SpouseWorks Scholarship Explained

This is the program most people still call MyCAA. It is now the SpouseWorks Scholarship, and the name change matters mainly because searching the old name gets you older guidance.

It provides up to $4,000 of financial assistance for a military spouse to pursue a license, a certification, or an associate degree — or continuing education needed to maintain a license or certification for employment.

The important change is eligibility. MyCAA was historically restricted to spouses of junior service members by pay grade. It is now open to spouses of active-duty, National Guard and reserve component members across all ranks and pay grades. If you looked at this years ago and were told you were outside the pay-grade bands, that is no longer the position.

What it funds is deliberately narrow: portable, employment-linked credentials. It is not a general degree fund, and a bachelor's or master's degree does not qualify.

Who is eligible?

Spouses of service members in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Space Force — active-duty, National Guard or reserve component — serving under qualifying Title 10 orders, across all ranks and pay grades.

The Title 10 orders requirement is the one to check for Guard and Reserve families: it is the order status that qualifies, not simply membership.

Because the funding is tied to employment-linked credentials, the practical question is whether your target qualification counts. Licenses and certifications generally do; degree programs above associate level generally do not.

Spouse license portability is the natural companion to this: a credential funded here may need re-licensing after a PCS, and interstate compacts increasingly cover that.

How do I apply?

  • Search the current name: "SpouseWorks Scholarship" rather than MyCAA, or you will find superseded rank restrictions.
  • Do not rule yourself out on rank: All ranks and pay grades now qualify. This is the single most common outdated belief about the program.
  • Check your target qualification is in scope: Licenses, certifications and associate degrees. Not bachelor's or master's programs.
  • Confirm the Title 10 order status for Guard and Reserve: It is the orders, not membership, that qualify.
  • Talk to a SpouseWorks career coach first: Free, and they will tell you whether your plan fits before you apply.
  • Think about portability: If a PCS is likely, ask whether your credential travels — interstate compacts cover more professions than they used to.

Common questions

Is MyCAA still available?

Yes, under a new name — the SpouseWorks Scholarship. The funding cap is still up to $4,000.

Is MyCAA only for junior enlisted spouses?

No, not any more. It is open across all ranks and pay grades, which is a change from the historical pay-grade restriction.

What can the SpouseWorks Scholarship pay for?

A license, a certification, or an associate degree, plus continuing education needed to maintain a license or certification for employment.

Does it cover a bachelor's degree?

No. The funding is for employment-linked credentials up to associate level.

Do Guard and Reserve spouses qualify?

Yes, where the service member is serving under qualifying Title 10 orders.

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