What is the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship program?

 

The My Career Advancement Account Scholarship is a workforce development program that provides eligible military spouses with financial assistance for licenses, certifications or associate degrees to pursue an occupation or career field.

 

As part of the Department of Defense Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program, career coaches can assist military spouses with the following:

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Career Exploration:

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Spouse Education and Career Opportunities career coaches help spouses explore all career options with tools like career assessments, interest and skill inventories, portable career statistics, and earning potential metrics.

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Education, Training and Licensing: 

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Spouses work with Spouse Education and Career Opportunities career coaches to create a plan of action that considers financial aid options, education and training program resources, credential and licensing information, and, for eligible spouses, My Career Advancement Account Scholarship. The scholarship provides a maximum education benefit of $4,000 with an annual fiscal year cap of $2,000 to assist eligible military spouses who have completed high school and who need professional credentials to pursue their career goals. Annual cap waivers are available for licensure and certification programs if there is an upfront tuition cost that exceeds $2,000 (up to the maximum education benefit of $4,000).

 

Career Readiness:

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Spouse Education and Career Opportunities career coaches help spouses perfect their resumes and hone their interviewing skills. Coaches also cover job search techniques, relocation planning, and flexible work options.

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Career Connections:

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Spouse Education and Career Opportunities career coaches help spouses get the right job in the right career by leveraging existing relationships and resources, such as the Military Spouse Employment Partnership, USAJOBS.gov, and CareerOneStop.org.

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Who is eligible for the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship?

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The My Career Advancement Account Scholarship Program is open to spouses of active-duty service members, and National Guard and reserve members under Title 10 orders in pay grades E-1 through E-5, W-1 through W-2, and O-1 through O-2. The authorization of the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) allows military spouses to remain eligible for the financial assistance offered through the MyCAA scholarship if their sponsor is promoted above the eligible ranks as long as the spouse has an approved education and training plan in place.

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• Spouses who have completed high school or obtained a GED

• Spouses who have financial assistance document(s) approved before the active-duty service member’s date of separation or the active-duty service member’s release from Title 10 military orders

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Who is NOT eligible for the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship?

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• Spouses married to service members in pay grades E-6 and above; W-3 and above; and O-3 and above. The authorization of the fiscal 2020 NDAA allows military spouses to remain eligible for the financial assistance offered through the MyCAA scholarship if their sponsor is promoted above the eligible ranks as long as the spouse has an approved education and training plan in place

• Spouses who are a member of the armed forces themselves currently on Title 10 orders

• Spouses who are married but legally separated (or under court order or statute of any state or US 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/Alert, Post Deployment/ Demobilization or Transition Status

• Spouses who are unable to apply for financial assistance while their military sponsor is on Title 10 orders or before the sponsor’s date of separation