FTA Application Timeline:

You may request Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) up to 60 days prior to your class start date, but you MUST request FTA at least 7 full days before a class starts to secure funding. FTA requests are submitted and approved, individually, on a class-by-class basis. If your request is not approved, you will receive an email from a counselor in Army Ignited with instructions on how to correct the error and resubmit the request.

Prior to requesting Federal TA, you must complete some prerequisites. Due to new requirements first time users will need to complete a DANTES Kuder Journey assessment at: https://dantes.kuder.com/. New FTA users can download their Kuder Journey "One Page Summary" after they complete the 3 assessments and upload that document when creating an ed goal in lieu of Career Path Decide.
Next you must review the ArmyIgnitED 101 training. A recorded version of the briefing is available on the public MS Teams page and on our YouTube https://youtu.be/H4Ksr6dF5sc    

FTA Guidelines:

• FTA cannot be used toward a lower or lateral degree.
• FTA will only be issued toward one degree or credential at a time.
• Soldiers must maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 upon completion of 15 SHs (or equivalent) of FTA funded undergraduate credit, or a GPA of 3.0 after completion of 6 SHs (or equivalent) of FTA funded graduate credit.
• Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship recipients are not eligible for FTA.

FTA Time and Grade Conditions:

• Soldiers must reimburse the Army for any FTA received if they drop classes for personal reasons or do not successfully complete a class.
• Non-successful grades are defined as an “F” or a “D” (or equivalents) for undergraduate courses, an “F”, a “D” or a “C” (or equivalents) for graduate.

Combining Benefits

• Soldiers may use FTA and MGIB-SR (Chapter 1606) benefits during the same semester and use FTA and 1606 for the same course as long as they are attending at least half-time. The use of all other Veterans’ education benefits to supplement TA is authorized in accordance with applicable VA guidelines.  VA Education contact number: 1-888-442-4551
• Soldiers may use the State Tuition Assistance Program with Federal Tuition Assistance but funding will not exceed total tuition and fee amount. (school must be headquartered in Texas to qualify for STA) 

Transition Certificate Policy:

• The Army provides an additional 21 semester hour (SH) allocation intended to help all Soldiers update or gain new skills to enhance post-service transition.
• The Transition Certificate policy applies to all Soldiers, including those who have already used undergraduate and graduate semester hour allocations, by providing up to 21 SHs to earn a Transition Certificate.
• Soldiers desiring to earn a certificate, but who are not planning on transitioning out of the Army (or are not within three years of ETS) may still use FTA to earn a certificate.
• Soldiers may not request TA for a Transition Certificate within five years of completing a previous certificate.

Active Duty/Reserve Duty Service Obligation (ADSO/RDSO):

• Active Duty Commissioned Officers or Commissioned Warrant Officers incur a 2-year ADSO.
• Reserve Component Officers or Commissioned Warrant Officers incur a 4-year RDSO.
• The ADSO/RDSO begins after the last day of the last course for which TA is provided unless involuntarily separated by the Army.

Federal Tuition Assistance provides financial assistance to Soldiers pursuing a degree and/or certificate.  Current Army policy limits Federal Tuition Assistance to:

• 130 undergraduate semester hours
• 39 graduate semester hours
• 21 certificate semester hours
• 21 "transition" certificate semester hours
• Up to $250 per semester hour (No Fees)
• 18 semester hours per fiscal year (1 OCT – 30 SEP)

Visit: www.armyignited.army.mil

Army Medical Program (AMEDD, IPAP):

• Soldiers may use FTA to take pre-requisite courses for Army Medical Programs (AMEDD, IPAP, etc.).
• If you wish to receive Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) for an Army medical program (e.g., U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD), Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP)) prerequisite course, you must complete the GoArmyEd VIA Decision tool (even if you are not pursuing a degree in GoArmyEd). 
• Review to the Army Medical Program FTA Registration process to apply. 

Specialized Chaplain Certificate Program

• Chaplains are authorized FTA for up to 18 semester hours beyond the master’s degree or current graduate semester hour limit leading to one certificate: an academic certificate, program of preparation for certification, licensure, or capstone certification in an area of specialization regardless of one’s previous educational achievements. ADSO/RDSO applies.
• Must be an Army Chaplain with a master’s level degree or higher.
• Coursework / Certificate program must be in:  Marriage and Family Therapy, Counseling, Pastoral Counseling, or Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).
• Must provide a documented plan in Soldier’s eFile in GoArmyEd.

Army Strategic Foreign Languages Program

• Federal Tuition Assistance is authorized for non-degree oriented languages listed on the Army Strategic Language lists.
• Host-nation language courses for Soldiers assigned OCONUS are authorized FTA for up to 15 semester hours of host-nation language.
• Foreign language courses which are part of a Soldier’s degree plan are authorized for FTA.

Q.  What is the Federal Tuition Assistance program? 
A. The Army’s Tuition Assistance (TA) Program provides financial assistance for voluntary off-duty civilian education programs in support of a Soldier's professional and personal self-development goals.

Q.  Who is eligible for Federal Tuition Assistance? 
A. Active duty, National Guard, and Reserve Soldiers who meet qualifying standards. Commissioned officers incur a service obligation if they use TA.

Q.  Why did the Army make these changes to FTA?  
A: We looked at the Voluntary Education (VOLED) program holistically – TA and CA are both part of VOLED.  We wanted to bring the Army into closer alignment with the other Services and this policy change does that. These changes also help ensure the long-term stability of VOLED programs and maximize benefits for Soldiers based on available funding. 

Q. Will Federal Tuition Assistance always be available? 
A. FTA will be available if there is funding for voluntary education programs. The FTA program depends on approved budgets and/or continuing resolutions. If either the Army, ARNG, or USAR reaches their budget limit for the FY, the program will be temporarily suspended for that component.

Q.  What happens when a Soldier fails to meet course standards with an acceptable grade?   
A. The Army recoups the cost of the course if a Soldier receives an unsuccessful grade.

Q. How much does Federal Tuition Assistance pay towards semester hours? 
A. With this policy change, the Army will pay for up to 18 semester hours a fiscal year. The semester hour cap remains at $250 per semester hour.

Q. Do Soldiers get $4,500 for FTA and $4,500 for CA each year? 
A. The Fiscal Year (FY) annual cap per Soldier is $4,500 TOTAL for TA and CA combined. (CA limit is $2000 per FY). This is an increase from the previous maximum of $4,000 and 16 semester hours per year.

Q. What if the Academic Institution is only $175 per semester hour, can a Soldier exceed the 18 semester hours since there will be money remaining in annual allotment? 
A. No. The semester hour cap is 18 per fiscal year and will not roll over into the next fiscal year.

Q. What if an Academic Institution charges $300 per semester hour? 
A. Tuition Assistance will cover $250 per semester hour and the remaining $50 per semester hour would be the responsibility of the Soldier.

Q. Must a Soldier complete ArmyIgnitED 101 Training if they have already utilized TA or CA? 
A. No, this training is only for first time users of TA and CA. A recorded version of the briefing is available on the public MS Teams page and on the ARNG YouTube channel at:  https://youtu.be/H4Ksr6dF5sc    

Q. Must a Soldier complete Career Path Decide (CPD) prior to using TA if they have already utilized TA previously? 
A. No, CPD is only required for first time users of TA; however, Soldiers are highly encouraged to complete the tool and meet with an education counselor in their education office to help plan their education journey. 

Q. Where do I find Career Path Decide? 
A. Career Path Decide or Kuder Journey assessments can be used to complete this requirement. When a Soldier attempts to utilize TA for the first time, Soldiers can also go to https://careerpathdecide.org/ or https://dantes.kuder.com/  in place of the CPD. In either website, the Soldier will download the completed assessments, then upload that document when creating their education goal in ArmyIgnitED.

Q. I am a Soldier who has an approved 3 SH TA request (TAR) for a January 2025 course where I previously used 15 SH.  That approved request has 1 SH covered by TA and I am student funding the remaining 2 SHs. Once the policy changes take effect and the 2 additional SHs become available can my Ed Center edit my TAR or create an HTAR to get the remaining 2 SHs covered by TA? 
A. No. Ed Centers should not modify TARs that have already been requested and approved and HTARs will not be approved for this situation.  A Soldier who wishes to have the full three SHs described in this situation for a course that starts in January should cancel the approved TAR and create a new TAR for the same class and it will now be fully funded.

Q. What is the TA eligibility status for 09R / 09S?

A: As long as you have a Common Access Card (CAC), you can use FTA provided they are not on any type of ROTC Scholarship.

Q: Does 18 semester hours of FTA-funded classes start at the beginning of the calendar year or at the beginning of the academic year?

A: The 18 semester hour is based on the fiscal year, 1 October to 30 September. FTA requests are associated with the class start date within a fiscal year.

Q.  What is the Tuition Assistance program? 
A. The Army’s Tuition Assistance (TA) Program provides financial assistance for voluntary off-duty civilian education programs in support of a Soldier's professional and personal self-development goals.

Q.  Who is eligible for Tuition Assistance? 
A. Active duty, National Guard, and Reserve Soldiers who meet qualifying standards. Commissioned officers incur a service obligation if they use TA.

Q.  Why did the Army make these changes to TA?  
A: We looked at the Voluntary Education (VOLED) program holistically – TA and CA are both part of VOLED.  We wanted to bring the Army into closer alignment with the other Services and this policy change does that. These changes also help ensure the long-term stability of VOLED programs and maximize benefits for Soldiers based on available funding. 

Q. Will Tuition Assistance always be available? 
A. TA will be available if there is funding for voluntary education programs. The TA program depends on approved budgets and/or continuing resolutions. If either the Army, ARNG, or USAR reaches their budget limit for the FY, the program will be temporarily suspended for that component.

Q.  What happens when a Soldier fails to meet course standards with an acceptable grade?   
A. The Army recoups the cost of the course if a Soldier receives an unsuccessful grade.

Q. How much does Tuition Assistance pay towards semester hours? 
A. With this policy change, the Army will pay for up to 18 semester hours a fiscal year. The semester hour cap remains at $250 per semester hour.

Q. Do Soldiers get $4500 for TA and $4500 for CA each year? 
A. The Fiscal Year (FY) annual cap per Soldier is $4500 TOTAL for TA and CA combined. (CA limit is $2000 per FY). This is an increase from $4000 and 16 semester hours per year.

Q. What if the Academic Institution is only $175 per semester hour, can a Soldier exceed the 18 semester hours since there will be money remaining in annual allotment? 
A. No. The semester hour cap is 18 per fiscal year.

Q. What if an Academic Institution charges $300 per semester hour? 
A. Tuition Assistance will cover $250 per semester hour and the remaining $50 per semester hour would be the responsibility of the Soldier.

Q. Must a Soldier complete ArmyIgnitED 101 Training if they have already utilized TA or CA? 
A. No, this training is only for first time users of TA and CA

Q. Must a Soldier complete Career Path Decide (CPD) prior to using TA if they have already utilized TA previously? 
A. No, CPD is only required for first time users of TA; however, Soldiers are highly encouraged to complete the tool and meet with an education counselor in their education office to help plan their education journey.

Q. Where do I find Career Path Decide? 
A. Though there are links to Career Path Decide within ArmyIgnitED when a Soldier attempts to utilize TA for the first time, Soldiers can also go to https://careerpathdecide.org/.

Q. I am a Soldier who has an approved 3 SH TA request (TAR) for a January 2025 course where I previously used 15 SH.  That approved request has 1 SH covered by TA and I am student funding the remaining 2 SHs. Once the policy changes take effect and the 2 additional SHs become available can my Ed Center edit my TAR or create an HTAR to get the remaining 2 SHs covered by TA? 
A. No. Ed Centers should not modify TARs that have already been requested and approved and HTARs will not be approved for this situation.  A Soldier who wishes to have the full three SHs described in this situation for a course that starts in January should cancel the approved TAR and create a new TAR for the same class and it will now be fully funded.

Q. What is the TA eligibility status for 09R / 09S?

A: Not eligible (must meet the one year after completing Initial Entry Training rule.) Note – If you have prior service (any branch) and meet the one year after AIT/WOBC/BOLC rule, you can use TA provided they are not on any type of ROTC Scholarship.

Q: Does 18 semester hours of TA-funded classes start at the beginning of the calendar year or at the beginning of the academic year?

A: The 18 semester hour is based on the fiscal year, 1 October to 30 September. TA is associated with the class start date within a fiscal year.