Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) - Army Only
General Information
This is an Army only program. Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) pays up to $250 per semester hour for up 18 credits each fiscal year (Oct. 01 - Sept. 30). Soldiers are limited to $4,500 per year. FTA goes toward tuition only; it does not pay for any fees. Service members can use State Tuition Assistance (STA) for additional costs.
Soldiers must complete ArmyIgnitED 101 training and Career Path Decide (CPD) prior to creating an education goal.
Eligibility
- Apply for funding based on the current class schedule
- The school will be paid directly based on the funding approval
- First associate and/or bachelor’s degree, master's degree or an academic certificate
- Part-time or Full-time enrollment
- Member must be actively drilling, cannot be flagged, and the class must end before the member’s Expiration - Term of Service (ETS) date.
How to Apply
REQUIRED AS OF 11 DEC 2024: View ArmyIgnitED 101 training at https://youtu.be/H4Ksr6dF5sc and send ArmyIgnitED message stating: "I reviewed the ArmyIgnitED 101 slide presentation and completed my required training on TODAY's DATE".
Go to https://careerpathdecide.org/career-planning/build-your-targetto complete a Goals Report, or they can select one of the other decision support tools listed in ArmyIgnitED.
You should save the report as a PDF file to upload to ArmyIgnitED in the Decision Support Tool menu. Upload the file and click SUBMIT.
For first time TA users, look at the Career Path Decide Process Tutorial.
This must be completed prior to creating an education goal.
Create and/or update your account at https://armyignited.cce.af.mil/student/account/login
Complete the Virtual Benefits Training in ArmyIgnitED.
- From the left side menu, click Education programs
- Click Education Programs to expand the drop-down
- Select Virtual Benefits Training (VBT)
- Select Guard VBT link
- Read all virtual benefits training information and sign at the bottom
Establish an Education Goal in AIED (Follow the Create Ed Goal Tutorial.)
Enter your supervisor’s information in ArmyIgnitED.
- On the left side menu, select Supervisor (FTA/CA) link
- Enter your supervisor's name, phone number, and 2 emails
It is highly recommended that you enter 2 different email addresses - Reach out to your supervisor to let them know you have submitted an FTA request that is awaiting their approval
- Your supervisor will receive an email with a link that takes them to your request
Request that an official Joint Service Transcript be sent to your school. See details on how to request official JST here https://jst.doded.mil/official.html.
Download a degree audit from your student portal or contact your Academic Institution and request an Evaluated Degree Plan (EDP) from your advisor.
Minimum requirements will show the school's name, the student’s name, the degree being pursued, total number of Semester Hours (SHs), and/or courses required to complete the degree, courses/credits already completed that were applied towards the degree program, and the total number of hours remaining. (An EDP is required upon completion of two classes funded through ArmyIgnitED.)
If you provide a manually created degree progress report/evaluated degree plan, it must be on school letterhead and be signed and dated by your advisor. Look at the sample EDP.
After your Education Goal is approved, you can request Tuition Assistance for your upcoming courses. You can only request 2 classes or up to 6 credits until an evaluated degree plan is on file.
You must have your TA request submitted and approved, no earlier than 60 days prior to the course start, but also No Later than 8 Days prior to the start.
Once your TA is approved, print your TA authorization and submit it to your education institute. Educational institutions have varying requirements for submission. Make sure you are following your school’s latest guidance. If you are unsure where to submit, contact your school’s third-party billing official in the student office for additional guidance.
Important Information
Submitting a Tuition Assistance request does not enroll you in the course. You must register for the course at your Academic Institution.
With the new ArmyIgnitED 2.0, Soldiers must request tuition assistance in the system no earlier than 60 days and no later than eight days prior to the class start date.
Submit requests for wait-listed classes. The Education Office can assist with removing requests if you do not get in.
A Soldier may pre-register for a course to secure a slot.
Apply for State Tuition Assistance after applying for Federal Tuition Assistance.
All Tuition Assistance must be approved prior to the start date of the course; however, if a class is canceled at the last minute and you select a new course or if you drop a course, the Education Office can assist with adjusting your TA.
If an eligible Soldier decides to use Tuition Assistance, Academic Institutions will enroll him/her as TA-funded only after the TA is approved by the Army.
Soldiers will be solely responsible for all tuition costs without this prior approval.
Tuition Assistance is approved on a course-by-course basis and only for the specific course(s) and class dates that a Soldier requests.
If you find an error on your TA request
Start by contacting the education office. We can often fix the problem - even after the start date.
Call us before you delete or remove it.
Army Credentialing Assistance
General Information - includes program changes December 2024
Enlisted Soldiers and Warrant Officers are eligible for CA. Officers 01 - 010 are no longer eligible
Can pay up to $2,000 per fiscal year toward training costs, fees, books, supplies, exams, etc. for credentials listed on Army COOL
Soldiers are limited to one credential per fiscal year for credentialing assistance.
Soldiers are limited to three credentials for 10 years of service for credentialing assistance.
Soldiers who receive credentialing assistance funding for training must take the associated examination. Soldier who don’t take the exam within 180 days of completing the training or fail the exam will be required to repay the total amount of credentialing assistance.
The $1K fiscal year limit for selected aviation credentials applies to all Army Components (Active, ARNG, and USAR).
Soldiers must complete Credentialing Assistance 101 training and MilGears prior to requesting credentialing assistance.
Visit Army Cool to review approved credentials and vendors and see step-by-step instructions for applying.
Eligibility
- If you are using FTA and CA, the $4,500 is shared between both programs. CA may be used with any vendor that that is listed on the approved vendor list on the Army COOL web site.
- Must be actively drilling, cannot be flagged, and your class end date must be before your ETS date.
Air Credentialing Assistance
General Information
The Air Force Voluntary Credentialing Program enables eligible and authorized Air Force and Space Force Professionals to obtain and maintain professional certifications that will enhance their career opportunities while serving in the military as well as increasing their competitiveness in advancing their post-military civilian careers.- $4,500 Lifetime Cap allowance to obtain certifications.
- Up to $500 per goal for study materials.
- Many AFSC-related certifications (up to the cap).
- One non-AFSC related credential.
- One completed degree related credential.
- Reimbursement for 60 days from separation or retirement.
- No recoupment if grades or refund provided (not including non-AFSC credential).
- ANG and AFRS must be on Title 10 or Title 32 (502)F orders for the entire duration of the certification process.
Air Force Credentialing Assistance Handbook
Air AGR Federal Tuition Assistance
(Permanent & Temporary)
Basic Details
- For Air Guard members on AGR orders (either permanent or temporary)
- $4500 for Tuition Assistance each Federal Fiscal Year (1 Oct - 30 Sep)
- TA is capped at $250 per semester hour (or $166 per quarter hour)
- Temporary AGRs and members on Deployment are eligible for this program
- Applications are routed using the Air Force Virtual Education Center online platform (AFVEC requires a CAC card)
Airmen may apply for tuition assistance up to 45 days prior to the start of their class date.