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College time may get you job certifications

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. — Airman can now log on to see whether their Air Force community college degrees translate into certifications for Defense Department and civilian jobs.

Using the new Community College of the Air Force’s online search function, airmen can plug in their courses and degrees — many of them geared towards a specific career field — to see what non-Air Force jobs they’re already qualified for. The Army and Navy have already set up similar Web sites.

The community college’s site, called the Credentialing and Education Research Tool, is also seen as a recruiting tool. Potential recruits can tinker with the site to see how Air Force jobs qualify service members for certain civilian careers.

“If a high school student is considering a career in aircraft maintenance, he or she will see how Air Force opportunities relate to civilian career alternatives,” said Lt. Col. Ray Staats, commandant of the Air Force’s community college.

The community college has been using the system internally for nearly six years to help active-duty airmen transition into the civilian sector.

It went public on Oct. 15, and can be found at http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/ccaf/certifications.asp.