14 USC § 2904 - Education and training opportunities for Coast Guard spouses

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t14/s2904"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "14 USC § 2904 - Education and training opportunities for Coast Guard spouses"
title_number: 14
title_name: "COAST GUARD"
section_number: "2904"
section_name: "Education and training opportunities for Coast Guard spouses"
chapter_number: 29
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD FAMILY SUPPORT, CHILD CARE, AND HOUSING"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "COAST GUARD FAMILIES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
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.)"
---


# § 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 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.

**(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; 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.)

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 2904 was renumbered .

### Amendments

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

2018— renumbered  as this section.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

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

> “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.”

, , , provided that: