Florida National Guard Educational Dollars for Duty (EDD) Certification Training
Your path to excellence through continuing education — earn free, high-value IT, cybersecurity and project-management certifications using Florida National Guard Educational Dollars for Duty (EDD) funding.
Updated September 2026 · Per the Revised EDD Program Guidelines, effective July 1, 2026
Free, state-funded tuition assistance for Florida National Guard members
The Florida National Guard (FLNG) Educational Dollars for Duty (EDD) program is a State of Florida, legislatively directed and funded education tuition-assistance resource — available exclusively to qualified Florida Army and Air National Guard Servicemembers to complete authorized postsecondary education.
A streamlined path to your benefit
ATA has helped Florida Guard members use EDD since 2019, and our EDD Student Coordinator handles the paperwork with you.
Up to $5,000 per funding request and $10,000 per fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) per soldier or airman, including tuition, prep and exam fees.
- Be an “Active Drilling” member
- Be in “Good Standing”
- Florida Army or Air National Guard member living in the State of Florida
- Meet fitness and weight standards, with no pending UCMJ action, and hold a CAC
Certifications that fit in a single EDD funding request
Every course below fits in a single EDD funding request.
| Certification course | Credit hours | EDD cost | Fits in one request |
|---|---|---|---|
| CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, CySA+, PenTest+, Linux+ | 16 | $3,499.36 | ✓ |
| PMI PMP / EC-Council CEH | 16 | $3,499.36 | ✓ |
| PMI CAPM | 14 | $3,061.94 | ✓ |
| ISC2 CISSP | 18 | $3,936.78 | ✓ |
| Hack The Box CPTS | 20 | $4,374.20 | ✓ |
| Cisco CCNA | 21 | $4,592.91 | ✓ |
| OffSec PEN-200 (OSCP) | 22 | $4,811.62 | ✓ |
| Microsoft AZ-900 | 4 | $874.84 | ✓ |
Priced at the EDD rate of $218.71 per credit hour. Two-certification paths that fit the $10,000.00 yearly limit: Security+ and CySA+ ($6,998.72); Network+ and CCNA ($8,092.27); Security+ and CISSP ($7,436.14).
From funding request to certified — four steps
Contact ATA's EDD Student Coordinator
Reach our EDD Student Coordinator team to understand the process and get hands-on help choosing your certification.
Apply in the EDD VEC
Log in at edd.dma.myflorida.com with your CAC, set your education goal, and submit a funding request for your class dates up to 60 days before class starts.
Send us your Form 704
EDD usually approves in 5–7 business days and issues a Form 704. Email it to our EDD Student Coordinator; we can't bill EDD without it.
Train, test, report
We bill EDD directly. After class, take your exam and send us your result: a passed certification keeps your next EDD request moving.
How to get your EDD Form 704, step by step
The Virtual Education Center is where EDD lives. Six steps from signing in to sending us the Form 704 that lets us bill EDD for your seat.
- Sign in to the Virtual Education Center
Go to edd.dma.myflorida.com and sign in with your CAC. The VEC is where every EDD education goal and funding request lives. - Set or confirm your education goal
Choose the certification you are pursuing. A funding request has to sit under an approved education goal, so set the goal first if this is your first request. - Create a funding request for your class dates
Enter the course, the school (Applied Technology Academy) and the exact class start and end dates. Submit up to 60 days before class starts — earlier is safer than later. - Wait for approval and download Form 704
EDD usually decides in 5–7 business days. On approval the VEC issues a Form 704, the document that authorizes us to bill EDD for your seat. - Email Form 704 to ATA before class
Send it to your EDD Student Coordinator. Without the 704 on file we cannot bill EDD, and your seat is not secured. - Train, then report your exam result
We bill EDD directly. After class, sit your exam and send us the result — a passed certification keeps your next EDD funding request moving.
Open the EDD Virtual Education Center Call our EDD Student Coordinator · 800.674.3550
Upcoming classes you can request now
Classes starting 30 to 60 days out — inside EDD's 60-day request window, with enough time for approval. Submit your EDD funding request at least 2 weeks before class.
New sessions are added regularly · registration opens in our secure checkout.
EDD alongside Army CA, AF COOL, Federal TA and the GI Bill
Federal Tuition Assistance and EDD can be combined, up to 100% of tuition. Army Credentialing Assistance is now $2,000 a year, and Air Force COOL is only available on Title 32 orders, so for most Florida Guard members EDD is the largest certification benefit. Ask our coordinator how to combine them.
Why Guard members choose ATA
Certifications you can earn with EDD funding
A few of the vendor certifications Florida Guard members earn through EDD — browse the full catalog for the complete list.
Brief your unit on EDD
Helping a recruit or soldier plan their EDD training? Download our one-page EDD guide or book a 20-minute briefing for your unit.
EDD guides
Four questions this page can only summarize, answered in full.
EDD vs Army Credentialing Assistance vs AF COOL: the 2026 guide
Which benefit pays most for a Florida Guard member in 2026? EDD funds $5,000 per request and $10,000 a year; Army CA is $2,000; AF COOL needs Title 32.
Read the guide →How to get your EDD Form 704, step by step
Florida National Guard EDD, step by step: submit a funding request in the Virtual Education Center up to 60 days out, and get Form 704 in 5–7 business days.
Read the guide →Air National Guard certification funding in Florida
Florida Air Guard: AF COOL needs Title 32 orders, but Educational Dollars for Duty funds $5,000 per request and $10,000 a year for Security+, CISSP and CCNA.
Read the guide →Recruiter and ESO toolkit: Florida Guard education benefits
A one-page EDD guide for Florida Guard recruiters and Education Services Officers: 2026 funding limits, what $5,000 covers, and a unit briefing on request.
Read the guide →Educational Dollars for Duty FAQ
Funding limits, Form 704, the request window and how EDD combines with other benefits. Updated September 2026 · Per the Revised EDD Program Guidelines, effective July 1, 2026.
How much does EDD pay for certification training?
Up to $5,000 per funding request and $10,000 per fiscal year (July 1 to June 30), including tuition, prep and exam fees.
Is Applied Technology Academy EDD-approved?
Yes. ATA is on the FLNG EDD approved-schools list and is licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education (#7734).
How do I apply for EDD?
Log in to the EDD Virtual Education Center (VEC) at edd.dma.myflorida.com with your CAC, set your education goal, and submit a funding request for the class dates. Our EDD Student Coordinator can walk you through it.
What is Form 704 and how do I get it?
Form 704 is the EDD approval you receive once your funding request is approved in the VEC. Send it to ATA before class; we cannot bill EDD without it.
How early can I apply?
Up to 60 days before class starts. Approval usually takes 5–7 business days, so submit your funding request at least two weeks out.
Can I combine EDD with Army CA, AF COOL or Federal TA?
Federal Tuition Assistance and EDD can be combined up to 100% of tuition. Army Credentialing Assistance is $2,000 a year and Air Force COOL requires Title 32 orders — ask our coordinator which combination fits your situation.
Does EDD pay for the exam voucher?
Yes. The per-request and per-fiscal-year limits cover tuition, exam prep and exam fees, so an approved funding request includes the certification exam.
Can I train online?
Yes. Most EDD courses run live-online, with evening sections for Guard members who work during the day.
Which certifications meet DoD 8140 for my job?
That depends on your DoD Cyber Workforce Framework work role. Our DoD 8140 work-role page maps the qualifying training and certification options role by role, and our coordinator can match one to your MOS or AFSC.
Applied Technology Academy has proudly served Florida's airmen and soldiers since 2019.
We're grateful for all that you do for our country and the great State of Florida.
Start your EDD funding request
Complete the form and a training advisor will follow up — or call 800.674.3550.
Ready to use your EDD benefit?
Our EDD Student Coordinator will guide you from funding request to credential.