Army Vocational/Technical (AVOTEC) Soldier Program
August 14, 2009
Content
- What Soldiers, Schools & Counselors need to know!
- Background
- School Participation Criteria
- AVOTEC Soldier Enrollment Process
- Eligible Programs by State or online
- Guidance for Testing and Credentialing Organizations
- Eligible Testing and Credentialing Organizations
- AVOTEC News
- FAQ
What Soldiers, Schools & Counselors need to know!
· Can I take more than one
course at a time?
No, programs should be taken
consecutively, not concurrently unless there is some compelling reason for
an exception to policy.
· I am in the National Guard, can
I participate in AVOTEC?
Yes, any National Guard
or Reserve Soldier on extended Active Duty for six months or longer, can use
AVOTEC funds.
· I want to sign up for a program
offered later in the year, how far out can I apply?
Registration for programs will not be approved more
than eight weeks prior to the start date of training.
· What happens if I register for a
program and pay for it? Will AVOTEC reimburse me for the cost of the
training?
NO reimbursements, NO exceptions.
· Why is there a “hold” on my
account?
Common “holds” include: ETS date,
Academic GPA, and Advanced Degrees. All of these “holds” should be
waived by Education Center and SFAC counselors to allow Soldiers to enroll
in AVOTEC.
· Is it true that I have to pay
back money if I leave the Army before I finish the program?
No, you must begin the program before you leave the
Army. AVOTEC is a transition program and there is no requirement to remain
in the Army or to pay back any money if you leave before your instruction is
completed.
· Which box do I use to fill in
the cost of a program?
The only box you fill in
Course Cost section is the “Additional TA-eligible Fees” box. The rest
of the boxes will automatically populate with the correct information.
· How do I get AVOTEC
correspondence to the right person?
For all
correspondence regarding the AVOTEC program, please be sure to include the
word AVOTEC in the subject line of your e-mail.
Background
Congress has selected the Army to participate in an education pilot program
designed to provide expanded education opportunities for Soldiers, officers
and Wounded Warriors serving on active duty -- to include National Guard and
Reserve Soldiers on extended active duty.
The intent of this short-term pilot program is to provide training in
high-demand career fields to help Soldiers find employment after they
transition out of the Army. Army Education is working with technical and
community colleges throughout the United States to build upon existing
programs and develop new pilot re-training programs in high demand career
occupations, such as rehabilitation, nursing, medical technology, and other
health care occupations.
The Army Vocational/Technical (AVOTEC) Program was announced January 15 and Army
Education Centers and Soldier and Family Assistance Centers will begin
assisting Soldiers with enrollment beginning February 1.
The completed website will provide an up-to-date listing of community and
technical college program submissions for inclusion in the AVOTEC Program.
Soldiers are to consider enrollment in these programs for training or
re-training. However, as the HQDA Executive Agent for the AVOTEC Program, HQ
ACES reserves the right to disapprove programs that do not meet the
eligibility criteria of the Program. Programs can be no longer than 18
months in length and should not exceed the maximum cost limit of $4500.00 per
fiscal year.
All costs for instruction, certification, or license must be paid by
September 30, 2009. No additional funds will be available after the ending
date for this pilot program.
Community colleges and technical schools will be added to this website as
their programs are submitted and approved.
Please revisit this website regularly for the latest up-to-date information
on programs as they are approved and added to the website.
Thank you for all of your efforts and continued support of our Soldiers and
their Families.
School Participation Criteria
The AVOTEC program is a program designed for Soldiers exiting the service. As such, each program offered to the Soldier has to be a complete package. It cannot be piecemealed out.
Example: Home Inspection Certification Course
- Home Inspection Technical Training
- Inspecting New Construction
- Report Writing
- Advanced Electrical Systems Inspections
- Inspecting Pools and Spas
- Advanced Heating Inspections
- Introduction to Green Building Inspections
- Certified Mold Inspector and Assessor
- Radon Measurement
The tuition is $3,980.00.
AVOTEC Program History:
The Army is making available a substantial amount of money to support the
Army's Soldier Vocational-Technical Training Program. This program is
different from typical credit/semester hour-based occupational/technical
programs which are available to Soldiers through traditional college
programs offered to Soldiers on the GoArmyEd Portal. Programs that are part
of an academic program (Semester or Quarter hour based) will not qualify.
The Army already gives Tuition Assistance (TA) for those programs. However
if the program is vocational and some of the classes can be use for dual
credit then it would. Programs must lead toward licensure or certification
at state or national level. A nurses aid program that will train someone to
sit for a state or national certification would qualify. Traditional TA will
not be used for this program.
All Soldiers on active duty to included National Guard and Army Reserve are
eligible. However, this is not a veteran's program; THIS IS A PROGRAM FOR
ACTIVE DUTY SOLDIERS ONLY.
There is no Additional Service Obligation (ADSO) for officers who
participate in the AVOTEC program.
This new pilot program targets Soldiers seeking occupational training that
provides a capstone test and/or certification.
Pilot program guidelines :
1. Non-degree based - certificate, licensure
2. Non-credit hour based - cannot be based on semester or quarter hours
3. No longer than 18 months in length
4. The FY Cap for all programs is $4500. Anything exceeding this $4500 cap
will be the responsibility of the Soldier. For example; if a Soldier has
been pursuing an academic degree and has used $2000 in TA--he has $2500 left
that he can use for the AVOTEC Program.
5. Soldiers participating in the pilot program must be enrolled and approved
in a community college, private trade or technical school program prior to
30 September 2009.
Criteria for school participation:
1. Community college, private trade and technical school programs
approved by the Department of Education are eligible to participate in this
program.
2. Institutions must agree to accept the Government’s Tuition Assistance
Reimbursement (TAR) Form as promissory payment.
3. Participating colleges that do business with the government must be
registered in Central Contractor Registration, ccr.gov online. Participating
schools must complete this enrollment and registration process in order to
receive payment from the government. Further invoicing or bill paying
details are included on the Tuition Reimbursement Enrollment Form that the
Soldier submits to the school.
4. Do not submit invoices prior to the class start date and provide a class
roster with each invoice. Invoices will not be processed or paid prior to
the individual start date of each enrollment.
5. Institutions must provide proof of Soldier enrollment (class roster).
6. Submit notice of Soldier’s completion of course.
Requirements for program submission:
1. Provide a list of the vocational non-degree producing programs
(18-month maximum class length) that meet the criteria for inclusion in the
pilot program.
2. Provide a link to the specific program website where Soldiers can find
detailed information on the programs.
3. Submit information in the attached format (see program inclusion format
attachment). Please send the Information to
pay.ta@conus.army.mil and upon
approval it will be posted for Soldiers on the Army Continuing Education
System website.
For additional inquiries please send e-mail to
pay.ta@conus.army.mil
Reference documents:
AVOTEC Authorized Program Inclusion Form
AVOTEC Soldier Enrollment Process
1. Soldier must have an active account in GoArmyEd to enroll in AVOTEC.
a. If no GoArmyEd account, Soldier goes to Army Education Center for
assistance in acquiring an account and access to the GoArmyEd Portal.
2. Once enrolled in the GoArmyEd Portal:
a. If Soldier has previously used the TA Reimbursement form, Soldier will
log in and do the following:
- Click My Virtual Education Center
- Click Enroll or Drop a Course/Withdraw from a Course link
- Click the Launch Reimbursement Request link
b. If Soldier has not used the TA Reimbursement form, Soldier will log in
and do the following:
- Click My Virtual Education Center
- Click Enroll or Drop/Withdraw from a Course
- Click Request TA and Enroll in a Course
- Review your account information. Click the Account Information Verified
- Click OK
- Select the term for your class start date
- Click Class Search radio button
-Click Search
- Click the statement, Click here if you wish to take a class from a
college not listed, on the Search Course Schedule screen
3. Soldier types SVP in the college field on the Add Request TA Reimbursement screen. (Subject code and catalog Nbr will then auto populate.)
4. Start date
a. If enrolling for Program, Soldier types in course Start Date and
clicks Add button.
b. If enrolling for certification/licensure exam, Soldier types in
Exam date and clicks Add button.
5. On the enrollment form the Soldier fills in the following information:
a. If enrolling for program complete:
- Course Title
- End Date
- Instruction Mode
b. If enrolling for certification/licensure exam complete:
- Type of exam
- End Date
- Instruction Mode
6. Soldier fills in the Registrar Contact Information
a. If enrolling for program complete:
- Name of school (satellite campus if applicable) and POC
- Phone
- Email
- School Web Site
b. If enrolling for certification/licensure exam complete:
- Name of certifying Agency and POC
- Phone
- Email
- Certifying Agency Web site
7. Soldier fills in the Course cost:
a. If enrolling for program-place the program cost in the Additional TA
eligible Fees block. (no other blocks in the course cost area should be
filled)
b. If enrolling for exam for certification/licensure-place the exam cost in
the Additional TA eligible Fees block. (no other blocks in the course
cost area should be filled)
8. Soldier clicks Save to submit the form
Select your state below to view local eligible programs
*DISCLAIMER: These are the community and vocational and technical college program submissions that are potentially eligible for inclusion in the AVOTEC Program or for Soldiers to consider for possible enrollment and training or re-training. HQ ACES reserves the right to exercise HQDA disapproval authority for programs that do not meet the eligibility criteria of the Program.
Don't see the program you're looking for? Be sure to check back. Programs updated weekly.
Guidance for
Testing and Credentialing Organizations
Credentialing organizations and testing agencies are not listed individually on the AVOTEC website. However, testing agencies and credentialing organizations that offer licensure and certification exams and are interested in participating in the AVOTEC program must meet the following criteria.
- Soldiers will not be required to pay a deposit or pay in advance when registering for tests.
- Credentialing organizations and testing agencies must be willing to accept the Tuition Assistance Reimbursement (TAR) Form as a promissory payment.
- Credentialing organizations and testing agencies must complete the registration and enrollment process in the Central Contractor Registration found on line at (www.ccr.gov ) in order to receive payment.
- As with all AVOTEC programs, there is no retroactive reimbursement to Soldiers for license or certification testing
Additional information for submitting invoices for payment is included on the Tuition Reimbursement Enrollment (TAR) Form that the Soldier must submit prior to testing. For further instructions please send all inquiries to pay.ta@conus.army.mil with “AVOTEC Question” in the subject line.
Eligible Testing and Credentialing Organizations
National Environmental Health Association
AVOTEC News
AVOTEC and Certification/Licensure, HOT off the Press!
Effective 1 March, Soldiers can use the AVOTEC Program to pay for Certification/Licensure. Click on the Army Credentialing Opportunities On-line (COOL) logo for help to determine the kind of certification & licensing options available to Soldiers. To enroll for Certification/Licensure exams follow the same procedures as outlined in "AVOTEC Soldier enrollment process".
AVOTEC Website Hot Topic News Splash!
AVOTEC Enrollment Applications Update: Due to the increasing interest in
the AVOTEC Program, Soldiers should submit application at least one week
prior to the start date of programs.
Webmaster Updates: New schools and updates to AVOTEC Website
will be posted on Mondays.