Take Advantage of Career Advancement Accounts for Military Spouses

What Are Career Advancement Accounts for Military Spouses?

If you are military spouse, you may have put your career on hold to move from base to base with your family. Military Career Advancement Accounts (MyCCA) is a program for military spouses cosponsored by the Department of Defense and the Department of Labor to address this challenge. The purpose of the program is to help military spouses develop portable careers that they can take with them as their family relocates.

Am I Eligible for MyCAA?

You are eligible for Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) if you:

• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Are not currently receiving training assistance funded by the U.S. Department of Labor
• Are married to any active-duty service member or activated member of the Reserves

What Does MyCAA Provide?

The Military Career Advancement Account education benefit pays up to $6000 over two years for education, training, licenses, certificates, and degrees in a field identified by the military as a portable career field. MyCAA can be used for any level of post-secondary education, ranging from an associate's degree to a doctoral degree. You may also use MyCAA funds for online college classes. The goals of the MyCAA program are to help military spouses find employment in portable career fields.

If your application for MyCAA funds is approved, you must enroll in at least one course within 90 days of opening your account. You are required to receive a grade of "C" or better in your coursework. You must also be seeking employment in a portable career field.

What Is a Portable Career?

A portable career is a career whose credentials are easily transferred from one location to another or that can be done anywhere. The military has identified a number of career areas as portable:

• Financial Services
• Education
• Health care
• Information technology
• Construction

Training for any occupation within the five areas listed above is eligible for MyCAA education benefits. Additionally, the military has identified specific occupations within a number of other fields as portable. These occupations include chefs, fire fighters, legal secretaries, rehabilitation counselors, and human resources assistants. Check with your program administrator to find out if the career training you are interested in is eligible.

Air Force Family Education Assistance

Army Family Education Assistance

Coast Guard Family Education Assistance

Marines Family Education Assistance

Navy Family Education Assistance

Portable Careers