Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA)

Notice: Spouses with existing accounts will be allowed to request Financial Assistance for MyCAA funding but new accounts can not be created at this time. MyCAA will not fund any courses that do not have an approved financial assistance document prior to the start date of the course.  All MyCAA participants and active duty military spouses may still receive educational counseling and career guidance from a Military One Source Spouse Education and Career Consultant.  For more information please call Military One Source at (800) 342-9647 or visit the MyCAA page at www.militaryonesource.com/mycaa. 

NOTE: This is NOT the same as the Department of Labor’s initial pilot CAA Program which is currently only available in California, North Carolina and Georgia. Spouses who are currently participating in DoL’s CAA program may also participate in DoD’s new worldwide MyCAA Program.

Program Sponsor:

Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community & Family Policy (DUSD/MC&FP)

Program Description:

The Department of Defense’s expanded Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program is now offering up to $4,000 ($2,000 per year)  to military spouses who are interested in pursuing degree programs, licenses or credentials leading to careers in high growth, high demand portable career fields.

What MyCAA Pays For:

MyCAA financial assistance pays for expenses such as post-secondary education and training, tuition, licensing, and credentialing fees. This includes degree programs (e.g. associates, bachelors, masters, doctoral and post doctoral), continuing education classes (including those offered through professional associations at conferences), Bar, CPA and other similar exams, state certifications for teachers, medical professionals and similar licensed professionals, and services required to become employed in portable career fields (e.g. finger printing, security checks, drug tests, etc.). MyCAA does not pay for computers, school application fees, graduation fees, student activity cards, child care, parking, transportation, medical services or testing fees. NOTE: If the cost of a course includes books, supplies or other necessary equipment, MyCAA will cover that cost. Schools use MyCAA’s AI Portal to bill DoD electronically.

Who Is Eligible:

Spouses of active duty members and activated members of the National Guard and Reserve Components.
The period of eligibility for spouses of Guard and Reserve members is from the date of the Alert or Warning Order for Military Recall or Mobilization, through activation and deployment until 180 days following De-Mobilization.
Military spouses who are military members themselves are not eligible. Military members have education benefits provided through the Military Voluntary Education Tuition Assistance (TA) Program.

Getting Started:

Eligible spouses who are ready to explore portable careers options and develop a career goal and plan should establish a MyCAA account by visiting the MyCAA website ~ https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa This is an easy, self-help process. Once the spouse profile information is provided, DoD will verify MyCAA eligibility through DEERS. The spouse will be notified of his/her eligibility status through the MyCAA messaging system.

Who Can Help Spouses Move Through the MyCAA Program:

Spouses are encouraged to work with their School Academic Advisor or call a Military
OneSource Career/Education Consultant at 1-800-342-9647 if they need help in:

• Establishing a MyCAA Account and signing the MyCAA Statement of Understanding (SOU)
• Choosing a portable career and establishing a career goal
• Developing a career plan (selecting courses, exams, other needed services)
• Looking up school(s) of choice in the MyCAA AI Portal
• Requesting that a new school be added if the school of choice is not already listed
• Requesting up to $6,000 of financial assistance to pay for courses of study or related licensing and credentialing services provided by other agencies (e.g. Bar or CPA exams, state certification exams for teachers and nurses, etc.)

For spouses who experience technical difficulties using the MyCAA website or have forgotten their password, please email MyCAA@InvernessTechnologies.com.

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