Credentials
Once you have selected a credential, reviewed any requirements, and obtained any additional training or experience needed, you are ready to apply for and take the credentialing exam. Follow the credentialing boards' application procedures which often include:
- Submitting an application
- Submitting documentation of military training and experience
- Taking an exam
- Possibly paying application and exam fees
After you've earned the credential, make sure you are aware of any requirements to keep your credential active. Check with the credentialing agency regarding the following items:
- Is there a renewal period for the certification and if so, how long is it? Many certifying agencies require you to renew your certification after a period of time, for example every three years.
- Are there renewal requirements? Credentialing agencies may require additional training or education, commonly called continuing education, after you earn a credential to demonstrate up-to-date knowledge. Others may require that you take the certification exam again at the end of the renewal period. Renewal requirements, and costs, will vary by credentialing agency.
Most certifications and licenses have fees associated with them that are charged by the credentialing board or agency such as application fees and exam fees. In addition, you may need to pay for additional training or education if you do not meet the requirements set by a credentialing board or certification agency. To prepare for a credential, consider the following questions:
- Do you need additional training and experience to qualify for licensure or certification?
- Do you need financial assistance to pay for additional training or for credentialing exam fees?
There are resources available to help Service members cover some of the costs associated with credentialing. For example, eligible service members and veterans can use the Montgomery GI Bill to pay for fees for approved civilian occupational licensing and certification exams. GI Bill benefits can also be used for costs associated with an undergraduate degree at a college or university, a certificate or diploma from a business, technical or vocational school, training programs, and apprenticeships.
See the Cost & Resources on COOL for more information on the resources available.
After using the Find and Select Related Credentials search to find the credentials related to your MOS, learn about credential requirements by following these steps:
- Look for the certifications marked as D (directly related) or S (skill related) in the Related Credentials table. These certifications have the most potential for you to take advantage of the training and education you've received in the Army by using the knowledge and skills you've learned to help you earn a civilian credential.
- Click on the certification name in the table to open up a Credential Snapshot page. The Snapshot pages contain a brief description of the certification, a summary of the credential requirements, and links to the certification agency's web page for additional information.
- Review the Summary and Eligibility tabs on the snapshot page to get an overview of what is required by the certification agency (on the Summary tab) and specific details (on the Eligibility tab), if applicable. Credentialing boards determine the requirements for licensure and certification. Typically they require a combination of the following:
- Education
- Training
- Work or professional experience
- Examinations
- Other unique job-related requirements
- Contact the credentialing agency to confirm applicable licensure or certification requirements and request application forms and exam preparation materials if available. If the COOL snapshot page is under development, find out if exam, experience, or education requirements are involved. Inquire about any fees associated with applying for a credential.
- Determine if the Army training or experience you already have is accepted by the credentialing agency.
- Determine what additional steps, if any, you need to take to become licensed or certified.
- If the credentialing agency does not explicitly recognize military training and experience in its written requirements, it may be necessary to contact the board directly to ask.
- If the credentialing agency indicates that military training and experience are not automatically recognized, find out if they can conduct an individual assessment of your military training and experience, and what you need to do to initiate the assessment.
The COOL Quotes page is home to quotes both from officials about the GI-to-Jobs initiative (the initiative leading to the development of COOL), and from users of the web site —quotes about COOL, and about using COOL.
Quotes about the GI-to-Jobs Initiative
Following are quotes from officials about the GI-to-Jobs Initiative and about the development of the COOL Web site.
The Army offers the best training in the world, and when you add extraordinary experience, additional study and leader development, the country will benefit from GI to Jobs with exceptionally qualified veterans for the 21st century workforce. In addition to giving Soldiers an opportunity for professional growth and a head start on transition to civilian life after Army, the GI to Jobs initiative also benefits retention and recruiting. Potential recruits want assurance that they will receive the same opportunities in the military that their peers have in civilian careers. The GI to Jobs program, when combined with military training, offers them that advantage and more. — Major General Kathryn Frost
Quotes from Users
Since the Credentialing Opportunities On-Line Web site was launched in April 2002, hundreds of e-mails have been sent to the COOL feedback mailbox. The types of comments received indicate that COOL is reaching a diverse audience, including Soldiers, officers, veterans, credentialing board officials, and other industry professionals.
Thank you for putting together a site that allows Soldiers to better understand their MOS in conjunction with a civilian job. I truly enjoyed the ease in which the site was put together. It is very easy to navigate around and the information is great. I am recommending this site to all my Army buddies. I think the information will help them to better understand the type of job they have now in the military and what it is they can do to better their opportunities in the civilian work force. Thanks again for such a great site! — SPC
As I was looking at the PERSCOM web site, I discovered this link. Needless to say, I decided to investigate. I think it is a great idea. It will allow Soldiers to further their education in their MOS, should they choose to do so. There are many Soldiers who don’t know about this web site. I’m going to make sure I tell as many as possible. GREAT SITE! — Soldier, AMEDD
COOL is ‘cool,’ if you know what I mean. When will there be a COOL for officers? — Lieutenant Colonel
This is an excellent site.
— Nurse Executive, Department of Veterans Affairs
I just visited your web site this morning and found it to be an excellent resource for me and my customers! I am a Local Veterans Employment Representative (LVER) with the State of Washington Employment Security Department. Your web site will be very helpful to me in identifying the criteria/education needed by our recently discharged veterans understand the requirements of employers for their selected field. Providing a list of names of possible employing agencies is an excellent resource! So, in conclusion, your web site will be an excellent resource for those who serve the unemployed veteran. — LVER, State of Washington Employment Security Dept.
