IT Career Pathing with Army COOL
As an active-duty service member, you have several financial assistance options that can help you to advance your career during and after the military. The best place to start is usually with Tuition Assistance or Credentialing Assistance. These Army COOL programs offer up to $4,000 in grant funding.
Credentialing Assistance programs all prepare you to secure professional licenses and certifications. That’s important if you’re interested in a military promotion, since training and demonstrated competence are weighted heavily in considering a servicemember’s potential for advancement.
Planning for Beyond the Military
An industry-recognized credential can also set you up for civilian advancement. In the IT industry, for example, you can start with an IT Fundamentals certification from CompTIA and use Credentialing Assistance to go back and prepare for more advanced certifications.
Military service members also have access to degree-based funding like the GI Bill, which can help you to cover the cost of an undergraduate or graduate degree. These degrees can position you for more advanced and higher-paying positions in IT. Army Credentialing Assistance approved programs can help you to qualify.
Learning With Stackable Credentials
IT is a great career path for military service members. At MedCerts, Army CA eligible service members can launch IT careers with their choice of stackable programs. Here are three of the most popular.
1. Fundamentals of IT
The Fundamentals of IT program prepares you for the credential with the same name. You’ll learn the skills expected of an entry-level IT professional, including how to set up and maintain a computer workstation or wireless device.
From the Fundamentals program, you can go on to pursue higher-level certifications like CompTIA’s Network+ or Security+ credentials.
2. PC Technician
If you have some hands-on IT experience in the military, the PC Technician program might be the right choice for you. It’s a 12-week program that requires a student to have nine to 12 months of hands-on experience in the field or lab. It’s geared toward securing the A+ credential from CompTIA. You can build on the A+ credential to prepare for many different careers in IT.
3. IT Network Technician
If you’ve already secured your A+ certification or have a similar level of experience, the IT Network Technician program is an ideal next step. It teaches the skills you need to configure, manage and troubleshoot a business network—while also providing you with essential skills in widely used software.
Getting Started With MedCerts
If you’re ready to take the next step on your IT career path, a MedCerts consultant can help you to get started. MedCerts’s Army COOL Education Consultants are military veterans and can point you toward the right programs.
The Army, Department of Defense, and Department of the Army are not affiliated with MedCerts and do not endorse our services
