Office of Veteran Affairs

You must apply for Tuition Assistance online using the Air Force Virtual Education Center. There are six steps to completing the AFVEC online TA process.

You will be unable to apply online for TA if the following applies to you:

• Missing grades over 60 days from course end date.
• Suspense dates that have expired.
• Missing personal data in the education record including: Phone, DOS, DOB, Unit, Office Symbol, Mailing Address, Email Address, base, and Education Level.
• Requesting TA for courses that start more than 30 days into the future.
• Requesting TA for courses that have already started.
• Requesting TA for lower level courses which are less than highest ed level awarded.
• No degree plan in records.

TA is not authorized for courses leading to a lateral or lower level degree than you already possess (i.e. Second Associate's or Bachelor's degree).

After you have completed your tuition assistance form and registered for class, you may still drop/change courses without penalty as long as you notify both the base education center and the school. If you drop a course after the drop/ add period, you must still notify the base ed center and the school but you are liable for the cost of tuition, unless you qualify for waiver of tuition assistance reimbursement.

If you receive a grade of incomplete from a school, you have as much time as the school allows you to clear the incomplete or 12 months from the end of the term, whichever comes first, to clear the incomplete. If you fail to provide a grade that clears the incomplete by that time, we are obligated to recover the tuition assistance.

No Tuition Assistance for post-masters degree course work or degree.

Online TA Request

Before you can access the online TA request process, you must create a user name and password on the AFVEC.

• Step One - Select Reason for Request

  Enrollment Reason options are available for the Air Force to better determine why you choose to utilize TA for off-duty education. Please select the reason that best identifies why you are using TA. Definitions of each of the four options are available to help you make a selection.

• Step Two - Select the School Name (Civilian Institution)

  Select the school or civilian institution that you will be attending from the list provided. (Valencia College)

• Step Three - Enter Term Dates

  Enter the beginning and end dates for the term you will be taking. Please note that term dates are inclusive dates of a specific term and do not necessarily represent the exact start date for your specific course (i.e., term starts on Monday, Jan 10, but your course does not start until Wednesday, Jan 12). The dates must be exact or the TA will be disapproved.

• Step Four - Enter the Course Information

  Enter the course information by manually entering the course information.

  Continue to add courses to the form until you have added all courses that you will be taking for that SCHOOL and TERM.

• Step Five - Enter the Registration Fees

  Select the registration fees from the drop down list. These fees are only paid by the Air Force if payment of these fees is MANDATORY as a condition of enrollment. Enter each fee type and cost separately.

• Step Six - Verify TA Information and Submit Request

  Verify that all of the TA information on the form is correct. Be careful to note school, term and course information to ensure that the information provided is accurate. Use the back buttons to correct any errors.

  If AFVEC finds that TA cannot cover some or all of the tuition, you will be notified and given the option to elect the "VA Top-up" GI Bill option. Follow the Top-Up link to verify your eligibility. You may use this option to supplement any cost not covered by TA if you are GI Bill qualified. Lastly, make sure your email address is updated! This is the address where all communications between you and the education office will occur. You must use your military account unless you do not have one.

  Be sure to read each of the conditions and certifications. You must agree to all conditions and certifications by checking them off prior to submitting your application for approval. Once you have agreed to all conditions and certifications, enter your full name and "MY AFVEC" password to submit.

  Your application will be submitted to your local education center for final approval/disapproval. Do not factor this TA into defraying tuition costs until you receive final approval from the education center.

• After your request is approved

  • You will receive notification of approved TA form.
  • The approved TA form will have both the approval official's and your digitally signed signatures.
  • You MUST send a copy of the approved TA form to the Business Office
  • TA funds that are paid for a course canceled by Valencia College will be refunded to the tuition assistance program

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Army Tuition Assistance

Army students seeking to use tuition assistance are strongly encouraged to apply for both Army IgnitED and Education Duty Dollars.

The program is open to nearly all soldiers (officers, warrant officers, enlisted) including Army Reserve, and Army National Guard on active duty.

There are some restrictions to who may use Army Tuition Assistance and what courses it can be used for. Download AR 621-5 (Army Continuing Education System Regulations) to get further details.

The Army Continuing Education System has launched a new automated tuition assistance project. The TA automation will allow active duty soldiers to request TA and enroll in courses online. This will speed up the enrollment process and minimize wait times at Army Education Centers. Active Duty soldiers are now able to request TA online through GoArmyEd.

Soldiers must request TA through Army Ignited, prior to the course start date or before the school’s late registration period.

TA is requested on a course-by-course basis.

TA funds that are paid for a course canceled by Valencia College will be refunded to the tuition assistance program.

Army Ignited will notify the Soldier whether the TA is approved or not. If the TA request is not approved, Army Ignited will advise the Soldier of the reason and next steps.

Once a TA is approved, please print the form and submit it to the Joy Misener who is the Point of Contact in the Business Office.

All drops/withdrawals must take place through Army Ignited Soldiers who receive an "F" grade will be required to repay TA. Soldiers who are unable to complete a course due to military duties must ensure that they withdraw from the course through Army Ignited to ensure that they will not be charged.

Further details regarding TA procedures are outlined in Army Ignited.

For general information about the Army's automated TA process, visit Army Ignited.

Florida National Guard Points of Contact

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Navy Tuition Assistance

TA is available to both Naval Officer and Enlisted active duty personnel and Naval Reservists on continuous active duty. It is also available to enlisted Naval Reservists ordered to active duty 120 days and to Naval Reservist Officers ordered to active duty for 2 years or more. To qualify, service members must:

• be on active duty for the whole length of the course.
• provide all grades from previously funded TA courses and reimburse all W and F grades. (Withdrawals for involuntary reasons may be granted with command verification.)
• Agree, if an officer, to remain on active duty for at least two years upon completion of courses funded by TA. This obligation runs concurrently with remaining obligated service time. Those who fail to serve the obligation must repay the TA funds expended on their behalf during the last two years of active duty on a pro rated basis.

Application Process

Contact your Navy Tuition Assistance to receive educational counseling in person, by phone or email. With your Navy College advisor, determine which courses will be requested for TA funding.

Complete a TA Application form NETPDTC 1560/3 listing course(s) and fee(s). Check with Valencia College to make sure the amounts for tuition and fees you list are correct. Allowable fees that can be funded under Tuition Assistance are:

• Fees directly required for course enrollment may be combined with tuition. Navy will pay fees that are published, mandatory, and charged for course enrollment.
• Mandatory non-reimbursable fees meeting the criteria listed above may be funded with TA. However, if the course is canceled allowing the tuition to be refunded, the student is responsible for paying the non-reimbursable fee.
• Sailors requesting payment of fees with tuition are responsible for providing accurate fee information to their Navy College Office when applying for TA

Carefully read the second page of the TA Application, the Tuition Assistance Application Agreement, and complete the requested information at the bottom of the page. Your signature on this form indicates you understand the current rules relating to Tuition Assistance funding. Receive command approval signature to enroll in the course(s).

Your TA Application MUST be returned to your Navy College Office for processing.

For further program details and Navy Tuition Assistance program updates, visit the Navy College website Tuition Assistance page.

Once you have an approved TA, please print it and submit it to the Business Office.

TA funds that are paid for a course canceled by Valencia College will be refunded to the tuition assistance program.

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Marine Corps Tuition Assistance

Application Process

• First-time students must complete a TA Orientation Class PRIOR to using TA.
• Marines at remote sites (non-Marine Corps installations) may access the course by clicking on the TA Orientation link below. All others: Please proceed to your local base Lifelong Learning or Education Office.
• Marines must apply for and receive written authorization for TA through the appropriate education office, PRIOR to enrollment. Use  form NETPDTC 1560.
• TA for remote Marines and those assigned to other service sites is processed at Camp Lejeune for those east of the Mississippi and Camp Pendleton for those west of the Mississippi. I-I duty Marines apply through MARFORRES, New Orleans. Recruiters apply via their recruiting district or region headquarters.

Download the TA Orientation (PDF format).

• Once a Marine is enrolled with TA he or she must submit a degree plan before exceeding 12 semester hours.
• TA will fund up to 100% of institution charges for tuition, instructional fees, laboratory fees, computer fees and mandatory enrollment fees combined for postsecondary education, from vocational certification through graduate study.
• TA is not authorized for books.
• TA is not authorized for courses leading to a lateral or lower level degree than you already possess (i.e. second Associate's or Bachelor's degree).
• Officers using TA agree to remain on active duty for two (2) years following the completion of the TA funded course.

Once you have an approved TA, please print it and submit it to the Business Office.

TA funds that are paid for a course canceled by Valencia College will be refunded to the tuition assistance program.

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Coast Guard Tuition Assistance

For FY2014 the Coast Guard revised the eligibility and payment rates for the tuition assistance program. (See ALCOAST 502/13 Below for details)

Application Process

The management of TA is centralized at the USCG Institute through a consolidated tuition assistance processing system managed by the U.S. Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Technology Center (NETPDTC) in Pensacola, Florida.

The Coast Guard Institute approves the  TA Application (CG-4147), inputs data into the Navy's computer database, and issues the TA Authorization form (CGI-1560).

Once you have an approved TA, please print it and submit it to the Business Office.

• Tuition assistance is not authorized for use to meet unit specific operational training requirements.
• Eligibility and benefits are standardized service wide for Coast Guard active duty and reserve on active duty for more than 180 days.
• TA will be authorized "up-front" for traditional college coursework for courses less than 18 weeks in length. Courses may be resident or remote.
• There is no limitation on the use of TA when a member is receiving "financial aide" such as a student loan, Sallie Mae, Stafford loan, etc.
• All courses must be taken from a nationally or regionally accredited institution, resulting in college credit or accredited clock or contact hours.
• TA is not authorized for reimbursement for books.
• Developmental courses may be authorized if required by the institution prior to taking a freshman level course. Many colleges require a developmental course in Math, English and reading if the applicant has been out of school for several years. Applicants should note that these courses (usually numbered starting with zero "0" as the first digit) are not transferable.

TA does not cover the following expenses:

• Application, entrance or enrollment fees
• Record-maintenance fees
• Student activity fees/ Student ID
• Course registration fees
• Textbooks, manuals
• Non-consumable materials
• Assembled items available commercially such as computers, televisions, robots
• Fees for flight time, flying lessons, or noncredit aviation classes
• Parking fee
• Cost of tools, protective or other equipment that becomes the property of the student
• Certification courses and tests, or licenses.
• TA funds that are paid for a course canceled by Valencia College will be refunded to the tuition assistance program.

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MyCAA Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts

Unofficially referred to as Spouse Tuition Assistance, the Department of Defense recently expanded Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program can provide up to $4,000 of Financial Assistance for military spouses.

• Be available to spouses of active duty service members in pay grades E1-E5, W1-W2, and O1-O2. including the spouses of activated Guard and Reserve members within those ranks. Spouses of Guard and Reserve members must be able to start and complete their courses while their sponsor is on Title 10 orders.
• Offer a maximum financial benefit of $4,000 with a fiscal year cap of $2,000. Waivers will be available for spouses pursuing licensure or certification up to the total maximum assistance of $4,000
• Require military spouses to finish their degree or certificate program within three years from the start date of the first course
• Be limited to associate degrees, certification and licensures
• MyCAA does not pay for education and training programs that include computers (CPUs or laptops); application, graduation or membership fees; student activity cards; child care; parking; transportation; or medical services.
• If a spouse enrolls in a course without an approved MyCAA Financial Assistance (FA) document, the spouse will be responsible for paying course costs.
• MyCAA does not provide reimbursements of any kind to spouses for any reason.
• MyCAA FA payments are made directly to schools using MyCAA’s electronic invoicing system. As A Second Language (ESL) Classes and GED Classes and Testing Programs.
• Unfortunately, Coast Guard spouses are not covered by the MyCAA Spouse Employment congressional mandate: PL 110-417 Sec 582. Coast Guard is a part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), not the Department of Defense.
• TA funds that are paid for a course canceled by Valencia College will be refunded to the tuition assistance program.

The MyCAA Application Process

Eligible spouses can find out more information and how to establish an account by visiting the VA family resources website. Once spouse Profile information is provided, MyCAA will verify spouse DEERS benefit eligibility. Eligible spouses will be allowed to create their Career and Training Plan and request FA when they are within 30 days of course start dates. Additionally, spouses are responsible for applying to their selected school or program and enrolling in each course included in their approved MyCAA Career and Training Plan.

Once you have an approved TA, please print it and submit it to the Business Office.