What is the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) program?

The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts Program (MyCAA) is a career development and employment assistance program sponsored by the Department of Defense (DoD). MyCAA helps military spouses pursue licenses, certificates, certifications or Associate’s Degree (excluding Associate’s Degrees in General Studies, Liberal Arts, and Interdisciplinary Studies that do not have a concentration) necessary for gainful employment in high demand, high growth Portable Career Fields and Occupations.

MyCAA provides a maximum education benefit of up to $4,000 with an annual fiscal year cap of $2,000 to assist eligible military spouses in acquiring a professional credential needed to meet their Portable Career goal. Annual cap waivers are available if there is an upfront tuition cost that exceeds $2,000 (up to the maximum education benefit of $4,000).

MyCAA Quick FAQs

  • What does MyCAA pay for?
  • What does MyCAA NOT pay for?
  • Are spouses required to complete their courses, certification or license in a certain timeframe?
  • Who is eligible for MyCAA?
  • Who is NOT eligible for MyCAA?
  • Is MyCAA a loan?

What does MyCAA pay for?

MyCAA pays for tuition costs for education and training courses and examinations leading to an Associate’s Degree (excluding Associate’s Degrees in General Studies, Liberal Arts, and Interdisciplinary Studies that do not have a concentration), license, certificate or certification at an accredited college, university, or technical school in the United States or approved testing organization that expands employment or portable career opportunities for military spouses.

What does MyCAA NOT pay for?

Tuition for courses and examinations that are not included in the spouse’s Education and Training Plan and those that have already started or been completed by the spouse

  • Reimbursements of any kind
  • Books, supplies, equipment, uniforms, computers and electronic devices of any kind
  • Student activities, events and entertainment
  • Pre-payment/deposits for future courses, unless costs are part of a block of study
  • School or college level entrance examinations, comprehensive exams and related preparatory courses
  • Courses, tests or fees normally paid by an employer as part of a job training program
  • Non-academic credit or ungraded courses, including courses taken on an audit basis or as an internship, practicum, apprenticeship, or clinical supervision; also, orientation programs that are non-academic credit or ungraded
  • Courses taken more than one time unless MyCAA has received a full refund from the school
  • Academic credit by examination tests (e.g. CLEP, etc.)
  • General Studies, Liberal Arts, Interdisciplinary Associate’s Degrees that do not have a concentration
  • Personal enrichment courses (excluding courses that are academic credit/graded electives in an approved
  • MyCAA Spouse Education and Training Plan)
  • Transportation, lodging, child care, and medical services
  • Course Extensions (except for approved hardship waivers)
  • Study Abroad Programs (excluding programs of study offered by participating MyCAA schools on overseas military bases)
  • Private licenses (Example: A private pilot’s license would not be covered because it is for recreational use but a commercial pilot’s license would be covered because it would be used for an occupation)
  • High school completion programs, including online high school completion programs
  • CEU’s to maintain a standing in a professional organization

Are military spouses required to complete their courses, certification or license in a certain timeframe?

Are military spouses required to complete their courses, certification or license in a certain timeframe?

Who is eligible for MyCAA?

Spouses of service members on active duty in pay grades E-1 to E-5, W-1 to W-2, and O-1 to O-2 who can start and complete their coursework while their military sponsor is on Title 10 military orders, including spouses married to members of the National Guard and Reserve Components in these same pay grades.

Who is NOT eligible for MyCAA?

  • Spouses married to service members in pay grades: E-6 and above; W-3 and above; and O-3 and above
  • Spouses who are a member of the armed forces themselves currently on Title 10 orders
  • Spouses who are married but legally separated (or under court order or statute of any state or US territory) from a member of the armed forces on Title 10 orders
  • Spouses whose National Guard/Reserve Component military sponsor is in a Warning Orders/Alert, Post
  • Deployment/Demobilization or Transition Status
  • Spouses married to a member of the Coast Guard
  • Spouses who have participated and used over $4,000 in the DoD-DoL Career Advancement Accounts (CAA) Pilot Program
  • Spouses who are unable to start and complete their course(s) while their military sponsor is on Title 10 orders

Is MyCAA a loan?

MyCAA is considered a scholarship, not a loan or other type of repayable financial aid.