Being a military spouse can make it difficult to hold down a stable career when you move frequently. So, it’s up to you to adapt your career plans around the change.
For many, starting a career that works around a busy schedule means additional training to earn a certification that’s portable to another location. Luckily, the Department of Defense recognized this and stepped up to help you build a career through a program called MyCAA (My Career Advancement Account).
The My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) scholarship is what’s known as a workforce development program. The benefits are simple – if gives qualified military spouses up to $4,000 in tuition assistance, which you can apply to a variety of adult education programs aimed at helping you get ready for a portable career.
Altrain Assisting Academy also provides a military scholarship up to $1,500, when combined with the MyCAA scholarship would cover the bulk of the tuition of all programs offered.
Learn more about it in our What is MyCAA Scholarship post from earlier this year.
In short, the MyCAA program was made for spouses of Active Duty, Guard, or Reserve members on Title 10 Orders within the pay grades of E-1 to E-5, W-1 to W-2, or O-1 to o-2.
There are several career options available to use the scholarships on, such as:
- Dental Assisting
- Orthodontic Assisting
- Medical Assisting
- Legal Assisting
These occupations are considered a portable career, which means a career that can travel with you. These careers also have a strong employment outlook according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
To get started applying for the MyCAA scholarship, create an account and set up a profile. Then follow the steps to establish an Education and Training Plan. This plan should cover your specific career goals, which program you want to take, and information about the institution where you want to take them. Shortly after submission of your education plan, you should get an answer back on approval.
Once approved, you’ll need to request the financial assistance, then MyCAA takes are of the rest.
The application process is relatively simple, and the funding is available to you to utilize.