career coach
- An Education and Training Plan
- Up to $4,000 of tuition assistance
- Valuable SECO tools, such as the Trait Personality Assessment
Your My Career Advancement Account and My Spouse Education and Career Opportunities account work together to help you meet your education and career goals. The MyCAA Scholarship application process leverages your MySECO profile and connects you to a career coach to help you make smart educational decisions and prepare you for a career that works with your military family’s mobile life.
Check Your Eligibility
The first step in applying for the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship is to determine if you are eligible. Our system will check your eligibility when you log in with your DS Logon. More detailed information on eligibility can be found in the MyCAA FAQs.
Eligible spouses include:
- Spouses of active-duty service members in pay grades E-1 to E-5, W-1 to W-2 and O-1 to O-2 who have successfully completed high school and have the ability to request tuition assistance while their military sponsor is on Title 10 military orders are eligible.
- Spouses married to members of the National Guard and reserves in these same pay grades are eligible.
Those who are not eligible include the following:
- Spouses who are married but legally separated (or under court order or statute of any state or U.S. territory) from a member of the armed forces on Title 10 orders.
- Spouses whose National Guard or reserve military sponsor is in a warning orders or alert, post-deployment, demobilization or transition status.
To begin the registration, follow directions at the MyCAA site.
Next Steps
Call the SECO Career Center to schedule your MyCAA coaching session with a SECO career coach.
Request a MyCAA Education and Training plan from our MyCAA Technician. This plan includes your career goal and information about your chosen school, program and coursework. Your Education and Training plan must be approved before receiving financial assistance. Plans are reviewed and approved in the order in which they are received and can take up to 14 business days.
Save Time and Complete PrerequisitesSave time by completing prerequisite items first.
The MyCAA Scholarship application requires DS Logon. This is the same log in you may use to access TRICARE Online or MySECO. If you do not have a DS Logon or need to activate or upgrade, you can complete that on Log in or Sign up .
Have Questions?
Review the FAQs to get answers to:
- Who is eligible to participate in the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship program?
- What the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship funding does and does not pay for?
- What is a MyCAA Scholarship Education and Training Plan?
- How to get additional information, assistance and more?
What can I do to help get my scholarship funds?
It’s important to stay up to date on the status of your MyCAA scholarship application. Check back daily for replies and requests for additional information to ensure the process runs smoothly. If you are not sure where to start, contact us to speak with a MyCAA specialist who can walk you through the application process and create the training plan that fits your goals.
Still want help? Call Military OneSource to speak to a Career Coach at 800-342-9647
Additional Connections:
- Military spouses living in the continental US - call 800-342-9647 to speak with a certified Military OneSource - Spouse Education & Career Opportunities (SECO) Career Coach.
- Military spouses located overseas need to call collect to 703-253-7599 or find international dialing instructions for your specific location on Military OneSource International Calling Options.
- Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Interim Program Specialist, 361-825-5967 (US) or continuing.ed@tamucc.edu. Office Hours: 0800 -1700 (CST).
Air Force Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (AF COOL)
COOL is a one-stop for airmen to explore credentials recognized by the civilian community that can enhance airmen's current performance in their Air Force job as well as help prepare for civilian employment. It allows active duty enlisted Airmen to obtain unlimited primary 5-skill level AFSC related credentials. Also, the program offers leadership/management credentials for SNCOs. It can be used to:
- Get background information about civilian licensure and certification in general and specific information on individual credentials including eligibility requirements and resources to prepare for an exam.
- Identify licenses and certifications relevant to Air Force Specialties
- Learn how to fill gaps between Air Force training and experience and civilian credentialing requirements.
- Learn about resources available to Airmen members that can help them gain civilian job credentials.
Popular Course Areas:
- Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Certified Manager (CM)
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
- CompTIA Security+ ce
- Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)
- Professional in Human Resources (PHR)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)
ARMY CREDENTIALING Program (Army official website)
Army Credentialing and Continuing Education Services for Soldiers (information taken from the Army University official website).
To speed you up on things, Army Credentialing Assistance (CA) pays for training, exam fees, and other expenses related to the attainment or recertification of credentials up to an annual ceiling of $4,000 for Active Duty, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard Soldiers who want to pursue trainings that lead to credentials while in service or when preparing for the transition to civilian life. Army CA is designed to help Soldiers earn in-demand, industry-recognized credentials while expanding both personal and professional development. For more information, go to Army Credentialing Assistance (CA Program) COOL.
*There are multiple Army-approved credentialing opportunities from which you can choose to enhance your skills.
Requesting Army CA funding: The process of being approved for and enrolled in a course can take 30 days, so it is important to determine your eligibility and find a credential that is approved for the funding. This is where we come in to help you understand details and answer your questions. Reach out to us today to get started.
FAQ's:
What class materials are covered?
Certification focused training courses, Study Guides, Materials, Textbooks, Exams, and Recertifications are all a part of the covered costs from Army CA Funding.
Why are certification credentials Important?
Many military and civilian business sectors have developed industry-recognized certifications to ensure their workforce is equipped with adequate skills and specialized knowledge. In addition, certifications are often seen as the benchmark needed to enter and advance in specific industries. You can prepare for career advancement or a transition with courses that align with certifications. Gaining these certificates now can offer a smoother transition into civilian employment or advancement opportunities in your military career, allowing you to translate your military experience onto your resume.
What kind of career-focused courses can you take?
This program features many career specialties that you can explore like IT, Business, Healthcare, etc. These areas are intended to enhance your current skill set or develop needed skills to advance in a civilian career. Explore more courses today.
When can you start applying for the Army CA Program?
Eligible Soldiers can apply for Army CA funding immediately. The Army CA program launched in 2020 and is now available Army-wide.
How is Army CA different from Federal Tuition Assistance (TA)?
TA cannot be used for a lower or lateral degree from what a Soldier already possesses. On the other hand, Army CA funding can be requested for training that leads to (or renews) a new or additional credential, license, or certification.
Can you use Tuition Assistance and Army Credentialing Assistance simultaneously?
Yes, Soldiers may combine Army TA and Army CA funding. However, the combined funding cannot exceed the $4,000 annual limit.
Navy Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL)
We offer the following training certification programs:
Lean Six Sigma Funding Opportunities