photo certifications?(specific info needed :)

So, here is the deal. I am US Air Force
Our tuition assistance for Normal Associates/bachelors covers 250.00 per credit hour to a degree. 4,500 a fiscal year
For a certification (NYIP as an example) I have up to 9,000.00 250.00 per credit hour, but i can ONLY USE THIS ONCE.

So what that means, is i need some help finding something the good old benefits i get that arent all that great will pay for. Can you guys think of anything? Sure i can dip in my GI bill, which i might end up having to do, but whatever.

I am looking to finish a 2 year course, in 4 years (12 hour workdays arent conducive to quick study) so on your own time type courses would obviously be best, but if i have to, i can do a structured system as long as there isnt a minimum class requirement.

what i am looking for?
Advanced photography certification, centered on sports or portraits. id prefer as breif as possible of a basic, here is how camera works type school. This is for real, and i plan to use it whatever accredidation to help me score a part time job when i return from overseas.


thanks for your help, and if you need any more info to help me please let me know. I have been googling for a while now, and deided to finally ask for help.

Can you clarify this?

Once a year, or once a program?

Certification really doesn't mean anything. At the end, your images are what will get you the jobs.

New York Institue of Photography??

Brooks Institute of Photography (archive info)

Sheridan College, Canada

NY Institute of Photography
"They will send you a discount and it has a deadline, but even if it expires they'll let you use it. I used mine and it had expired a year prior and they honored it no question.
you can do a google search for NYIP discount or something like that and find some discount codes you can use now. It saves you like $300!"

Photography School (Schools/Degrees/Bills​/Aftermath = SCARY) Pro's?

College Photo Major in need of Venting

Art & Photography Schools

PPA: http://www.ppa.com/

The first comment was due to the lackluster benefits we REALLY get in the armed services. I was going to enroll in an Associates program, and continue on to a BA, but its 40+K for the degree, and i cant quite afford that on my pay.

I can only use the certificate benefit ONCE. end and done. i get it for one course.

And while i know a certification wont land a job more than my photos will, it will in fact help if its from a reputable place to get a little more attention. At least if you think about it in terms of qualifications that are tangible.

Ill take a look at those and see whats up. NYIP is a no go because its only 120something in tuition. everything else is supplies. I will most likely do the NYIP and pay out of pocket just to do it. Knowledge is power!