MAJOR CHANGES COMING IN 2025 TO THE ARMY CREDENTIALING ASSISTANCE (CA) PROGRAM

No matter which career path you choose, the key to advancing in your field is to continue developing new skills. The military is no different. The Army Credentialing Assistance (CA) Program helps Soldiers earn credentials, advance their careers, and improve their skills which can be used in the civilian world. While this popular military education benefit is still available, cuts are now in effect to help the Army CA Program sustain itself for years to come.

What Is Army CA?

There are over 1,9000 credentials available through the Army CA Program, providing Soldiers with helpful development within their careers as well as with military-to-civilian transition.

Founded in 2020, the program helped with military credentialing in a move many hailed as a positive one.

Today, Soldiers in the program receive up to $2,000 each year to cover the cost of a credential, though some related to aviation only receive as much as $1,000.

Soldiers can receive as many as three credentials within their first decade of serving and after that, they are awarded another three.

If you need to be recertified on credentials previously earned, these efforts won’t count toward your limits but the cost does count towards your annual financial cap.

Keep in mind that Soldiers can combine their Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) and Army CA benefits for a total of $4,500 limit per year. However, Army CA must account for no more than $2,000.

One of the best features of the CA benefits is that it doesn’t have to be related to your MOS. If it’s an option found on Army COOL (Credentialing Opportunities On-Line) and you’re eligible, you can apply for your assistance. Here’s what Army CA covers:

• Classroom expenses

• Manuals

• Processing fees

• Recertification expenses

• Related fees for continuing education requirements

• Study guides

• Test fees

• Textbooks

• Training (hands-on or online/blended)

Note: There are no reimbursements, so be sure to avoid paying for your credentials out of pocket. Army CA pays before the start date of exams/beginning of courses by ACCESS AU.

Qualifying for Credentialing Assistance

To be eligible for the Army CA Program, you’ll need to meet the following criteria:

• You must have an active ArmyIgnitED account that isn’t on hold. However, if you have one of the following holds, they are acceptable: Tier, Civ. Ed. Student Agreement, GPA).

• You can’t be flagged.

• You must have either an ETS or MRD 31+ days after finishing your course(s) and if you’re using the GI Bill, you can’t use them for the same expenses as your CA benefits.

Finally, to qualify for the Army CA Program, Soldiers must take an exam related to their desired credential within 180 days after finishing training. If they do not or fail, they are repaid.

Army COOL (Credentialing Opportunities On-Line)

If you’re interested in the Army CA Program, it’s also important to familiarize yourself with Army COOL.

Rather than providing Soldiers with benefits, Army COOL is where you’ll find all of the credentialing opportunities approved by the DoD for your assistance benefits.

Keep in mind that Army COOL involves credentialing opportunities and not certifications. To learn more, click the link and explore your options.

Changes to Army CA Beginning in 2025

The good news is that the Army CA Program isn’t going away; however, there are some serious changes that are taking place in 2025.

Remember, up to $2,000 is now available, however, Soldiers previously received as much as $4,000 each year.

Beginning in 2025, the one credentialing course per year cap with up to three in ten years goes into effect. While recertifications don’t count towards the course limit, the cost is still counting towards the overall benefit cap.

Fewer Military Education Benefits to Cut Costs

In addition to the compensation changes to the Army CA Program, Officers are also no longer eligible to participate beginning in 2025.

The exact date is still being ironed out, however, with 20% of the users classified as Officers and warrants, it’s a significant chunk of the 27,000 total participants.

In total, 64,000 Soldiers have taken advantage of the opportunity with costs going from $31 million in 2021 to $70 million in 2024.

Because of all of the interest in the program, costs have skyrocketed and to ensure that Army CA is available in the future, cuts are being put into place.

How to Apply to Army CA

To apply for a credential opportunity using the CA Program, Soldiers must request at least 45 calendar days from the course/exam’s start date.

You apply using your Army IgnitED account and must upload the completed MilGears, Explore Careers, and Quick Explorer Tool, download the report, and upload it to your account before you begin pursuing your goal.

For more information before submitting to the Army CA Program, contact your State ESO/ESS to learn more and verify your eligibility.

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