Tuition Assistance (TA) is financial assistance provided for voluntary, off-duty education programs in support of a Soldier's professional and personal development goals.

Eligibility:

• Regular Army Active-Duty Soldiers, Active Guard, and Reserve (AGR) Soldiers pursuant to Title 10 and Title 32.
• Soldiers must have a Common Access Card (CAC).
• Soldiers must not be flagged under provisions of AR 600-8-2.

• Commissioned officers (CW2/2LT and above) who accept TA funds incur a Military Service Obligation (MSO).  Regular Army, AGR, and Title 10/Title 32 mobilized officers incur an Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) of two years. Reserve Component (USAR/ARNG) officers incur a Reserve Duty Service Obligation (RDSO) of four years. 
• The TA MSO runs concurrently with any previously imposed MSO.
• Officers may not under any circumstances reimburse an Academic Institution (AI) for a TA-funded class to avoid the MSO.

What is Funded:

• TA funds up to 18 Semester Hours (SH) per fiscal year at the rate of up to $250 per SH for cost of tuition only.
• Soldiers may complete one degree at the associate, bachelor's, and master's level within the following lifetime SH limits: 130 SH undergraduate credit or a bachelor’s degree (whichever comes first), and up to 39 SH graduate credit or a master’s degree (whichever comes first).
• Soldiers are authorized one undergraduate or graduate certificate per lifetime with a cap of 21 SH. 
• Soldiers may pursue one Special Program such as USAREC-approved AMEDD programs or Specialized Chaplain Certificates, with a lifetime cap of 39 SH.

• Soldiers must log into ArmyIgnitED with their CAC.
• Soldiers who are first time TA users must complete ArmyIgnitED TA training and use the Career Path Decide decision support tool prior to requesting TA funding.
• Soldiers must declare and educational goal in ArmyIgnitED and upload an Evaluated Degree Plan (EDP).
• Soldiers must request TA in ArmyIgnitED up to 60 days prior to the term start date and no later than 7 days prior to the term start date.
• Soldiers must maintain a minimum TA grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 after completion of 15 SH of TA-funded undergraduate credit or a TA GPA of 3.0 after completion of 6 SH of TA-funded graduate credit.

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

• Soldiers must meet basic TA eligibility requirements.
• Soldiers must have an ArmyIgnitED account and a Credentialing Assistance Education Goal created and approved in ArmyIgnitED.
• Soldiers must complete the credentialing training and/or exam at least 31 days prior to separation.

• CA funds up to $2,000 and one credential per fiscal year; for aviation-related credentials, Soldiers are limited to $1,000.
• CA funds 3 credentials for every 10 years of service based on a Soldier's Basic Active Service Date (BASD).
• CA can be used for any credential listed on the Army COOL website and does not have to be related to the Soldier's MOS.
• CA will pay for expenses for classroom, hands-on, online/blended training and required associated materials to include: manuals, study guides, textbooks, processing fees, test fees, related fees for continuing education requirements, and recertification of credentials.

• Soldiers must apply for CA funding in ArmyIgnitED.
• Soldiers who are first time CA users must complete ArmyIgnitED CA training and use the MilGears decision support tool prior to requesting CA funding.
• Soldiers will need to create a Credentialing Assistance Education Goal and upload a custom quote provided by the vendor.
• CA requests must be submitted at least 45 days prior to the course or exam start date, but not more than 90 days from the submission date.
• The Army Credentialing Assistance Program Office (ACAPO) will review he request for funding and Soldiers will be notified via ArmyIgnitED messaging once the CA request is approved.