Soldiers: Most Army CA Requests Die on Timing. Here's the 90-to-45-Day Window

Soldiers, most Army Credentialing Assistance requests that die in ArmyIgnitED don't die because of the credential or the money. They die on timing. If you're planning a class in January or February, your window to submit is open right now, and for some classes it's already closing.

No earlier than 90 days. No later than 45.

ArmyIgnitED takes a CA request no earlier than 90 days and no later than 45 days before the course or exam start date. Inside 45 days, it won't take it at all. So for a class that starts January 11, 2027, your window runs from about October 13 to November 27.

• Oct 13, 2026Window opens
  90 days before a January 11 start.
• Nov 27, 2026Window closes
  45 days before the start. After this, ArmyIgnitED won't take the request.
• Jan 11, 2027Class starts
  Funding has to be approved before you start.

Here's what that looks like for some of our upcoming classes:

Four more ways requests get rejected

How to get it right the first time

1. Finish the one-time prerequisites. Complete the ArmyIgnitED CA training and the decision support tool.
2. Pick your credential on Army COOL. Use its exact official name.
3. Create an education goal in ArmyIgnitED. Your funding request attaches to it.
4. Get an itemized quote. Training and exam on separate lines. We usually turn quotes around the same day.
5. Submit inside the 90-to-45-day window, and make sure your supervisor signs within five days.
6. Take the exam. It's required. Skipping it triggers recoupment.

A quote you can drop straight into your request

thinQtank holds an Army CA Memorandum of Agreement and accepts Air Force COOL, MyCAA and VET TEC 2.0. Always confirm vendor status in ArmyIgnitED before you submit, and check current rules with your education counselor, because the Army changes this program.

— Scott