Wish there were a step-by-step manual for being the spouse of an active service member? While there are a lot of things to figure out on your own, starting a remote career doesn't have to be one of them.
Wish there were a step-by-step manual for being the spouse of an active service member? While there are a lot of things to figure out on your own, starting a remote career doesn't have to be one of them.
You are uniquely positioned to take advantage of an opportunity known as MyCAA, or My Career Advancement Account. As a military spouse, you may be entitled to support through this government program to help you learn the skills and credentials necessary to be professionally successful — regardless of your family's next permanent change of station.
You may qualify for up to $4,000 with a MyCAA grant to pay for online classes, certification exams, and licensure for a new career. Best of all, many of these careers offer a growing number of job openings all over the world — if you follow the right steps.
The first thing you’ll need to do is create a MyCAA account. This will help you determine whether you are eligible for the program, which provides assistance with training, education, and employment.
MyCAA is specifically for spouses of service members who are on active duty with the following pay grades:
You also qualify if you're married to someone who is a member of the National Guard and Reserve Components if they're in the same pay grade.
Only certain industries and trades are career fields that can be funded through MyCAA. Part of the reasoning for the limitation is practical: certain fields, like Health & Human Services and Information Technology, are projected to have a greater demand for certified professionals than others.
Search MyCAA-approved programs to begin understanding the certificates and skills necessary for your new portable career.
You have to be able to start and complete the class while your spouse (or military sponsor) is on Title 10 military orders. Since those are always subject to change, you'll want to find a program that's focused on your success. Only specific programs are approved by MyCAA.
You may find similar programs that match your goals within different approved MyCAA schools. Not all schools offer the same, high-quality programs. To narrow down your list, look for:
Reputable schools connect students with one-on-one advisors who can help craft a plan to complete their training and land a job. MedCerts has education consultants and 1-1 student support who help you through your program and prepare you for a career.
Once you've followed the steps to plan out your career transition and expansion, you're ready to apply for financial assistance online through MyCAA.
It can be exciting to begin studying for a new career path, but don’t forget to stay organized: the added responsibilities that come with a new career will require a quiet place and scheduled time to work. To get started, schedule a meeting with a MedCerts education consultant today.
Tired of moving from job to job? Military spouses do that a lot, unfortunately. Luckily, there’s a program that helps spouses find their footing a bit faster. The Military Spouse Career Advancement Account Scholarship (MyCAA) was created to help spouses pay for professional credentials that make job hunting more efficient with each PCS move.
For military spouses, the MyCAA program can be a game-changer. And at MedCerts, we offer MyCAA-approved programs that are accessible no matter where your spouse’s military service takes you. While all of our certification programs are designed to help our students find gainful employment, for MyCAA candidates the goal is to help you find a job that is also portable since many military families are often on the move.
Military life comes with a lot of exciting transitions. However, starting a new job every two to four years isn't all that thrilling. That's one of the reasons MyCAA was created — to give military spouses a sense of stability in at least one aspect of their lives.