Who Is (& Who Isn’t) Eligible for the MyCAA Scholarship

Being a military spouse means packing up and moving a lot. This can make it difficult for military spouses to start and maintain their own careers. However, there are many portable opportunities available you might not have considered, which allow you to easily transfer your career anywhere.

‌And the cost of training for a new portable career doesn’t have to come out of your pocket! The Department of Defense offers a scholarship opportunity just for military spouses. The My Career Advancement Account Scholarship (MyCAA) was created to help military spouses pay for licenses, certificates and associate degrees in portable career fields.

‌This scholarship provides a maximum of $4,000, paid out in increments up to $2,000 per fiscal year. The $2,000 will cover the cost of some certification programs and licenses and significantly lower the cost of others.

Who is Eligible for MyCAA

‌Military spouses must meet the following criteria to qualify for the MyCAA Scholarship:

• Married to an active duty service member in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or National Guard on Title 10 orders.

• The service member must be in pay grades E - 1 to E - 5, W - 1 to W - 2 or O - 1 to O - 2.

• The spouse must complete the coursework while their military sponsor is on Title 10 military orders as reported in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).

Who is Not Eligible for MyCAA

‌If a military spouse doesn’t meet the previously stated requirements, they will not be eligible for MyCAA. Other possible reasons include:

• Being married to a service member in a higher pay grade (E - 6 and above, W - 3 and above and O - 3 and above).

• The spouse themselves is currently in the armed forces on Title 10 orders.

• They are legally separated from a service member on Title 10 orders.

• The military spouse is a National Guard/Reserve component and falls under the category of Warning Orders/Alert, Post Deployment/Demobilization or Transitions Status.

• The spouse is a member of the Coast Guard.

• They are unable to complete the coursework before their military spouse’s Title 10 orders are completed.‌

How to Apply

‌If you qualify, applying for MyCAA is easy. Just follow these simple steps to begin your education journey:

1. Go to the MyCAA Spouse Portal.

2. Fill out the Spouse Profile information. DEERS will quickly check eligibility in real-time.

3. Once eligibility is established, the military spouse will be able to create a MyCAA account.

Once approved for the MyCAA scholarship, the military spouse will need to choose an approved program. You should make sure to familiarize yourself with the MyCAA approved program requirements. MyCAA will not cover the costs of supplies or registration fees.

‌For more information, contact a SECO Counselor at (800) 342 - 9647. Individuals who already have a MyCAA account can use the Message Box feature.

‌‌Beginning a Career Journey

‌Being a military spouse doesn’t have to mean giving up on dreams of having a rewarding career. The MyCAA scholarship was designed to help military spouses fulfill their career goals. To begin a rewarding career journey in no time, all you have to do is meet the eligibility requirements, fill out the application and pick a program! To learn more about what portable careers options you should consider – check out the MedCerts website and browse all their MyCAA-approved programs.