ACES :: U.S. Army Installation Management Command

Army Continuing Education System (ACES)

The ACES mission is to provide lifelong learning, readiness, and resilience through flexible and quality education programs, services, and systems in support of the Total Army Family. ACES provides a variety of programs and services to help Soldiers, family members, and civilians establish and attain professional and/or personal education goals. ACES offers programs and services, to include Army Credentialing Assistance (CA), Army Tuition Assistance (TA), Army Personnel Testing (APT)/Non-APT Testing, Functional Academic Skills Training (FAST)/Basic Skills Education Program (BSEP), and College Counseling and Advising Services.

ArmyIgnitED 101

ArmyIgnitED 101 Briefing Complete the required briefing for first-time Tuition Assistance users. View Briefing TA in 6 Easy Steps Review the infographic for guidance on beginning the Tuition Assistance process. View Infographic

First-time TA users are required to attend an ArmyIgnitED 101 briefing.

After you are done, review the TA in 6 Easy Steps Infographic. Click the links above for access.

Army Tuition Assistance

Army Tuition Assistance (TA) supports Soldiers' voluntary postsecondary education, enabling them to complete college classes and earn degrees. Postsecondary education increases the professionalism and readiness of the Force.

TA Request Submission Window:
Soldiers must submit TA Requests in ArmyIgnitED up to 60 days before the term start date and no later than seven days before the term start date.

Army Credentialing Assistance

The Army Credentialing Assistance (CA) Program directly contributes to supporting Soldiers' professional development, retaining quality Soldiers, and preparing Soldiers for meaningful employment upon transition from military service.

CA Request Submission Window:
Soldiers must submit CA requests in ArmyIgnitED 45 days before the course or exam start date, but not more than 90 days from the submission date.

Resources and Websites

Soldier Training Videos

Contact Us

Select an Army Education Center to create an email addressed to the appropriate garrison education team.

Search for an Army garrison or education center

Select a listed education center, then select Create Email.

Select an education center from the available list before creating an email.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Army Tuition Assistance?

Army Tuition Assistance (TA) supports Soldiers' voluntary postsecondary education by helping fund college classes and degree programs.

Am I Eligible for Army Tuition Assistance?

To be eligible for Army Tuition Assistance, Soldiers must meet applicable program requirements, including:

Be a Regular Army Active-Duty Soldier or an Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) Soldier.
Have a valid Common Access Card (CAC).
Not be flagged under Army Regulation 600-8-2.

Is There a Military Service Obligation for Tuition Assistance?

Commissioned officers in the rank of CW2, 2LT, and above incur an Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) when using Tuition Assistance.

Reserve Component Soldiers in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) and Army National Guard (ARNG) may incur a Reserve Duty Service Obligation (RDSO).

What Does Tuition Assistance Fund?

TA funds up to 18 semester hours (SH) per fiscal year at a rate of up to $250 per semester hour.
Soldiers may complete one degree at the associate, bachelor's, and master's level within applicable lifetime semester-hour limits.
Soldiers are authorized one undergraduate or graduate certificate per lifetime, with a cap of 21 semester hours.

How Do I Apply for Tuition Assistance?

Log in to ArmyIgnitED using your CAC.
Complete ArmyIgnitED TA training and use the Career Path Decide tool.
Declare your educational goal in ArmyIgnitED and upload an Evaluated Degree Plan (EDP).
Request TA in ArmyIgnitED up to 60 days before the term start date.
Ensure your supervisor, commander's representative, or commander approves the TA request.
Maintain a minimum TA grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 after completing 15 semester hours of TA-funded undergraduate credit, or a TA GPA of 3.0 after completing six semester hours of TA-funded graduate credit.

What is Army Credentialing Assistance?

Army Credentialing Assistance (CA) is a voluntary, off-duty program that provides Soldiers funding for more than 1,900 credentials.

Am I Eligible for Army Credentialing Assistance?

Soldiers must meet applicable program requirements, including:

Meet basic Tuition Assistance eligibility requirements.
Have an ArmyIgnitED account.
Complete the credentialing training or examination requirements.
Commissioned officers are not eligible for Credentialing Assistance.

How Much Funding Does Credentialing Assistance Provide?

CA funds up to $2,000 per fiscal year for non-aviation credentials.
CA funds up to $1,000 per fiscal year for aviation-related credentials.
Soldiers may receive funding for up to three credentials during each 10-year period of service, based on their Basic Active Service Date (BASD).

What Credentials Can I Use Credentialing Assistance For?

Credentialing Assistance may be used for any credential listed on the Army Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (Army COOL) website, whether or not the credential is related to the Soldier's military occupational specialty (MOS).

What Does Credentialing Assistance Cover?

Credentialing Assistance may cover expenses associated with:

Classroom, hands-on, online, and blended training.
Manuals, study guides, and textbooks.
Processing fees, test fees, and related fees.
Continuing education requirements and credential recertification.

How Do I Apply for Credentialing Assistance?

Log in to ArmyIgnitED.
Complete ArmyIgnitED Credentialing Assistance training.
Use the MilGears decision support tool.
Create a Credentialing Assistance education goal in ArmyIgnitED.
Submit the CA request no more than 90 days and no fewer than 45 days before the course or examination start date.
The Army Credentialing Assistance Program Office (ACAPO) reviews requests and notifies Soldiers through ArmyIgnitED messaging after approval.

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