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Education Benefits & Services

Credentialing Assistance Program

The Army Credentialing Assistance Program provides funding for training and exams that lead to industry-recognized academic or vocational credentials.

Search Army COOL Credentials

What Is It?

The Army Credentialing Assistance Program provides funding for training and exams leading to an industry-recognized academic or vocational credential. Soldiers can choose from over 1,700 credentials listed in Army COOL. Credentials do not have to be linked to the Soldier's MOS.

How Do I Qualify?

  • E1–E9 and W01–W05
  • Currently serving in good standing in the TXARNG with a Common Access Card
  • Not flagged
  • Have an ETS or MRD with 31 or more days remaining in service after completion of the CA-funded course or exam
New Changes: Command approval is required for all CA requests within 5 days after Soldier submission. Commissioned Officers O1–O10 are no longer eligible for CA. Soldiers with two recoupment actions in the same fiscal year will be suspended from requesting CA for 12 months.

What Do I Get?

One credential up to $2,000 per fiscal year.
Three credentials over 10 years of service.
Maximum of $1,000 per year for select aviation-related credentials.
Pays for course training, materials, supplies, textbooks, and exams.
Can be used for any credential listed on Army COOL and does not have to match the Soldier's MOS.
Expenses are paid before the course or exam start date. Soldiers who pay out of pocket will not be reimbursed.
Soldiers must take the associated exam and have 180 days to submit a CA request for the exam.
Soldiers may be recouped if the required exam is not passed.

How Do I Apply?

Step 1: Search for Your Credential

Ensure your credential is listed on the Army COOL website before submitting a request.

Search Army COOL Credentials

Step 2: Apply in ArmyIgnitED

Submit your Credentialing Assistance request online before the course or exam start date.

Apply in ArmyIgnitED

First-Time CA Requests

Soldiers requesting Credentialing Assistance for the first time must complete the following:

Credentialing Assistance Overview

Credentialing Assistance (CA) provides funding for courses, training, certifications, recertifications, and exams leading to an industry-recognized academic or vocational credential.

Funding Limit

Soldiers are limited to $2,000 per fiscal year for CA. The $2,000 comes from the total $4,500 Army education benefit limit.

Credential Limit

Soldiers are limited to one credential per fiscal year. Recertifications of previously earned credentials do not count toward this limit.

Service Limit

Soldiers are limited to three credentials for their first 10 years of service. After completing 10 years of service, Soldiers are eligible for three additional credentials. Recertifications do not count toward the three-credential maximum.

Not Authorized For

Credentialing Assistance is not authorized for mandated MOS-related credentials.

View MOS-Mandated Credential List

What CA Covers

Manuals
Study Guides
Textbooks
Processing Fees
Exam Fees
Training

Army eLearning: Save Money

Save your Credentialing Assistance funds by using Army eLearning's free training resources and applying CA funds toward certification exams.

Army eLearning offers more than 3,500 web-based courses in Information Technology, Business, Leadership, and Personal Development. Soldiers can use Army eLearning for free training and use Credentialing Assistance to pay for exams.

Credential Prep

  • Six Sigma Green, Black, and Yellow Certification
  • Project Management CAPM and PMP
  • Human Resource Certifications PHR, SPHR, and SHRM

Technical Training

  • CompTIA
  • Adobe
  • Microsoft
  • Amazon
  • Google
  • Cisco

Resources

Visit Army eLearning

Download Army eLearning Instructions

Includes free study guides, training materials, and test preparation resources.