1. Overview of Services’ COOL Programs 2-August-2017
SOLID, LLC

2. Overview of Services’ Credentialing Programs and Policies
Army
Navy
Marine Corps
Air Force
COOL Program Established
2002
2005
2014
Information Dissemination on COOL Sites – MOC to Credential Linkages/Analysis
Enlisted 
Warrant Officers
Officers
Federal Civilians
Payment of Voluntary Credentialing Fees – Covered Personnel Categories
 (limited)
Relationship of Credential to Military Occupation
Must be related to MOS and covered in training
Must be related to most or some rating or collateral duties or to a degree or certificate earned by the Sailor
Must be related to most or some MOS duties
Must be related to most or some AFSC duties

3. Overview of Services’ Credentialing Programs and Policies (cont.)
Army
Navy
Marine Corps
Air Force
Number of Credentials/Dollar Limit
TBD
Unlimited
Unlimited up to $4,500
Types of Credentialing Fees Covered
Application Fees 
Exams
Required Membership
Recertification or Maintenance Fee
Other Policies
Time of Service Requirements
Minimum 6 months enlistment remaining (waiverable)
Minimum 6 months enlistment remaining
Policy for Failed Exams
No repayment required, but Service member cannot take again w/ Service funding
No repayment required (unless separating), but Service member cannot take again w/ Service funding
Additional Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) for Receipt of Credential Funding? No

4. Overview of Services’ Credentialing Programs and Policies (cont.)
Army
Navy
Marine Corps
Air Force
Credential Preparation Fees Funding Sources
Tuition Assistance1 
Tuition Assistance Clock Hour2
COOL3
1Tuition Assistance is available for courses that are offered as part of an approved academic degree or certificate program. The courses must be offered by schools that are accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and are signatories to the current Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding (DOD MOU). (Each Service may have additional requirements.)
2Clock Hour TA is available for Non-College Degree (NCD) schools that offer certificate and diploma programs on a clock hour basis rather than through award of semester or quarter hour credits. NCD programs must be approved by Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) -
3Air Force COOL will pay for certain credential preparation fees, including courses, study guides, textbooks, etc. This is applied to the $4,500 per Airman maximum credentialing budget.

5. COOL Overview Army COOL – https://www.cool.army.mil
Department of Navy COOL–
Navy COOL –
Marine Corps COOL –
Air Force COOL -
11/14/2018
SOLID, LLC

6. What is COOL?
Provides background information about civilian credentialing
Identifies licenses and certifications relevant to military occupations
Identifies detailed credential requirements and exam preparation resources
Identifies gaps between military training and experience and civilian credentialing requirements
Provides information on resources available to Service members to fill gaps and facilitate credentialing
Provides information to external stakeholders on credentialing of Service members and Veterans
Note: Information included on COOL web sites varies to some degree across Services
11/14/2018
SOLID, LLC

7. Key Elements of COOL: MOC Summary Pages
One per MOC
Include:
MOC Description
Related Credentials
Related Occupational Equivalents
Additional Information
Developed using “Related Determination” Process
11/14/2018
SOLID, LLC

8. Related Occupations on MOC Summary Page
11/14/2018
SOLID, LLC

9. COOL Leader/Manager Pages
All Services’ have designated certain cross-cutting credentials as applicable to all senior enlisted or officers who perform in leadership and/or managerial positions
Separate Summary Pages are on COOL for these Leader/Manager Pages:
Navy Leader Page (applies to E-4 and above and officers)
Marine Corps Leader Page (applies to E-5 and above)
Army Manager Page (applies to E-5 and above)
11/14/2018
SOLID, LLC

10. Key Elements of COOL: Analysis Pages
Can have several per MOC
Applies to “Directly” and “Skill” Related Certifications
Includes detailed results of gap analysis and exam preparation resources
Developed using “Comparability Analysis” Process
11/14/2018
SOLID, LLC

11. Key Elements of COOL: Credential Snapshot Pages
Credential Description
Credential Contact Information
Related MOCs
Summary of Cred Requirements
Detailed Cred Requirements
Recertification Requirements
11/14/2018
SOLID, LLC

12. Example of PMI/PMP Credential Snapshot Page
11/14/2018
SOLID, LLC

13. Types of Credentials Applicable to MOCs
Directly Related – credential related to the majority of tasks (approximately 80 percent) performed within the MOC
Skill Related – credential related to a specific embedded skill set within an MOC
Other/Advanced – other potentially related specialized or advanced credential
11/14/2018
SOLID, LLC

14. Attainability of Credentials
Key Types of Credential Requirements
Education
Training
Work or professional experience
Examinations
Credentialing requirements drive level of preparation required and time required to prepare
Credentials should be identified early in Service members’ careers to allow for preparation
Some credentials may be attainable within the year-long transition period
11/14/2018
SOLID, LLC

15. Factors that Impact Success in Attaining a Credential
Prior Service Education, Training and Experience
Military Voluntary Education
Coursework
Degrees
CLEP Testing
Military Training and Experience
Primary MOC Formal Training*
Specialty Training
Professional Military Education
On-the-Job Training/ Qualification Standards
Collateral Duty Training/Experience
Military SOPs
Specific Credential Preparation After Identification of Credential Goal:
Additional Education
Additional Training
Review of Study Materials
Other – study sessions, pre-tests
11/14/2018
Solutions for Information Design, LLC

16. Alignment Between Military Training and Civilian Credential Exam Objectives
Scenario 1:
Military Training Completely Aligned w/ Credential Exam Objectives
Scenario 2:
Military Training Closely Aligned w/ Credential Exam Objectives
Scenario 3:
Military Training Not Closely Aligned w/ Credential Exam Objectives
Goals:
Maximum credit from credentialing agencies for military training
Access to resources to fill gaps during military service
Military training fully meets exam objective
Military training partially meets exam objective
Military training does not meet exam objective
11/14/2018
SOLID, LLC

17. Key Methods to Fill Credentialing Gaps
Credential Exam Objectives
Military Training
Gap Learning
Study Materials/ Vendor Training
On-the-Job Training
Military e Learning
11/14/2018
SOLID, LLC

18. COOL Research and Analysis Process
11/14/2018
SOLID, LLC

19. Relatedness Determinations
Match military occupations to civilian jobs and civilian credentials
Form basis of COOL MOC summary pages
Based on analysis of:
Related MOCs in other services
MOC manuals and other available information
Requires feedback from:
Service COOL program offices
Other designated Service SMEs (e.g., Career Field Managers and/or schoolhouses)
11/14/2018
SOLID, LLC

20. Comparability Analyses
Provide results of gap analyses between military training and civilian credentialing requirements
Form basis of MOC/Credential Comparability Analysis page
Conducted for credentials determined to be most relevant to the MOCs
Based on thorough analysis of Service training course learning objectives against credentialing exam topics
Requires feedback from:
Service COOL program offices
Other designated Service SMEs (e.g., Career Field Managers and/or schoolhouses)
Note: Comparability analyses done for Army, Navy, Air Force
11/14/2018
SOLID, LLC