
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?
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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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