78% of foreign-born military spouses hold a degree, yet many face unemployment or underemployment when they move to the United States. Language barriers, foreign credential evaluations and limited access to continued education often stand in the way.
Changing that check box from “employed” to unemployed can feel devastating. At FMSN, many of us have lived that moment. We understand the grief, the frustration, and the sense of lost time. But your story does not end there.
We want to empower you. If you want to rebuild your professional life in the United States, you can and you do not have to do it alone. Through carefully cultivated partnerships and education pathways, we are committed to helping you reclaim your momentum, redefine your goals, and move forward with confidence.
Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
We recently partnered with Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) and their ECE® Aid program to help foreign-born military spouses advance their careers. This partnership will ensure the education and qualifications you already possess are fully recognized in the United States.
Through this partnership, our community has access to:
- Free credential evaluations
- Free credential translations
This opportunity removes one of the most significant barriers foreign-born spouses face when rebuilding their careers or continuing their education in the U.S.
If you are interested, simply contact us to get the process started.
Coursera
Through our partnership with Corusera, select participants can gain access to their world-class online learning platform anytime, anywhere. You’ll find a wide range of courses, certificates, and degree programs from universities and companies around the world.
With Coursera, you can:
- Explore new interests
- Gain new skills wherever military life takes you
- Earn valuable U.S. certificates and credentials
- Pursue the career you dream of
- Learn alongside a supportive community
We are working hard to build our platform to support this opportunity, if you’d like to be notified when enrollment opens, sign up here and get on the waitlist.
Upwardly Global
Upwardly Global helps immigrants, refugees, and asylees rebuild their professional careers in the United States, making them the perfect partner to empower foreign-born military spouses!
They work directly with jobseekers while also partnering with employers to overcome misconceptions and open doors to meaningful employment.
Through FMSN referrals, eligible spouses can access services including:
- Job search training
- Credential evaluation guidance
- Networking support
- Direct connections to employers
Upwardly Global shares our deep rooted mission to remove barriers to allow immigrants the opportunity to thrive in the U.S. Here a just a few examples of the online courses and certifications you could gain with UpwardlyGlobal:
- eCornell certificates (one per person) – Online certificates from Cornell University(Ivy League)
- Salesforce – Training and certifications for Salesforce CRM, including admin, developer, and user skills etc
- Microsoft Learning Pathways – Self-paced online courses for Microsoft tools like Excel, Teams, etc
- Cisco Networking Academy – Online IT and networking courses from Cisco
- NHA CCMA – Certified Clinical Medical Assistant certification prep from the National Healthcareer Association
- OSHA Education Center – Safety and compliance courses provided by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- GCF Global – Free online tutorials for basic digital skills, workplace skills, and technology literacy
- EF SET – EF Standard English Test,online English proficiency test
If you are interested in knowing more about how UpwardlyGlobal can support you, simply fill out this form and one of FMSN’s Education and Careers Coordinators will reach out to you to get the process started!
Final Thoughts
We are so honored to be partnered with each of these amazing organizations to uplift our community. Foreign-born military spouses deserve career stability and every educational opportunity – with Coursera, Upwardly Global and ECE, PCSing won’t slow you down!
How FMSN Can Help
You don’t have to navigate this alone! The Foreign-Born Military Spouse Network (FMSN) provides:
- Advice and guidance from an experienced Education and Careers Coordinator
- Credential Transfers
- Community spaces where spouses can ask questions safely