Education and Training

This information is provided for reference only; our office does not administer or assist with the Civilian Tuition Assistance Program.

Applicable to: Civilian

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) invests in its civilian workforce by providing comprehensive development opportunities through education, experiential programs, and leadership training. These initiatives enhance agility, resilience, and operational readiness across the enterprise. A key component of this commitment is the Civilian Tuition Assistance (CIV TA) program.

CIV TA supports the strategic preparedness of DAF civilians by partially funding coursework at accredited institutions leading toward the first associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s (including Juris Doctorate), and doctoral degrees. Prospective participants should review the  Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) directory of Participating Institutions, and the Air Force Virtual Education Center (AFVEC) Institutions link to confirm approval of a DAF MoU. Contact the school to confirm the institution accepts Government Purchase Card payments in the Academic Institution (AI) Portal.

Effective 1 Oct 25, degree programs must align with an employee’s functional community mission or be demonstrably in the best interest of the DAF as identified by their Career Field Manager (CFM). Courses must contribute to skills development and address current and anticipated DAF needs. To maximise funding availability and support efficient learning, employees are encouraged to use the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and DANTES Subject Standardised Tests (DSST), which assess college-level knowledge and may award college credit.

 DAF civilians whose AFVEC Education Goals were approved before 1 Oct 25 are not subject to the CFM-approved degree list and may continue to receive CIV TA funding toward their approved goal until 30 Sep 27, if available. Alternatively, they may pursue a CFM-Approved Degree under the ruleset for changing CIV TA degree plans.

Civilian employees of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve should contact their respective Education Office for assistance.

 CIV TA Eligibility Requirements

• Full-time DAF Appropriated Fund (APF), Career or Career-Conditional employees in active work and active pay status

• Regular Part-Time (RPT) or Regular Full-Time (RFT) DAF Non-Appropriated Fund (NAF) employees working between 35 and 40 hours per week with at least one year of federal service

• A current acceptable performance appraisal rating unless they have not yet received their first performance appraisal

CIV TA Rules and Restrictions

• TA funds up to 75% of tuition up to $250 per semester hour or $166 per quarter hour.

• TA cap is $4,500 per fiscal year. Eligible civilian employees who are also Air Force Reserve military members are limited to a combined total of $4,500 for CIV TA and Reserve TA per fiscal year.

• Employees may take a maximum of two courses per semester, quarter, term, or session.  The course(s) for one funding request must end before the course(s) listed in the subsequent request begin.

• TA can be combined with federal student loans and grants, but duplication of benefits for the same course is not authorized for programs such as those administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

• All course prerequisites must be completed before enrolling in the course.

• Employees must submit the AFVEC Funding Request under the approved Education Goal after the school has added the term for visibility.  Employees may submit the request no earlier than 45 days before the class start date and no later than 7 days before the class start date.  AFVEC automatically deletes Funding Requests that have not been approved by the supervisor and Career Field Team (CFT) by the class start date.

 Successful Course Completion

• Undergraduate Courses: successful completion requires a grade of “C” (includes C-) or better. If the grade is below a C, the individual must reimburse the DAF.

• Graduate Courses: successful completion requires a grade of “B” (includes B-) or better. If the grade is below a B, the individual must reimburse the DAF.

Employees must submit grade reimbursements and waiver requests before the AFVEC Funding Request suspense date.

Retroactive TA Guidelines

CFTs will accept TA funding requests for courses with start dates between 1 Oct 25 and 21 Nov 25. Additional information is available in AFVEC. Navigate to the FAQs link and enter “Furlough” in the search bar to review the steps for submitting a retroactive TA funding request. Requests must be submitted by 5 Dec 25.

Related Resources

• DAFI 36-2687, Civilian Development

• DAFMAN 36-142, Civilian Career Field Management and Centrally-Managed Programs

• Acquisition Tuition Assistance (ACQ TA) Civilian Portal

• Career Field Team Contact Information: myCFT Portal

• Civilian Employee Resources

• Civilian Tuition Assistance (CIV TA) Approved Degree Directory

• College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

• Defense Activities for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES)

• DoD Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding

• NAF Careers Organizational Email

• PALACE Acquire Tuition Assistance (PAQ TA) Program Request Process

The Whiteman Education Center does not manage spouse tuition assistance or scholarship programs. However, the following information may offer helpful information.

 MyCAA (My Career Advancement Account)
(https://mycaa.militaryonesource.mil/mycaa/) is a program designed to provide financial aid for military spouses (who are eligible) pursuing portable career fields. Specifically, MyCAA will provide up to $4000 in tuition assistance for spouses seeking monetary assistance for licenses, certifications, certificates, or associate degree. However, not every military spouse will be eligible.

Post 9/11 GI Bill Transfer
(https://www.va.gov/education/transfer-post-9-11-gi-bill-benefits/)

Some military spouses may be eligible to receive VA financial aid if their service member chooses to transfer their education benefits to them. Depending on the amount of time they have in service (at least 10 years) and the amount of time left on their current contract (among other criteria), service members can transfer some or all (up to 36 months’ worth) of their education benefits to their eligible dependents.

After 7/20/2019, your service member must have less than 16 years or less in order to transfer their benefits to you. Transferring VA education benefits can often be cumbersome, and in recent months, the VA has made several changes to this program. It’s important to stay abreast of these changes and make sure your family doesn’t fall through the cracks.

General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant
(https://afas.org/haparnoldgrant/)

The Hap Arnold Grant is supported by the Air force Aid Society. It is competitive in its need-based selection criteria and is uniquely tailored to recognize the proper weighing of family income and education costs. Grants ranging from $500 to $2,000 are awarded to eligible Air Force and Space Force dependents each year. The specific amount awarded correlates to a student’s particular level of financial need.

The grant is available to dependent sons and daughters of active duty, Title 10 Reservists on extended active duty, Title 32 Guard performing full-time active duty, retired, retired Reserve and deceased Air Force or Space Force members, as well as spouses of active duty and Title 10 Reservists, and widows/widowers.

Click here for Scholarship List – No Endorsement Intended – Information Only

You can filter your search to search more easily: https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarship-directory

• National Military Family Association: https://www.militaryfamily.org/ 

• FAFSA (Free Assessment for Federal Student Aid) is a government program for students to apply/receive aid for college or career school.

https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

Test by Exam

The Whiteman Education Center does not manage CLEP/DSST or Pearson Vue Exams. State Fair Community College administers CLEP/DSST, Pearson Vue (CompTia, Cisco, GMAT, etc.) at the National Test Center (NTC) located at the Whiteman Education Center in Bldg. 515, Room 211 ((Second- floor, left back hallway)

To schedule a CLEP or DSST Exam, call 660-563-3358. CLEP exams require a registration number provided by registering on the College Board web site. (Directions provided on page 2 of the CLEP/DSST packet) 

State Fair Community College Phone Number: 660-563-3358 

Location: National Test Center (NTC) is located at the Whiteman Education Center in Bldg. 515, Room 211 (2nd floor left back hallway)

GRE: NTC does not offer the GRE. To register for the GRE, test site locations and study materials: https://mygre.ets.org/greweb/action/RegPortal. Closest GRE testing site is the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO.

You can order a transcript for CLEP/DSSTs electronically at: https://www.dantes.mil/transcripts/

Click Here To View CLEP/DSST Packet

The SkillBridge Program provides eligible transitioning DAF members opportunities to
develop their career skills through civilian on-the-job training, employment skills training,
apprenticeships and internships to help them prepare to transition from the military to
civilian employment.

Visit the SkillBridge Program Website

The DoW SkillBridge program is an opportunity for service members to gain valuable
civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships, or
internships during the last 180 days of service. DoW SkillBridge connects transitioning
service members with industry partners in real-world job experiences.
For service members, DoW SkillBridge provides an invaluable chance to work and learn
in civilian career areas. For industry partners, DoW SkillBridge is an opportunity to
access and leverage the world's most highly trained and motivated workforce at no cost.
Service members participating in DoW SkillBridge programs continue receiving their
military compensation and benefits, while industry partners provide the civilian training
and work experience.
Installation and unit commanders who have members about to transition from active
duty, bridge the gap between their service members' end of service and the beginning of
their civilian careers with the DoW SkillBridge participation. Commanders ease this
military-to-civilian transition period for their members when they permit SkillBridge
participation with trusted employers.
Service members can be granted up to 180 days of permissive duty to focus solely on
training full-time with approved industry partners after their chain of command, field
grade commander provides written authorization and approval. These industry partners
offer real-world training and in-demand work experience while having the opportunity to
evaluate the service members’ suitability for future employment.

View SkillBridge Program Brochure

For members requesting civilian transcripts to send to AU-CCAF OR to request an AU-CCAF transcript to send to a civilian college/university, Click Here.

INITIAL TA COUNSELING BRIEFING: 

If your AFVEC account states that you need to attend an Initial TA Counseling Briefing, we offer them on the first Tuesday of the month at 0900 and the third Tuesday of the month at 1500 in room 204 of the Education Center.  To RSVP for a briefing, please do the following:

• Log in to your AFVEC account found via the AF Portal. You might need to register your CAC.
  • Click “view all events” on the right side of the screen.
  • Select the College 101 Initial Counseling briefing on the right that works for your schedule.
  • Click “view details” and then “RSVP”.
• To cancel, click the “calendar” link along the left.
  • Select the event on the right and click “view”.
  • Click “unregister”.

REFRESHER TA BRIEFING/TRAINING:

If it has been more than a year since you have used TA, your AFVEC account will state that you need REFRESHER counseling. Please complete the Enlisted Initial/Refresher Counseling Checklist, and we will document your completion in your AFVEC record. You may access this checklist at the URL below or by scanning the QR code with your personal device. Please let us know if you have any questions. 

https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/ZeWht39TEz

How to access the Air Force Virtual Education Center

1. Log in to the Air Force Portal
2. Select Career & Training
3. Career & Training Links
4. AFVEC (Air Force Virtual Education Center)
5. Register or Log in
6. Update Profile

Transfer Education Benefits: Must have served 6 years and have 4 years of retainability

Total Force Service Center: 800.525.010

Click Here for GI Bill Information

Click Here for Transfer Education Benefits