NO-COST EDUCATION - ADVANCE YOUR CAREER WITH THE SPOUSEWORKS SCHOLARSHIP
Blackstone offers accredited, online career training programs that provide job-ready skills and prepare you for professional certification in portable, high-demand career fields through the SpouseWorks Scholarship (formerly MyCAA), funded by the Department of War(DOW).
Eligible military spouses of active-duty service members, National Guard, and reserve members under qualifying Title 10 orders (E-1 to E-5, W-1 to W-2, O-1 to O-2) may be eligible to receive up to $4,000 of financial assistance in increments up to $2,000 per fiscal year. Check eligibility details here.
Whether you’re stationed stateside or abroad, we’re a natural fit for military spouses seeking accredited, flexible online programs that allow you to prioritize your family. No classrooms. No rigid deadlines. Train for a portable career that moves with you—wherever military life takes you.
Approved Programs
*Benefits NOT eligible for Medical Billing & Coding, Medical Transcription, Home Health Aide, Veterinary Assistant, Legal Nurse Consultant or Child Care Provider Programs.
Approved Programs
*Benefits NOT eligible for Medical Billing & Coding, Medical Transcription, Home Health Aide, Veterinary Assistant, Legal Nurse Consultant or Child Care Provider Programs.
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Getting Started with SpouseWorks
1. Verify SpouseWorks Scholarship Eligibility
Visit the SpouseWorks website for DS Logon account creation and access. A Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) eligibility check is initiated when the spouse opens a scholarship account and each time the spouse requests scholarship financial assistance.
2. Enroll and Upload Your Education Plan
SpouseWorks Scholarship students should enroll in one of our approved, flexible, online career programs and select MyCAA as the payment option. After we receive your enrollment, your education plan document will be emailed to you. Once your Career and Training Plan is accepted, you can apply for financial assistance with the SpouseWorks Scholarship (formally MyCAA).
3. Create Your Career and Training Plan
Login to create your Career and Training Plan. When selecting a school – search and choose Blackstone Career Institute and enter the full name of the program you have selected.
4. Apply for the SpouseWorks Scholarship
When applying for SpouseWorks Scholarship (formally MyCAA) financial assistance, the school name, course code, titles of courses, start/end dates, and course costs must be correct or else you may be rejected. Please refer to the education plan for details. Requests for the SpouseWorks scholarship must be submitted prior to the start date of your chosen course.
5. Start Your Studies
Your enrollment will be processed after Blackstone receives notice from SpouseWorks Scholarship (formally MyCAA) program that your financial assistance is approved and you can begin your studies.
“… As a military spouse, establishing a career can be tricky while moving around. When I heard about this program, I became excited knowing that not only was it online and self-paced, but it would set me up with a foundation for a portable career.
Since I am not employed, I was able to focus and finish in 9 months! The Online Student Center is well organized and easy to follow for completion of course readings, assignments, and exams. Overall, I would recommend Blackstone for anyone wanting to start a portable career. With several paths to choose from and the 100% online platform, it’s a convenient way to reach your goals.”
Felicia H.
Medical Billing & Coding Graduate
Getting Started with SpouseWorks
1. Verify SpouseWorks Scholarship Eligibility
Visit the SpouseWorks website for DS Logon account creation and access. A Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) eligibility check is initiated when the spouse opens a scholarship account and each time the spouse requests scholarship financial assistance.
2. Enroll and Upload Your Education Plan
SpouseWorks Scholarship students should enroll in one of our approved, flexible, online career programs and select MyCAA as the payment option. After we receive your enrollment, your education plan document will be emailed to you. Once your Career and Training Plan is accepted, you can apply for financial assistance with the SpouseWorks Scholarship (formally MyCAA).
3. Create Your Career and Training Plan
Login to create your Career and Training Plan. When selecting a school – search and choose Blackstone Career Institute and enter the full name of the program you have selected.
4. Apply for the SpouseWorks Scholarship
When applying for SpouseWorks Scholarship (formally MyCAA) financial assistance, the school name, course code, titles of courses, start/end dates, and course costs must be correct or else you may be rejected. Please refer to the education plan for details. Requests for the SpouseWorks scholarship must be submitted prior to the start date of your chosen course.
5. Start Your Studies
Your enrollment will be processed after Blackstone receives notice from SpouseWorks Scholarship (formally MyCAA) program that your financial assistance is approved and you can begin your studies.
“… As a military spouse, establishing a career can be tricky while moving around. When I heard about this program, I became excited knowing that not only was it online and self-paced, but it would set me up with a foundation for a portable career.
Since I am not employed, I was able to focus and finish in 9 months! The Online Student Center is well organized and easy to follow for completion of course readings, assignments, and exams. Overall, I would recommend Blackstone for anyone wanting to start a portable career. With several paths to choose from and the 100% online platform, it’s a convenient way to reach your goals.”
Felicia H.
Medical Billing & Coding Graduate
Military Spouse Q&A's FAQ's
The SpouseWorks Scholarship (formerly MyCAA) is open to spouses of active-duty service members, National Guard and reserve members under qualifying Title 10 orders in pay grades E-1 through E-9, W-1 through W-3 and O-1 through O-3 who have successfully completed high school are eligible for this scholarship. The authorization of the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act allows military spouses to remain eligible for the financial assistance offered through the MilitarySpouse Scholarship if their sponsor is promoted above the eligible ranks as long as the spouse has an approved Education and Training Plan in place.
- Spouses of service members in the National Guard or reserve in the pay grades listed above.
- Spouses who have completed high school or obtained a GED.
- Spouses who have financial assistance documents approved before the active-duty service member’s date of separation or the active-duty service member’s release from Title 10 military orders.
The following are not eligible for the SpouseWorks Scholarship (formerly MyCAA):
- Spouses married to service members in pay grades W-4 and above and O-4 and above, unless a spouse has an approved Education and Training Plan in place prior to their sponsor’s promotion above the eligible ranks.
- Spouses who are a member of the armed forces currently on Title 10 orders.
- Spouses who are married but legally separated, or under court order or statute of any state or U.S. territory, from a member of the armed forces on Title 10 orders.
- Spouses whose National Guard or reserve military sponsor is in a warning orders/alert, post deployment/demobilization or transition status.
- Spouses who are unable to apply for financial assistance while their military sponsor is on Title 10 orders or before the sponsor’s date of separation.
Yes, SpouseWorks Scholarship cover up to $2,000 for qualifying licensing and certification exams. Learn more about this on the SpouseWorks Scholarship website. If you wish to have the certification exam bundle included with your tuition, please contact BCI before or immediately after enrolling. If you have any additional questions, please reach out to our SpouseWorks Scholarship (MyCAA) representative at info@blackstone.edu or call 800-826-9228.
Education, training and certification/licensure in portable career fields will greatly increase military spouse employment opportunities and reduce the period of time spouses are unemployed between moves.
This funding will allow eligible military spouses to invest in education and training programs that can be completed in less than two years in programs that will enable them to obtain employment and advance in high-growth, high-demand, and nationally portable career fields. Spouses can use their SpouseWorks Scholarship to pay for expenses directly related to post-secondary education and training, including tuition, fees, books, equipment necessary to complete the education or training, and credentialing and licensing fees.
Blackstone Career Institute’s tuition falls below the maximum SpouseWorks Scholarship benefit of $4,000.
The total amount of SpouseWorks Scholarship (formerly MyCAA) provides eligible military spouses with up to $4,000, with a limit of no more than $2,000 per year in financial assistance (however, annual cap waivers may be granted if costs exceed $2,000, up to the maximum education benefit of $4,000).
A military spouse can begin the application process online at https://mycaa.militaryonesource.mil/mycaa/get-started
Due to their frequent moves, military spouses need access to education and training for careers that are portable and high-growth nationally. Therefore, accounts awarded under the demonstration will be targeted to nationally identified high-demand industry sectors that provide the greatest opportunity for career portability. Military spouses may use their SpouseWorks Scholarship to receive education or training in one of these fields:
• Health care (for jobs such as nurses, dental hygienists, and pharmacy technicians);
• Information technology (for jobs such as network analysts and database administrators);
• Education (for jobs such as teachers and teacher’s assistants);
• Financial services (for jobs such as claims adjusters, credit analysts and bank tellers); and
• Construction/skilled trades (for jobs such as carpenters and electricians).
Participating military spouses may receive career counseling, interest and aptitude testing, skill assessments, and career guidance from One-Stop Career Centers and their military installation Voluntary Education Centers or Family Support Centers. Spouses may also receive referrals to supportive services, such as child care and transportation assistance, through these organizations. MilSpouses can visit this site to find out more information about how to locate these programs.
