Eligibility & Application

CAA Overview

Career Advancement Accounts, also known as CAAs, are self-managed accounts that must be used with approved local education and training institutions. CAA funds must be used for expenses directly related to career preparation. For example, CAA funds may pay for tuition, fees, books, and equipment necessary to complete education, training, credentialing and licensing.

There is a limited amount of funds available in the CAA demonstration. The maximum amount of the CAA demonstration is $3,000 for one year.  The accounts may be renewed for one additional year, for a total two-year account amount of up to $6,000 per spouse. 

CAA Eligibility

(Updated July 2008)

Spouses of all active duty personnel are eligible to participate regardless of grade level. Eligible spouses must (be):

• Married to an active duty service member assigned to one of the installations targeted under this demonstration or the military spouse resides in the state at the time of eligibility determination when the Service member/sponsor spouse is deployed or on an unaccompanied military tour from a demonstration site. Spouses of Guard and Reserve members are not eligible unless they are activated and assigned to one of the targeted installations;
• Married to a Service member/sponsor with a minimum of one year remaining at the demonstration installation duty assignment. Exceptions include duty assignments that will require relocation as part of the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 2005 (BRAC 05), and spouse enrollment in a training that can be completed prior to their departure from the assigned installation.
• Have a high school diploma or GED and/or some level of post secondary education in order to be eligible to receive CAAs under the demonstration; Spouses already possessing a post-secondary degree will be eligible for CAAs to assist with local and state licensing and credentialing costs. All other spouses with a post-secondary degree are not eligible except in very limited circumstances (i.e., in need of courses / training required for a career license or credential) that will be examined on a case by case basis;
• Ineligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA); and
• Not be concurrently receiving Workforce Investment Act (WIA)-funded Individual Training Accounts. Grantees are, however, strongly encouraged to leverage other training and education funding, such as Pell grants, federal financial aid, and scholarships to maximize the impact of spouses' CAAs.

Learn about the Career Advancement Account Application Process. 

If you are not eligible for an Career Advancement Account, please click www.MilSpouse.org to find more resources for military spouse employment and training.