1. INFO MEMO
November 27, 2011
SUBJECT: Credentialing Opportunities for Sailors Separating from
Navy
Reference: OPNAVINST 1540.56a
Enlisted Retention Board (ERB) Affected Sailors:
Navy Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) will approve
time-in-service waivers for Sailors selected within FY-12 Quota-
Based Enlisted Retention Board (ERB).
Approximately 3,000 Sailors within 31 enlisted ratings, who
will now have less than one year remaining on active duty,
will be granted waiver to policy, OPNAVINST 1540.56a Navy
Credentialing Program. Specifically:
a. Enlisted shall meet one of the following eligibility
requirements:
- be in the appropriate rating or occupation to which
the credential is mapped
- be currently working in, or have been assigned to a
position to which the credential is mapped
- have prior documented experience in a position to
which the credential is mapped for credentials outside
of their specific rating, and the credential has
relevance or applicability to the current or future
needs of the command or the Navy Reserve
b. Eligibility for Sailor credentials must be validated and
approved by their commanding officer or command-
designated approving official. Additionally, before
authorizing the request, commands must also certify that
Sailors:
- have passed their most recent advancement exam
- have passed, or been medically waived from, their most
recent physical fitness assessment

2. - have not received a non-judicial or courts martial
punishment within the past 6 months
- selected for separation under FY-12 Quota-Based
Enlisted Retention Board
- must be able to complete all certification requirements
no less than 60 calendar days prior to separation from
Navy
c. Personnel must also satisfy credentialing agency
eligibility requirements for the certification/licensure
being sought prior to requesting exam funding.
Certification and licensure exam voucher request form may be
downloaded from Navy COOL website, https://www.cool.navy.mil
and submitted electronically via e-mail to
navycool(at)navy.mil, or faxed (850) 452-6897.
Should service member decide to withdraw the request for exam
funding or is unable to complete the navy-funded credentialing
exam prior to 60 calendar days from separation from Navy, the
member is required to return any voucher not used. Provide
correspondence (fax or email) from the member's Commanding
Officer confirming withdrawal for military or emergency
reasons.
The service member shall provide pass and fail results to
Navy's Credentials Program Office within 30 calendar days of
notification of exam results from the credentialing agency.
Those service members affiliating with the Navy Reserve will
remain eligible for continued navy-funded credentialing exams,
consistent with authority found in OPNAVINST 1540.56a.
Though it is not the purpose of the Navy's Credentialing
Program to be utilized solely a component of transition,
earning an industry-recognized certification or license may
provide a key component towards a successful transition from
enlisted Sailor to civilian employee.
Sailors should visit Navy Credentialing Opportunities On-Line
(COOL) at https://www.cool.navy.mil as industry-recognized
certification or license may make the difference in transition
from enlisted Sailor to civilian employee. Navy COOL home

3. page now displays an "ERB Affected Sailor" button that Sailors
can review for credentialing opportunities.
Any Transitioning Sailor:
COOL is a resource for:
o Navy Service Members (enlisted and officers) who want to
know what civilian credentials relate to their ratings,
designators, and collateral duties/out of rate
assignments and how to obtain the credentials.
o Education, Career and Transition Counselors providing
guidance on education, professional growth, and career
requirements and opportunities.
o Navy Recruiters who want to show potential recruits the
opportunities for professional growth and civilian career
preparation available through Navy service.
o Employers and Credentialing Boards interested in how
military training and experience prepares Navy service
members for civilian credentials and jobs.
COOL provides each enlisted rating, Officer Designator, and
(where applicable) collateral duty with direct ties to
Department of Labor (DOL)-recognized civilian occupational
equivalents. This allows the Sailor to:
o easily identify the civilian occupations that tie closest
to their Navy training, experience, and education.
o Links the Sailor to DOL O*Net for that civilian
occupation. This can prove to be a valuable resource
when writing a resume…converting military speak back in
to civilian speak, as this puts the tasks, knowledge,
skills, and abilities into a civilian context.
o Wages and employment trends are also available.
COOL provides each enlisted rating, Officer Designator, and
(where applicable) collateral duty with direct ties to Federal
Government/GS occupational equivalents. This allows the
Sailor to:

4. o easily identify the Federal occupations (by job series)
that tie closest to their Navy training, experience, and
education.
o Links the Sailor to the Office of Personnel Management
(OPM) description of the job series being reviewed.
o Links the Sailor to the Department of Labor, Licensing
and Regulation Military to Federal Jobs Crosswalk
(Mil2Fed) website. Mil2Fed provides tools to:
Identify federal jobs related to your military
occupation
Find out about the federal job characteristics, such
as duties, paygrade, and qualifications
Search USAJobs for vacancies
How does licensure and certification affect transitioning
service members?
o In today’s ever-competitive job market, service members
may need a license or certification to “beat their
competition” in the job-hunting process or the credential
may be a requirement to practice the equivalent of their
military occupation in the civilian workforce. For those
who need this edge, the impact of licensure and
certification requirements vary depending upon if
credentials were earned while in the military, and if
military education, training, and experience meet the
civilian credentialing requirements.
o Five basic scenarios describe how licensure and
certification affect transitioning service members:
1) The civilian equivalent or Federal equivalent of the
Navy rating, job, designator, or collateral duty/out
of rate assignment may require a license or
certification.
Service members seeking employment in one of
these categories may need to pursue
credentialing.
2) Military training and experience provides all of the
necessary credentials to practice the occupation as
a civilian.

5. For example, the Navy requires Information
Systems Technicians (IT) to obtain their A+
Certification as part of the IT "A" School.
3) Military training and experience provide
certification in the field, but not a license.
The transition to the civilian workforce may be
relatively seamless because certification and
licensure requirements are often similar.
However, you may still need to obtain a license
from the appropriate government agency.
4) A military career provides education, training, or
experience necessary to become licensed or
certified, but not the formal license or
certification from the credentialing board.
Service members in this situation may have to
follow an administrative process that typically
requires completing an application, documenting
military training and experience, and possibly
taking an exam.
5) Military education, training, or experience may need
supplementation to meet licensure and certification
requirements.
Service members in this situation may
experience a period of unemployment or
underemployment until they are able to meet the
requirements. See the COOL Costs and Resources
section to learn about available resources.