--- kind: "section" citation: "10 U.S.C. § 1784a" title: "10" title_heading: "Armed Forces" number: "1784a" heading: "Education and training opportunities for military spouses to expand employment and portable career opportunities" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/1784a" units: - "Subtitle A — General Military Law" - "Part II — Personnel" - "Chapter 88 — Military Family Programs and Military Child Care" - "Subchapter I — Military Family Programs" --- # §1784a. Education and training opportunities for military spouses to expand employment and portable career opportunities - (a) **Programs and Tuition Assistance.—** - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense may establish [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) to assist the [spouse](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-5) of a member of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) described in [subsection (b)](#b) in achieving— - (A) the education and [training](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) required for a degree or credential at an accredited college, university, or technical school in the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) that expands employment and portable career opportunities for the [spouse](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-5); or - (B) the education prerequisites and professional licensure or credential required, by a government or government sanctioned licensing body, for an occupation that expands employment and portable career opportunities for the [spouse](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-5). - (2) As an alternative to, or in addition to, establishing a [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) under this subsection, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) may provide tuition assistance to an eligible [spouse](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-5) who is pursuing education, [training](/usc/10/301.md?p=9), or a license or credential to expand the [spouse](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-5)’s employment and portable career opportunities. - (b) **Eligible Spouses.—** - (1) Assistance under this section is limited to a [spouse](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-5) of a member of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) who is serving on [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1). - (2) A [spouse](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-5) who is eligible for a [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) under this section and begins a course of education or [training](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) for a degree, license, or credential described in [subsection (a)](#a) may not become ineligible to complete such course of education or [training](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) solely because the member to whom the [spouse](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-5) is married is promoted to a higher [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7). - (c) **Exceptions.—** [Subsection (b)](#b) does not include— - (1) a [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) who is married to, but legally separated from, a member of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) under court order or statute of any [State](/usc/10/4951.md?p=4) or territorial possession of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1); and - (2) a [spouse](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-5) of a member of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) who is also a member of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4). - (d) **Doula and IBCLC Certifications.—** In carrying out the [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) authorized by [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) shall provide assistance to the [spouse](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-5) of a member of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) described in [subsection (b)](#b) with obtaining certification— - (1) as a doula or International Board Certified Lactation Consultant; and - (2) provided by an organization that receives reimbursement under the extramedical maternal health providers demonstration project required by section 746 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; [10 U.S.C. 1073](/usc/10/1073.md) note). - (e) **Portable Career Opportunities Defined.—** In this section, the term “portable career” [includes](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-4) an occupation identified by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense, in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Labor, as requiring education and [training](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) that results in a credential that is recognized nationwide by industry or specific businesses. - (f) **Regulations.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall prescribe regulations to govern the availability and use of assistance under this section. The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) shall ensure that [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) established under this section do not result in inequitable treatment for [spouses](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-5) of members of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) who are also members, since they are excluded from participation in the [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) under [subsection (c)(2)](#c-2). ## Source credit (Added Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title V, § 582(a), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4473; amended Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title V, § 576, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1406; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title VI, § 634, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 297.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Amendments 2023—Subsecs. (d) to (f). Pub. L. 118–31 added subsec. (d) and redesignated former subsecs. (d) and (e) as (e) and (f), respectively. 2019—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–92 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2). ### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ### First Expansion of the My Career Advancement Account Program for Military Spouses Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title V, § 580F, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1410, as amended by Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title V, § 586, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3655, provided that: Professional License or Certification; Associate’s Degree.—The Secretary of Defense shall modify the My Career Advancement Account program of the Department of Defense to ensure that military spouses participating in the program may receive financial assistance for the pursuit or maintenance (including continuing education courses) of a license, certification, or Associate’s degree in any career field or occupation. National Testing.—Financial assistance under subsection (a) may be applied to the costs of national tests that may earn a participating military spouse course credits required for a degree approved under the program (including the College Level Examination Program tests).” ### Improvement of My Career Advancement Account Program for Military Spouses Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title V, § 574, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1780, provided that: Outreach on Availability of Program.—The Secretary of Defense shall take appropriate actions to ensure that military spouses who are eligible for participation in the My Career Advancement Account program of the Department of Defense are, to the extent practicable, made aware of the program. Comptroller General Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 13, 2018], the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report setting forth such recommendations as the Comptroller General considers appropriate regarding the following: Mechanisms to increase awareness of the My Career Advancement Account program of the Department of Defense among military spouses who are eligible to participate in the program. Mechanisms to increase participation in the My Career Advancement Account program among military spouses who are eligible to participate in the program. Training for Installation Career Counselors on Program.—The Secretaries of the military departments shall take appropriate actions to ensure that career counselors at military installations receive appropriate training and current information on eligibility for and use of benefits under the My Career Advancement Account program, including financial assistance to cover costs associated with professional recertification, portability of occupational licenses, professional credential exams, and other mechanisms in connection with the portability of professional licenses.”