MyCAA Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) and read frequently asked questions about eligibility and financial aid.

What is MyCAA?
The Department of Defense (DoD) Military Spouse Career Advancement Account, also known as MyCAA, provides employment, career, education/training, counseling, and financial assistance for spouses of active duty and activated reserve components (Guard and Reserve) servicemembers worldwide.
What is the purpose of the Career Advancement Account?
The purpose of the Career Advancement Accounts is to provide portable career opportunities for military spouses. A portable career is a credential recognized in multiple states and helpful for obtaining job opportunities across the country. Portable careers will make it easier for a military spouse to find a job following a military move.
What kind of financial assistance is available through MyCAA?
The Internet-based MyCAA tool allows spouses to apply for up to $6,000 in financial assistance for education, training, licensing, or certification necessary for their portable careers.
What does a spouse have to do to apply for MyCAA financial assistance?
To apply for the $6,000 MyCAA financial assistance and enroll at UMUC, please follow the instructions on the MyCAA page.
Does adding classes to my MyCAA career plan also enroll a me in the classes at my school?
No, the you still have to apply and be accepted for the course of study at the school or other payee program and follow their enrollment procedures.
Who is eligible for MyCAA?
Spouses married to an active duty or activated reserve component (Guard or Reserve) servicemember are eligible to participate in MyCAA. This includes Active Guard/Reserve (AGR) and Coast Guard deployed with the Navy.
How will the spouse’s eligibility be verified?
DoD will use DEERS to verify eligibility for MyCAA based on the sponsor’s social security number.

If the sponsor has not registered the spouse in DEERS or the spouse's personal information in DEERS is out-of-date, the spouse should contact DEERS at:

Toll-free: 1-800-538-9552
TTY/TTD: 1-866-363-2883
DEERS Web site

For assistance, the spouse may contact a career/education consultant at
(1-800-342-9647).
If the military sponsor has a date of separation in DEERS that is less than a year away, is the spouse still eligible?
Yes, if the military sponsor is on active duty or activated Guard and Reserve, the spouse is eligible now and will remain eligible for financial assistance until finishing the career plan.
If the military sponsor is an activated Guard or Reserve servicemember, but his/her orders aren’t for a full year or more, is the spouse still eligible?
Yes, if the spouse is eligible now, the spouse will remain eligible for financial assistance until he/she finishes the career plan.
If legally separated or divorced from the sponsor, is the spouse still eligible?
No, the MyCAA legislation specifically excludes spouses who are divorced and spouses who are married to, but legally separated from, their sponsor under court order or statute of any state or territorial possession of the United States.
If both spouses are members of the armed forces, is either eligible?
No, the MyCAA legislation specifically excludes spouses who are also members of the armed forces. Spouses are not eligible if they are on active duty, Guard, Reserve, or Individual Ready Reserve (IRR).
Is a spouse who is also a veteran, but is no longer in the military, eligible?
Yes, if the spouse is married to an active duty or activated Guard or Reserve servicemember, he or she is eligible.
Can a spouse use MyCAA financial assistance if the spouse already has a job?
Yes, if the spouse needs a license, certification, credential, education, or training in order to seek or maintain employment or move up his or her career ladder, then the spouse is eligible for MyCAA financial assistance.
What if a spouse already paid for a class or fee that the spouse wants put in the career plan? Can the spouse get the money back through MyCAA financial assistance?
According to Military One Source, spouses can not be provided a tuition assistance voucher for courses already paid for with personal funds.
If the spouse already has a degree, can he or she take graduate courses with MyCAA financial assistance?
Yes, the spouse may take graduate courses as part of the career plan to begin his or her portable career.
If the spouse needs a graduate degree, but must complete undergraduate coursework before beginning a graduate program, can he or she use MyCAA financial assistance (e.g., pre-med, pre-law, or similar preparatory courses)?
No, MyCAA financial assistance can not be used for preparatory courses.
If the spouse finishes the career plan and then relocates, can MyCAA be used again?
Yes, as long as the entire $6,000 has not been used, the spouse may continue to use MyCAA financial assistance.
Will the spouse have to pay for any part of their career plan?
MyCAA will pay up to $6,000 of the spouse’s career plan. The spouse is responsible for any remaining costs.

The spouse should contact the career/education consultant (1-800-342-9647) to discuss the best way to use available MyCAA financial assistance. The spouse may also be eligible for additional funding from sources such as Pell grants, GI Bill/Post 911 Education Bill, scholarships, book awards, etc., and may use them in conjunction with MyCAA financial assistance. UMUC Europe financial aid advisors can help students explore other financial aid opportunities as well. Please visit the UMUC Europe financial aid Web page for more information.
Are there costs which are not covered by MyCAA financial assistance?
Financial assistance does NOT include the following: separate payments for books, supplies, or equipment (i.e. costs not directly incorporated into the billing for the block of study); computer lab, graduation, or application fees; child care; student activity cards; transportation or parking fees; or medical services testing fees.
What are the requirements after a spouse finishes a block of study?
The spouse needs to confirm that UMUC submitted his or her grades to MyCAA. He or she also needs to notify the career/education consultant when he or she completes the chosen career plan and upon receiving a license, certification, or academic degree. Finally, the spouse needs to let the career/education consultant know when he or she finds a new job.
If the spouse is not interested in financial assistance, can the spouse still participate in MyCAA?
Yes, the spouse can create a profile, participate in forums, serve as a mentor, talk to a career/education consultant, and access MyCAA resources to help make career and life decisions.
Is there anything the spouse needs to do after receiving MyCAA tuition assistance?
The spouse should notify the attending university once MyCAA is approved.

Last updated: 21 May 2009