HOW TO FUND MY PMP WITH AF COOL

General AF Cool Process

Air Force Cool Instructions for the PMP® & CAPM®

The request window is NLT 30 days and NET 60 days from the course start date.

AF COOL Handbook 2025

1
Determine Your Eligibility
  • Do you have an approved PMI PMP application?  If no, move to step 2.  If yes, go back to vets2pm.com/af_cool
    • PMP: Requires project management experience and 35 hours of training.
    • CAPM: Requires 23 hours of training (can be satisfied with PME such as NCO Academy).
    • If you do not currently have an approved PMI PMP application, Vets2PM will train you to the PMP standard (35 contact hours) using the CAPM educational goal.
    • If you start with CAPM and later qualify for PMP, Vets2PM will refund your CAPM exam fee so you can apply that funding towards your PMP exam instead.
2
Build Your Invoice
  • Choose a course NO EARLIER THAN 60 days and NO LATER THAN 30 days from the course start date. vets2pm.com/pmp/enroll
  • Review start and end dates, then click “Purchase” to add the course to your cart
  • Add exam fee (and study hall optional) to your order and click “Proceed to Checkout”
  • Complete your billing details (this sets up your account) and click the “Request An Invoice” radio button
  • Click “Place Order” and download the PDF for uploading into AFVEC

Note: AF requires you to include the exam fee on the invoice. The exam simulator (Study Hall) is optional.

3
CAPM Application Screenshot
  • Go to www.pmi.org and create a PMI account using a civilian email address, same as Vets2PM account.
  • Apply for the CAPM. 
  • Take a screenshot of your Project Management Institute (PMI) username and password for
    AFCOOL Purchasing Agents to purchase your exam and any additional study materials or prep course items requested directly through PMI. Save this screenshot as a PDF. 
  • Take a screenshot of PMI approval to test, which is the PMI Dashboard screenshot that
    must include your name, eligibility dates, and the pay for exam button –
    application approval.)  Save this screenshot as a PDF.
4
Create Your AF COOL Educational Goal
  1. Log into AFVEC.
  2. Create your “Educational Goal” for CAPM.
  3. Select the required funding options:
    • Exam Fee
    • Prep Course
    • (Optional) Study Material
  4. Upload your Invoice and PMI application screenshot with PMI login credentials.
  5. Submit and ensure your supervisor approves your goal within 7 days.

Note: 

  • Exam Request Timing: The exam request start date should be one day after the Prep Course end date and should last 120 days or end 60 days before your Date of Separation (DOS), whichever comes first.
5
Create Funding Requests
  1. Create individual funding requests in AFVEC for each itemized service:
    • 1st Request: Prep Course (based on course start/end dates)
    • 2nd Request (optional): Study Material (e.g., exam simulator)
    • 3rd Request: Exam Fee (start date must be the day after the course ends, duration up to 120 days or 60 days before DOS)
  2. Upload necessary documents to each funding request:
    • Invoice PDF
    • CAPM approval screenshot with PMI login credentials
    • Any required TDY/permissive orders
  3. Your supervisor must approve each funding request within 7 days or it will be auto deleted.
Supporting Documents - PMI
6
Payment Status
  1. Once approved, the request will move to the base education office and then the Purchasing Agent (PA).
  2. Monitor AFVEC until the status reflects “PA.”
  3. Upon payment approval, both AF COOL and Vets2PM will notify you.