PM 4 Life Project Management Training
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Air Force & Space Force: your PMP roadmap.

AF COOL funds your prep course, study materials, and exam, up to $4,500, and pays PM 4 Life directly. Because PMI requires the training before you can apply, here is the course-first sequence that actually works.

The short version: Do the boot camp first to earn your training hours, then apply to PMI, then fund and take the exam. PM 4 Life is an approved AF COOL vendor, so AF COOL pays us directly. Set up your AFVEC request 30 to 60 days before your class starts.

Direct pay
Who qualifies

Enlisted Airmen and Guardians on active duty (or Guard and Reserve on qualifying orders) who are:

  • 5-skill level or higher, any rank (the E-7-and-above restriction on leadership credentials was removed in February 2024)
  • Clear of a UIF, referral EPB, control roster, or a failed or overdue fitness assessment
  • Not within 120 days of separation or retirement
The roadmap

Six steps, course first.

  1. Pick your credential

    PMP requires experience leading projects within the last 10 years:

    • 3 years with a bachelor's degree
    • 4 years with an associate's or vocational / trade school diploma
    • 5 years with a high school diploma or GED
    • 2 years with a degree from a PMI GAC-accredited program

    Not there yet? Start with the CAPM (23 education hours, no experience required) and bridge to PMP later.

  2. Request an itemized invoice and pick a date

    Email info@pm4life.biz for an itemized invoice and choose your boot camp date. The invoice lists the prep course, study materials, and exam fee separately, because AF COOL requires itemization.

  3. Create your goal and funding request in AFVEC

    Create your credential goal and funding request in AFVEC 30 to 60 days before your course start date. Upload the invoice and your PMI.org username and password (create the free PMI account first). Your supervisor approves, then it routes through the education office to the purchasing agent.

  4. Take the boot camp and earn your certificate

    Attend the boot camp and earn your 35 contact-hour certificate (23 hours for CAPM). These are the training hours PMI requires on your application.

  5. Apply at PMI.org with your course certificate

    Apply at PMI.org, using your course certificate for the training hours. Approval takes about 5 business days. Then screenshot your PMI dashboard showing your name, eligibility dates, and the "pay for exam" button. AF COOL requires this screenshot before exam funds are released.

  6. Fund, schedule, and take the exam

    Schedule your exam through Pearson VUE (on-base testing centers are available), pass, and upload your results to your AFVEC goal. Exam grades are due within 120 days of exam funding.

If your education office asks for PMI approval before funding the course

PMI's own eligibility requirements make 35 hours of project professional training, such as a PMI Authorized Training Partner course, a prerequisite of the application itself. You cannot complete the PMI application until you have the hours the course provides. The AF COOL Handbook's PMI guidance (Attachment 1, dated 2021) predates PMI's current process. If your education office requires approval to test up front, point them to PMI's published requirements: PMI's PMP eligibility requirements.

What AF COOL covers

Funding facts.

  • $4,500 lifetime cap per member
  • Prep course covered up to $2,000 per credential goal
  • Study materials covered up to $500 per goal
  • Exam and related fees covered
  • Exam fee: $425 (PMI member) or $675 (non-member)
  • AF COOL pays the provider directly, so nothing out of pocket
Good to know

Sources: AF COOL Handbook 2025 (including Attachment 1, PMI Program Guidance); AFVEC AF COOL program pages; PMI PMP eligibility page; and the DAF policy change effective 28 February 2024 removing rank requirements for leadership credentials. Programs and rules change, so confirm current timing and limits with your base Education Services Office before you start. Questions? Email info@pm4life.biz or call (907) 631-9153.

Air Force & Space Force

Ready to start your AF COOL request?

Tell us your target credential and cohort date, and we will send your itemized invoice and vendor details so you can submit in AFVEC with confidence.

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