At PM-ProLearn, we’re dedicated to helping people just like you enhance their careers and their lives with professional certifications. As a company owned and operated by Veterans with real-world project management experience, we have the unique capability to help you translate your military experience into project experience and guide you to where you want to go.
Every Active-Duty Coast Guard member and Coast Guard Civilian Employee can use CG COOL to pay for certification training and exams. This page is meant to be your guide to understanding how CG COOL works, the benefits of using CG COOL for certifications, and the step-by-step process on how to do so.
CG COOL can be used to fund all of our certification programs including Project Management Professional (PMP®), Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP®), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®), Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP). Members can attend as individuals and be reimbursed by CG COOL, or group courses can be coordinated with pre-payment made by the Coast Guard. Read more about how CG COOL works for certifications below.
How CG COOL Works for Certifications
Starting 26 Aug 2022 USCG Cool/ Credential Assistance (CA) program entered into Phase 2 which means that all active duty Coast Guard AND Coast guard civilians have $4500 to spend towards certification training and exams. Vendors must be VA or DOL approved which means that PM-ProLearn's training is on the list!
Many people ask, does CG COOL pay for certifications? Yes! CG COOL actually provides up to $4,500 per fiscal year meaning you could actually earn 2 certifications with PM-ProLearn every FY. Members also get $4500 for college tuition as well separate from credentialing benefits.
With CG COOL, the process is fairly simple but can be confusing and it is slightly different depending on if you are an individual or you are attending a group course. Individuals attending by themselves must pay for the course upfront and seek reimbursement from CG COOL whereas when you attend with a group, the Coast Guard pays upfront.
Yes, that means group training can be coordinated and funded by CG COOL! We require a minimum of 14 students to get something scheduled in the U.S. or 20 if you'd like a private or overseas course. We recommend attending as a team so there is an immediate return to the organization. Below, we layout the step by step instructions for each option and recommend speaking to an advisor to get started.
CG COOL funding can cover your training cost for up to 2 of these certifications each year:
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PMP® - Project Management Professional
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PMI-ACP® - Agile Certified Practitioner
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CCMP - Certified Change Management Professional
In addition to your training, PM-ProLearn will pay for your certification exam and a retest fee* if needed (Restrictions Apply) as an added value and at no additional cost. Your training costs include a variety of benefits you can only get from PM-ProLearn for an entire year, including:
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Free reattendance to our live or virtual courses as often as you’d like
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Access to our online learning system, including videos, quizzes, practice tests, mastery tracking of key concepts, and so much more
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Ability to schedule 1-1 coaching with an instructor whenever you feel you need a bit of extra support and guidance along your journey
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Working with an instructor to expertly translate your military experience and craft a compelling PMI application
Below, we’ll lay out the step-by-step process for using your MyCAA benefits for certifications. First, it’s important to understand whether you are eligible for MyCAA. We’ll cover that next.
*Exam and Retest Fees do not apply with CCMP
Eligibility Requirements for CG COOL Benefits
CA is available to eligible active duty and SELRES members (enlisted and officers) as well as GS and WG civilian employees.
Note: Civilian employees who are occupying a position, or seeking to qualify for a position, that is excepted due to the confidential, policy-making nature of the position are ineligible for CA funding
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CA is available to eligible officer and enlisted personnel (active duty and SELRES) as well as eligible GS and WG Coast Guard civilian employees.
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Officer and Enlisted Personnel: Meet established weight and body fat standards and have at least 6 months remaining on service obligation.
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Enlisted Personnel: Must be marked "Ready" or "Not Ready” on their most recent employee reviews.
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Civilian Personnel: Have at least 90 days of prior, continuous CG service; received or expected to receive "Achieved Expectations" or higher on most recent annual appraisal or interim rating; received supervisor approval to participate in CA program.
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All Personnel: No misconduct.
What documentation is needed to apply for benefits?
Your ESO and ETQC will verify eligibility in Direct Access.
If your "Person Profile" in Direct Access is missing information, additional documentation may be requested to verify eligibility.
SELRES members must upload their most recent points statement.
How much benefits do I get to use?
Great question! Eligible members can request up to $4500 per Fiscal Year (FY) for exams and training combined.
The FY is 1 Oct – 30 September.
There is no limit to the number of applications a member can submit as long as the combined amount does not exceed $4500 per FY.
Step-By-Step Guide for CG COOL as an Individual
Step 1: If you haven’t been assigned to an advisor yet, please fill out this quick form to get started. While you wait for your advisor’s welcome email, move on to step 2. You can also download our checklist to help you along the way!
Step 2: Request approval in MyCG Ed https://myeducation.netc.navy.mil/webta/
Step 3: Once you have logged in and requested approval, select which course you want to attend on our website. The "Upcoming Courses" menu at the top of our website allows you to select the certification type you're interested in and view the list of available classes.
Step 4: If you are attending as a solo student, you will be required to pay out of pocket up front and be reimbursed by the Coast Guard. You can do so directly on the website using the purchase button for your selected class. If you are attending with a group, the coast guard will pay upfront.
Step 5: After you have attended the course, please upload your applicable receipts, OF-1164, and course results to MyCG Ed to request reimbursement from CG COOL.
Step 7: Congratulations! Your funding process is complete, and you'll be reimbursed within 30 days.
How our global demand-based scheduling process (group training) works
Step 1: Work with your ESO to assess demand for the program you are interested in. A minimum of 8 is required for virtual courses, 14 for in-person U.S., and 20 for in-person internationally.
Step 2: Assess the best delivery format and dates (Daytime or evenings, live-virtual or in-person)
Step 3: Have your ESO contact an advisor here and provide the details for your request. We'll confirm with our operations department that we can support the time zone and format. Then, we'll schedule it on our website.
Step 4: We'll work with you and your ESO to submit your individual request to receive funding for your training. Once you have your funding ID, your part is done until you're enrolled in the course!
Step 5: Your ESO will work with our CA to ensure all funding requests are submitted and process.
Step 7: Congratulations! Your funding process is complete, and two weeks prior to the course, you'll be fully enrolled into the course material and are able to start the pre-course work.
How to Use CG COOL for Certifications: A Step-By-Step Process
Below, we’ll outline the step-by-step process for using your CG COOL benefits.
Why Use CG COOL at PM-ProLearn
As a company owned and operated by Veterans and military spouses with real-world project management experience, we have the unique capability to understand your individual situation and guide you to where you need to be.
In addition to your training, PM-ProLearn will pay for your certification exam and a retest fee* if needed (Restrictions Apply) as an added value and at no additional cost. Your training costs include a variety of benefits you can only get from PM-ProLearn for an entire year, including:
-
Free re-attendance to our live or virtual courses as often as you’d like
-
Access to our online learning system, including videos, quizzes, practice tests, mastery tracking of key concepts, and so much more
-
Ability to schedule 1-1 coaching with an instructor whenever you feel you need a bit of extra support and guidance along your journey
-
Working with an instructor to expertly translate your military experience and craft a compelling PMI application
Courses that can be used with CG COOL are: PMP®, PMI-ACP®, CAPM®, LSSGB, and CCMP
*Exam and retest fees not applicable with CCMP
I am so very proud to receive my PMP certification and could not have accomplished this task without the excellent PMP training I received from PM-ProLearn, and the dedicated support and guidance of my fantastic instructors, Alvin Keen and Ryan King. Thank you all so very much for helping me achieve this goal!
Sharon Srebalus Montgomery, PMP
Frequently Asked Questions about CG COOL for Certifications
CG COOL provides up to $4,500 to use towards certifications. Individuals attending a course must pay up-front and then be reimbursed by CG COOL afterwards or the Coast Guard can pay upfront for larger groups training together.
CG COOL is available to eligible active duty and SELRES members (enlisted and officers) as well as GS and WG civilian employees.
When paying as an individual and waiting for reimbursement from CG COOL, reimbursement can typically take up to 30 days from the submission date of all your required documentation.
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Start Your Certification Journey Today
Don’t hesitate to use CG COOL for certifications today! Earning a professional certification like the PMP®, PMI-ACP®, CAPM®, LSSGB, or CCMP has many great benefits, including potential salary increases, new job opportunities, and making yourself more marketable in a competitive job market. Our CG COOL programs make earning the certifications you need to develop your desired career easy.
Connect with an advisor today to start your journey.