The Army COOL also known as Army Credentialing Assistance (CA) Program provides qualifying soldiers with certifications and licenses related to their current military jobs. This program offers up to $4,000 per fiscal year in career educational benefits. It allows members to earn professional, technical, and industry-recognized civilian credentials in an occupational area of the military members’ choice. Also, it helps them create new career prospects to enrich soldiers’ skills and professionalism while serving and increasing their overall employability upon transitioning.
Basic Eligibility and Sign-Up Rules.
For you to apply for the Army Credentialing Assistance program, you need to complete a minimum amount of required PME (Professional Military Education). First-term service members may be eager to get started, but then, the following must be fulfilled depending on the nature of your soldierly service:
- Officers must be graduates of the Basic Officer Leaders Course.
- Warrant Officers must have graduated from Warrant Officer Basic Course.
- Enlisted Soldiers must have graduated from Advanced Individual Training (AIT)
Note that, even if you have completed Professional Military Education and your military records aren’t updated fully, you will have to wait until the official record shows you are qualified to apply for the program.
Expenses Covered.Â
The Army Credentialing Assistance Program funds can be used for the following credentialing expenses:
- Online/blended training
- Classroom instruction
- Textbooks
- Hands-on training
- Study guides
- Exams
- Materials
- recertification
Army Credentialing Assistance certifications.
Here are some of the most popular certifications you could get if eligible for the Army Credentialing Assistance Program:
- Certified Personal Trainer (CPT)
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Associate Professional in HR (aPHR)
- Private Pilot, Airplane Single Engine
- Certified Logistics Technician (CLT)
- Commercial Driver License (CDL)
- CompTIA A+ CompTIA Security+ Certification
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Certified Welder (CW) Commercial
- Lean Six Sigma
To learn more about thus funding opportunity, go to the nearest Army Education Office.
