US Army
Vocational/Technical Program

Pikes Peak Community College is proud to participate in the US Army’s Vocational/ Technical Soldier pilot program. This innovative program is designed to provide training in high-demand career fields to help all soldiers find employment after they transition out of the Army. The program is open to all soldiers on active duty - to include National Guard and Reserve Soldiers on extended active duty.   For more detailed AVOTEC program information, please visit the US Army Education Division website at https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/education/VOTEC_Program.html.  See also the FAQ section below.

PPCC AVOTEC Program Offerings

Emergency Medical Technician (Basic) $1,375.00

Farrier Science $2,875.00

Homeland Security/Emergency Management  $2,498.00

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Fundamentals  - CANCELLED

Microsoft Certified Application Specialist - CANCELLED

Multimedia Graphic Design  $1760.00

Welding Fundamentals $2,434.00

For additional information click on the program title links above, see the FAQ section below, or contact the Pikes Peak Community College office on Fort Carson by calling (719) 502-4200, or by email at Mil.programs@ppcc.edu; or visit our office in the Fort Carson Education Center located at the corner of Specker and Ellis, Building 1117, Room 118.  

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the program guidelines?
How do I register for courses?
Is there career counseling available to help soldiers choose a vocational programs that fits their background and future goals, or choose an entirely different field?
Can a Soldier earn credit towards as associate’s degree, or does the tuition assistance apply strictly to vocational training?
What is the maximum length of a program that will be funded?
Is there a cap on tuition assistance?
Will the Army pay for my tuition directly, or do I have to apply for reimbursement?
The Program expires in September. What is the deadline to apply?
What if the program I am interested in continues after the 2009 deadline?
Who can answer more specific inquiries about the program?
How does this program differ from traditional credit based Tuition Assistance (TA) programs available on GoArmyEd?
Who is eligible to participate in this program?
Are there any out of pocket costs associated with the programs?

What are the program guidelines?
AVOTEC program guidelines

1. Non-degree-based certificate, licensure
2. Non-credit-hour-based - cannot be based on semester or quarter hours
3. No longer than 18 months in length
4. The FY cap for all programs is $4500. Anything exceeding this $4,500 cap will be the responsibility of the soldier. For example, if a soldier has been pursuing an academmic degree and has used $2,000 in TA - he has $2,500 left that he can use for the AVOTEC Program.
5. Soldiers participating in the pilot program must be enrolled and approved in a community college, private trade or technical school program prior to 30 September 2009.

How do I register for courses?
Registration: Soldier must complete the AVOTEC registration process as described on the army AVOTEC web site. Approval can take up to 14 working days. The soldier must then bring or fax the approval form to the PPCC Fort Carson office at least two business days prior to the program start date to complete registration.

Is there career counseling available to help soldiers choose a vocational programs that fits their background and future goals, or choose an entirely different field?
Yes, at the local Army Education Centers.

Can a Soldier earn credit towards as associate’s degree, or does the tuition assistance apply strictly to vocational training?
Programs that are part of an academic program (semester or quarter hour based) will not qualify. The Army already gives Tuition assistance for those programs. However, if the program is vocational and some of the classes can be used for the dual credit then it would. Programs must lead toward licensure or Certification State or National. A nurse aid program that will train someone to sit for a state or national certification would qualify. Traditional TA will not be used for this program.

What is the maximum length of a program that will be funded?
18 months.

Is there a cap on tuition assistance?
Yes, the maximum amount the Army will pay per fiscal year is $4500.00. Anything exceeding this $4500.00 cap will be the responsibility of the Soldier. For example, if a soldier has been pursuing an academic degree and has used $2000.00 in TA, he has $2500.00 left that he can use for the AVOTEC Program. (The FY Cap for all programs is $4500.00).

Will the Army pay for my tuition directly, or do I have to apply for reimbursement?
The Army will pay PPCC directly - no out of pocket expenses for the soldier.

The Program expires in September. What is the deadline to apply?
Soldiers need to be enrolled and approved in Community College, private trade or technical school programs prior to September 30, 2009, but not later than two business days prior to the published start date.

What if the program I am interested in continues after the 2009 deadline?
The program can continue after September 30, 2009 as long as the soldier has enrolled and has received notification of approval.

Who can answer more specific inquiries about the program?
Local Army Education Centers.

How does this program differ from traditional credit based Tuition Assistance (TA) programs available on GoArmyEd?
TA is authorized for programs that are part of an academic program (semester or quarter hour based) and lead toward an academic degree (AA, BA, MA). This new pilot program targets Soldiers seeking occupational/vocational training that is not eligible for Tuition Assistance (TA). Programs must lead toward state or national licensure or certification. A nurse aid program that will train someone to sit for a state or national certification would qualify. The pilot program guidelines are the following:

1. Non-degree based – certificates, licensure
2. Non-credit hour based – cannot be based on semester or quarter hours
3. No longer than 18 months in length

Who is eligible to participate in this program?
All soldiers on active duty to include National Guard or Army Reserve on extended active duty are eligible.  Civilians and veterans are able to apply for these certificate programs, but only active duty soldiers are eligible for Tuition Assistance.

Are there any out of pocket costs associated with the programs?
No, all program costs are rolled into the tuition price – to include tools, books and classroom materials.