Army Distance Learning Program

This overview explains how Army distance learning works, which systems are used for military training and civilian education, how Tuition Assistance and credentialing programs may help, and which official resources Soldiers can use to verify current requirements.

Army Training

ATIS Learning and ATRRS

Civilian Education

ArmyIgnitED and approved colleges

Credentials

Army COOL and Credentialing Assistance

College Credit

CLEP, DSST, and military training records

What Is Army Distance Learning?

Army distance learning is a broad term that can refer to official military training completed online, civilian college courses, degree programs, professional credentials, or other education completed away from a traditional classroom.

The correct system depends on the type of education being pursued. Army training systems are generally used for military courses, while Army education systems are used to manage eligible civilian education and credentialing benefits.

Key point: ATIS Learning and ATRRS primarily support Army training. ArmyIgnitED is used for eligible civilian education and credentialing benefits. Colleges and universities provide the academic instruction and award civilian degrees.

Army Training and Education Systems

Several Army systems may be involved in online training, college education, and credentialing. Each system serves a different purpose.

Which System Do You Need?

ATIS Learning

The Army’s primary platform for accessing, completing, and tracking asynchronous digital training. It replaced the former Army Learning Management System.

ATRRS

The Army Training Requirements and Resources System contains information and registration options for many Army training programs. Some courses require ATRRS registration before appearing in ATIS Learning.

ArmyIgnitED

The Army’s education-benefits platform. Eligible Soldiers use it to establish education goals and request funding for approved civilian education and credentialing programs.

Army COOL

Army Credentialing Opportunities On-Line helps Soldiers identify civilian certifications and licenses related to military occupations and civilian career goals.

Army Online Training

Army online training may include required courses, occupational training, safety instruction, leadership education, and elective professional development.

ATIS Learning is generally used to complete digital training. ATRRS may be used to locate courses, review requirements, or complete registration before a course becomes available.

Before Accessing an Army Course

  • Confirm whether ATRRS registration is required.
  • Check whether the course appears in ATIS Learning.
  • Review prerequisites and enrollment restrictions.
  • Determine whether a Common Access Card is required.
  • Check whether access requires a government computer, military network, or VPN.
  • Follow the course-specific instructions provided by the Army.

College Education Through ArmyIgnitED

Eligible Soldiers may use ArmyIgnitED to establish an education goal and request Tuition Assistance for approved college courses or degree programs.

ArmyIgnitED is not a college and does not award degrees. The college or university provides the instruction, evaluates transfer credit, establishes degree requirements, and awards the final credential.

Current Tuition Assistance Overview

Annual Limit

Eligible Soldiers may receive up to $4,500 per fiscal year, subject to current policy and individual eligibility.

Semester Hours

Tuition Assistance may be used for up to 18 semester hours per fiscal year.

Approval

Funding requests must be submitted through the required ArmyIgnitED process and approved before the Soldier assumes the Army will pay.

Requirements

Required training, education goals, degree plans, deadlines, grades, service requirements, and other rules may affect eligibility.

Professional Credentials and Army COOL

Army COOL helps Soldiers explore civilian certifications and licenses connected to military occupations, career interests, and future employment goals.

Depending on current eligibility and policy, Credentialing Assistance may help cover approved expenses such as training, examinations, books, materials, fees, or recertification.

Before paying for a credential, verify that the credential, provider, training course, examination, and related expenses are approved through the current Army process.

Earning College Credit

Soldiers may be able to reduce the number of courses needed for a degree by using credit-by-examination programs or requesting an evaluation of previous military training and experience.

College Credit Options

CLEP

CLEP exams may allow students to earn college credit by demonstrating knowledge in subjects such as composition, mathematics, history, business, and science.

DSST

DSST exams provide another way to demonstrate college-level knowledge and potentially earn credit accepted by participating institutions.

Joint Services Transcript

The Joint Services Transcript documents military training, occupations, exam scores, and applicable college-credit recommendations. Each college decides which credit it will accept.

How to Evaluate an Online College

A school describing itself as military-friendly is not automatically affordable, properly accredited, or appropriate for a Soldier’s education and career goals.

Online College Checklist

  • Verify the institution’s accreditation.
  • Confirm participation in applicable military education programs.
  • Ask how military training and JST credit will transfer.
  • Request a formal transfer-credit evaluation.
  • Calculate the total cost remaining after Tuition Assistance.
  • Review residency and transfer-credit requirements.
  • Check military withdrawal and deployment policies.
  • Confirm whether the program meets state licensing requirements.
  • Identify clinical, internship, laboratory, or in-person requirements.
  • Review graduation, retention, debt, and employment outcomes.

Basic Education Planning Process

Steps to Take

1

Define the goal. Decide whether you need Army training, a civilian degree, college credit, or a professional credential.

2

Speak with an education counselor. Review current benefits, eligibility rules, previous credit, and documentation requirements.

3

Compare programs. Review accreditation, cost, transfer policies, military credit, schedule, and career relevance.

4

Obtain an evaluated degree plan. Ask the college to evaluate previous coursework and the Joint Services Transcript.

5

Confirm funding. Submit the required request and verify approval before enrolling or paying for a course.

Official Army and Military Education Resources

Use official sources to verify current systems, funding limits, registration requirements, credentialing rules, and education policies.

Where to Verify Information

ArmyIgnitED

ArmyIgnitED Portal
Use this system for eligible education goals and funding requests.

Army Training

ATIS Learning
Access and complete eligible online Army training.

Course Registration

ATRRS
Review Army course and registration information.

Credentials

Army COOL
Research certifications, licenses, and credentialing options.

College Planning

DANTES
Find military education, testing, transcript, and college-planning resources.

Compare Colleges

TA DECIDE
Compare participating institutions and military student information.

Military Credit

Joint Services Transcript
Access military training and credit recommendations.

Considering a Civilian Online Degree?

For more information about online formats, credentials, accreditation, costs, transfer policies, student support, licensing requirements, and official verification resources, see the
Online Degrees and Distance Learning
guide.

All program, agency, system, school, and organization names are trademarks or names associated with their respective owners. Study Guide Zone and Mometrix are not affiliated with or endorsed by the United States Army, Department of Defense, ArmyIgnitED, Army COOL, DANTES, ATRRS, or ATIS Learning.

 

Last Updated: July 28, 2026