---
kind: "section"
citation: "14 U.S.C. § 2904"
title: "14"
title_heading: "Coast Guard"
number: "2904"
heading: "Education and training opportunities for Coast Guard spouses"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/14/2904"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Personnel"
  - "Chapter 29 — Coast Guard Family Support, Child Care, and Housing"
  - "Subchapter I — Coast Guard Families"
---

# §2904. Education and training opportunities for Coast Guard spouses

- (a) **Tuition Assistance.—** The Commandant may provide, subject to the availability of appropriations, tuition assistance to an eligible spouse to facilitate the acquisition of—
  - (1) education and training required for a degree or credential at an accredited college, university, or technical school in the [United States](/usc/14/2941.md?p=4) that expands employment and portable career opportunities for the spouse; or
  - (2) education prerequisites and a professional license or credential required, by a government or government-sanctioned licensing body, for an occupation that expands employment and portable career opportunities for the spouse.
- (b) **Definitions.—** In this section, the following definitions apply:
  - (1) **Eligible spouse.—**
    - (A) **In general.—** The term “eligible spouse” means the spouse of a member of the Coast Guard who is serving on active duty and includes a spouse who receives transitional compensation under [section 1059 of title 10](/usc/10/1059.md).
    - (B) **Exclusion.—** The term “eligible spouse” does not include an individual who—
      - (i) is married to, but legally separated from, a member of the Coast Guard under a court order or statute of any State or territorial possession of the [United States](/usc/14/2941.md?p=4); or
      - (ii) is eligible for tuition assistance as a member of the Armed Forces.
  - (2) **Portable career.—** The term “portable career” includes an occupation that requires education, training, or both that results in a credential that is recognized by an industry, profession, or specific type of business.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 113–281, title II, § 214(a), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 3030, § 542; renumbered § 2904, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 117(b), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4230; amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXV [LXXXV], § 8505(a)(49), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4750.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 2904 was renumbered section 5104 of this title.

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “an individual” for “a person” in introductory provisions.

2018—Pub. L. 115–282 renumbered section 542 of this title as this section.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Second Expansion of the My Career Advancement Account Program for Military Spouses

Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title V, § 580G, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1410, provided that: “The spouse of a member of the Coast Guard may participate in the My Career Advancement Account program of the Department of Defense if the Coast Guard reimburses the Department of Defense.”