Army Credentialing Assistance
Army Credentialing Assistance pays up to $2,000 per Soldier per fiscal year. Applied Technology Academy discounts the certifications below to fit inside that cap, so Army CA covers your course and exam in full — no balance to find, and no surprise at the ArmyIgnitED approval stage.
Army Credentialing Assistance helps Army Soldiers with full tuition and exam-cost coverage for IT, cybersecurity and project management certifications. Gain skills and credentials that equip you for success both during and after your military service — in our award-winning, nationally recognized certification classes.
More than just a certification
Career advancement
Civilian credentialing can contribute to military career development, and may be accepted for self-development requirements and in performance evaluations.
Smoother transitions
When you return to civilian employment, credentials translate your military training and experience into something employers easily recognize — helping you get hired, get a better job, or be promoted sooner.
Army IgnitED
Helps Soldiers find certifications and licenses related to their jobs and can fund credential exams and maintenance fees.
Up to $2,000 per fiscal year
Army Credentialing Assistance is capped at $2,000 per Soldier per fiscal year ($1,000 for specific aviation credentials). CA can pay for courses, exams, books and materials, some fees, and recertifications that lead to industry-recognized civilian credentials.
Eligible Soldiers include Regular Army, Active Guard/Reserve (AGR) under Title 10 and Title 32, U.S. Army Reserve (USAR), and Army National Guard (ARNG) in an active drilling status with a satisfactory designation.
From ArmyIgnitED to certified
The Army Credentialing Assistance (CA) program pays for courses and exams that lead to industry-recognized civilian credentials in an occupational area of your choice — whether to enhance skills in your current MOS or prepare for an occupation you'll pursue after service. You can request CA funding for any credential listed on Army COOL and ArmyIgnitED. Here is how the official four-step process works with ATA as your training vendor:
Find & select your credential
Match your MOS and experience to a civilian credential on Army COOL, then pick from ATA's IT, cybersecurity and project-management certifications.
Complete a CA request in ArmyIgnitED
Request funding up to your $2,000 fiscal-year limit ($1,000 for certain aviation credentials). Contact ATA for a quote to submit with your request.
Complete training or the exam with ATA
Once the CA Central Billing Office (CBO) approves your request, ATA delivers your approved course or exam and any required materials.
Report your results
ATA uploads your certificate of completion to ArmyIgnitED within 30 days. If an exam result isn't received, you upload it to your CA request.
Process per the official Army COOL Credentialing Assistance guidance.
Certifications Army CA covers in full
ATA discounts each of these for Army Credentialing Assistance so the course and the exam fit inside the $2,000 fiscal-year cap — nothing left for you to fund.
One exception: Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) costs more than the cap. Army CA covers $2,000 of it and the balance comes from another source — ask us for an itemized quote first.
Get an itemized quote for ArmyIgnitED See upcoming class dates
Popular Army CA certifications
Army Credentialing Assistance FAQ
The FY27 window, who qualifies, and what to send with your ArmyIgnitED request. Policy details are current as of 29 September 2026.
How much does Army Credentialing Assistance pay in FY27?
Army CA pays up to $2,000 per Soldier per fiscal year for one credential. Aviation-related credentials are capped at $1,000. The funding can cover the course, the exam, books and materials, some fees, and recertification.
When can I submit my FY27 CA request?
ArmyIgnitED opened FY27 CA requests on 14 September 2026, for courses or exams starting on or after 29 October 2026. A request cannot be submitted more than 90 days before the start date, and FY27 requests are subject to the availability of funds.
How far ahead should I plan?
Pick your class date first, then build the request around it: you can submit up to 90 days before the course starts, and approval has to come through before the class begins. Ask ATA for the dates that fit your window before you start the request.
Can officers use Army CA?
No. Commissioned officers (O1–O10) are not eligible for Credentialing Assistance. Warrant officers and enlisted Soldiers are eligible. If you are a commissioned officer, talk to us about other funding routes — CA is not one of them.
Which Soldiers are eligible?
Regular Army, Active Guard/Reserve (AGR) under Title 10 and Title 32, U.S. Army Reserve (USAR), and Army National Guard (ARNG) Soldiers in an active drilling status with a satisfactory designation. Active-duty Soldiers are eligible once Basic Combat Training is complete.
Does an ATA course fit inside the $2,000 cap?
Yes, for the certifications listed on this page. ATA discounts Security+, Network+, CySA+, A+, Linux+, CISSP and CCNA for Army CA so the course and exam sit inside the $2,000 cap, and Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) is already below it. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) is the exception: it costs more than the cap, so CA covers $2,000 and the balance comes from another source.
What if I want a certification that costs more than the cap?
CA pays up to $2,000 and the remainder comes from another source — your own funds, your unit, or a separate funding programme. Ask us for an itemized quote before you submit the request so you know the exact balance up front.
Does CA pay for the exam as well as the course?
Yes. Army CA can fund the exam, and recertification fees, as well as the course itself, within the same annual cap.
What do I upload to ArmyIgnitED?
Your request needs an itemized quote showing the course, the dates and the cost. Request one from ATA and we will send it in a form you can attach to the CA request.
Are ATA classes live, or self-paced?
Live and instructor-led — online, in the classroom, or in an evening cohort — taught by practitioner instructors. Some courses are also available on demand.
Can my unit book a private class?
Yes. ATA runs private cohorts for units and organizations, on our schedule or yours, at your site or online. Contact us with your numbers and target dates.
Tell us about your training goals
Complete the form and a training advisor will follow up — or call 800.674.3550.
Ready to use your Army CA benefit?
Request a quote to submit in Army IgnitED — we'll help you pick the right credential.