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Certificate & Non-Degree

Washington Vets to Tech (WaV2T)

The 16-week Washington Vets to Tech certificate program provides computer science and information technology education, training, and professional development to active-duty service members in their last 6 months of service, veterans with an honorable or general discharge, and spouses of active-duty military or eligible veterans. Sessions begin each August, January and May.

Why Saint Martin's University?

Available to active-duty service members in their last 6 months of service; veterans with an honorable or general discharge; and spouses of active duty military or eligible veterans.

Face to face instruction over 16-weeks on our Lacey campus and JBLM classrooms. Three opportunities to enroll each year in the Spring (January to May), Summer (May to August) and Fall (August to December).

Attend classes in-person at our Lacey campus and JBLM classroom, earn college credits, prepare for your IT career.

No out of pocket costs.

Program highlights

Employability

  • Average graduate starting salary $75k-89k
  • 90% employment within 180 days after graduation
  • 45% of students enrolled in the program earn at least one IT certificate
  • Earn a certificate in Computer Science that carries college credit, is regionally accredited, and is in demand by employers
  • Train on the largest cloud providers, AWS and Azure
  • Professional development provided throughout the program for resume building, interview preparation, and job search techniques
  • Support is continued after graduation until employment
  • Some current hiring partners include Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and many others

Flexibility

  • Choose your pathway: Server and Cloud Application (SCA), Cloud Application Development (CAD), or Cybersecurity Administration
  • Classes offered on the Lacey campus and at Joint-Base Lewis McChord
    • Full-time, in-person delivery Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm
    • Small class sizes
    • Instructors with professional technology industry backgrounds

Certifications

  • Prepare for industry certification exams in real-world simulations with TestOut LabSim
    • Prepare for CompTIA Network+, Security+, Linux+, and more!
  • Prepare for AWS certified exams. Exam vouchers provided* for:
    • AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
    • AWS Certified Developer Associate
    • AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
    • AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate

*Varies by pathway

Contact information

Questions?

Request information
Email wav2t@stmartin.edu
Call (360) 688-2970
Text (360) 252-9265

Join us every Tuesday for an information brief and Q&A at 9:30 a.m. or 3:00 p.m. PT via Microsoft Teams.

Schedule a campus tour here.
Or take a virtual tour here.

Questions?

Read our FAQ here

Washington Vets to Tech (WaV2T) Requirements

Saint Martin's offers three cohort opportunities each year; each cohort is 16 weeks in length:

  • Spring (January to May)
  • Summer (May to August)
  • Fall (August to December)

There are three pathway options for each of these cohorts:

Server and Cloud Application (SCA)

  • Focus on networking fundamentals, operations, troubleshooting, security, cloud computing, hardware
  • Careers include junior network administrator, datacenter support technician, network engineer, system administrator, and more
  • AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Foundational (exam voucher provided)

Cloud Application Development (CAD)

  • Focus on python, SQL, T-SQL, Java, JavaScript/ASP.NET; data structures and algorithms, developing cloud solutions
  • Careers include cloud application developer, software engineer, application software developer, full stack engineer, and more
  • AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (exam voucher provided)
  • AWS Certified Developer Associate (exam voucher provided)

Cybersecurity Administration

  • Focus on advanced networking, ethical hacking, threat intelligence, web and app security
  • Careers include information and security analyst, security engineer, penetration tester, and more
  • AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate (exam voucher provided)

Take a detailed look at courses in each pathway and key focus areas here.

Term: Summer 2023

Program Dates:  May 8 to August 18, 2023
Application Deadline:  April 28, 2023

Term: Fall 2023

Program Dates:  August 28 to December 15, 2023
Application Deadline:  August 16, 2023

Term: Spring 2024

Program Dates:  January 7 to May 3, 2024
Application Deadline:  December 13, 2023

 

Applications for the following terms will open in 2023 on a date TBD:

Term: Summer 2024

Program Dates:  May 6 to August 16, 2024
Application Deadline:  April 17, 2024

Interested? Start your no-cost application here.

  1. Application: Create an account and start your application.  Don't have all the prerequisites on hand? You can still submit your application and come back to upload additional materials later. 
  2. Proof of Service: Depending on your branch or status, we can accept the following documents
    • Army - Service Record Brief/Officer Record Brief/Enlisted Record Brief
    • Navy - Electronic Service Record
    • Air Force - SURF
    • Marines - Personnel record or statement of service
    • Space Force - Personnel record or statement of service
    • Coast Guard - Statement of service
    • Guard/Reserve - DD214 Member-4 copy or statement of service
    • Veteran - DD214 Member-4 copy. You may submit your active duty proof of service if you will start as a veteran but have not received your DD214
    • Military Spouse - Proof of marriage to service member or veteran and their proof of service as listed above
  3. Math prerequisite: Equivalent to Saint Martin's MTH 101 College Algebra with a grade of C or higher. You can meet this prerequisite by submitting unofficial transcripts, take our math placement exam, or take a college algebra course at SMU or another university
    • Unofficial transcripts - Upload transcripts from the college or university where you earned the math credit. We cannot accept math that shows as a transfer credit.
    • Math Placement Exam - Free and online, a 50-minute exam with 22/32 will meet the prerequisite. Applicants will have access to the math placement exam link and recommended study materials after submitting an application.
    • College algebra course - Take a college algebra course with Saint Martin's or another university. Send the course description to us if attending another university. The course must be complete with a letter grade to meet the prerequisite. Applicants may upload their unofficial transcript to their application.
  4. Behavioral Interview: Once prerequisites are met, an interview is scheduled and conducted over the phone. You will receive a notification when you enter the interview queue, and an email when an interview is scheduled. Please contact us to coordinate a different time if needed.

Active duty applicants who are accepted into the program but are still pending CSP/Skillbridge approval will receive a conditional admit, and will be granted a full admit when we receive an emailed copy of the approved CSP/Skillbridge form. This must be complete and submitted by the application deadline.

Active duty applicants:

  • Must be within 180 days of their end-of-service date on the start date of the program to be eligible to participate in the program.
  • May apply with Saint Martin's and start the CSP/Skillbridge command approval process at the same time.
  • Do not require CSP/Skillbridge approval if on terminal leave at the start date of the program.

JBLM

Service members stationed at JBLM must attend the CSP briefing to begin the command approval process. 

  • CSP in-person briefings are held every Monday at 12:00pm in the Hawk Center, North Fort, Bldg. 11577 JBLM, WA 98433
  • CSP Virtual briefings are held Thursdays at 3:00pm via Zoom.
  • Please contact the CSP representative for appointments: usarmy.jblm.imcom.list.dhr-tap-outreach@army.mil.

Other locations

For service members not located at JBLM, contact your local CSP or Skillbridge representative to initiate the process. If you do not have a local CSP representative, contact the JBLM CSP team at usarmy.jblm.imcom.list.dhr-tap-outreach@army.mil. You should not require an acceptance letter to start the CSP/Skillbridge application process, you can apply to SMU and start the command approval paperwork at the same time. 

If accepted into the program, you will be granted a conditional admit until the CSP/Skillbridge program request is approved by your program coordinator and commander. Service members must upload a copy of approval to their application or email a copy as an attachment to WaV2T@stmartin.edu.

Four months of VA Benefits fund one 16-week pathway

  • Post 9/11 VA Benefits
  • Montgomery VA Benefits

Other funding options include

  • VR&E Ch. 31
  • Substantial scholarships available for those without VA funding   

It is recommended that students apply for their VA Benefits Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) no later than 30 days before their term start date. You can apply for your CoE and find more information here. If you have additional VA Benefits questions, please email Mercedes Garrido at mgarrido@stmartin.edu or call Veterans Affairs at 888-442-4551, Monday through Friday, 5:00am to 4:00pm PT/8:00am to 7:00pm ET.

Active Army soldiers may be eligible for AER assistance to cover costs relating to:

  • Travel expenses (airfare or fuel)
  • Uniforms/business attire
  • Tools/CSP training supplies
  • Lodging
  • Utilities​
  • Food​

To apply for an AER grant or to learn more, Soldiers may contact their local AER officer or, in the event a local office is inaccessible or located farther than 50 miles away, please contact AER headquarters at assistance@aerhq.org.

2022-2023 | Fall 22 through Summer 23
Tuition: $20,830
Fees (Server and Cloud Application and Cloud Application Development pathways): $750*
Fees (Cybersecurity Administration pathway): $1,000*
Optional housing: No cost for active duty, $2,800 for veterans or military spouses. All applicants pay a $200 refundable deposit.

WaV2T students staying on campus are not required to purchase a meal plan.

*Fees may differ by pathway. Subject to change as course materials are updated. VA Benefits cover tuition and fees.

Washington Vets to Tech (WaV2T) at a Glance

Degree
Certificate
Program Type
Certificate
Campus
Main (Lacey)
Saint Martin's-JBLM
Type of Instruction
In Person
School
Hal and Inge Marcus School of Engineering
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Learn more about the WAVets2Tech Program

Please join us Tuesdays at 9:30am PT or 3:00pm PT for more information about our Washington Vets to Tech program. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and get assistance with the application process. You can join us via Microsoft Teams on your desktop or connect with the app on your phone.

Photo of students connecting with employers

Career development

Career Development Managers (CDM) provide professional development to transitioning service members, veterans, and spouses for placement into a career within the high-tech job market.

CDM instructional material includes:

Military to civilian transition guidance
Resume & cover letters
Creating professional LinkedIn profiles
Interview preparation
Facilitating mentor and hiring partner briefings
Assistance with job search/placement

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Saint Martin's Veteran's Center

Find support, resources and community in our main campus Veteran's Center.

Location:  Harned Hall, 211; Vet Corps Navigator's office is 211A

Hours:  Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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Residence Halls

If you are flying or driving to Washington state it is recommended at that you apply for housing as soon as possible, or no later than 30 days prior to the start date of the term. All applicants must pay a $200 refundable deposit at the time of application submission. Start your housing application here.

Active duty

Room in residence halls is available at no cost
No cost rate applies to Baran Hall only; students may apply for other residence halls at their own expense
Barracks bay available on JBLM

Veterans and spouses

$2,800 per semester
Search for Saint Martin's University for the MHA rate using the VA Benefits Comparison Tool

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2023-2024 Military Friendly® School

Saint Martin's University is honored to be awarded the gold 2023-24 Military Friendly® school distinction.

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First Purple Heart University in Washington

The Military Order of the Purple Heart designated Saint Martin’s the first Purple Heart university or college in Washington state. The designation is in recognition of Saint Martin’s history of supporting veterans and their families.

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