Money that moves your career forward.
Beyond your scholarship, RSF now offers Achievement Awards that pay you for earning career credentials and building your professional network — plus Access Grants that cover the up-front costs of getting there. Every RSF scholar is eligible.
Apply nowOne shared annual limit: $500 per scholar this year
Achievement Awards and Access Grants draw from the same yearly cap. Here's one way a scholar might use it:
The cap grows with the program: $500 this year (2025–26), rising to $1,000 next year and $2,500 in year three. Funds come from a fixed annual pool and are awarded first-come, first-served — the remaining pool balance is published monthly.
Achievement Awards Active now
Achievement Awards are cash recognition paid to you after you complete something that builds your career capital — a professional certification, or a set of informational interviews through the Career Explorer Award.
Certification Awards · $250–$750 per certification
Pass any of roughly 200 approved certifications and receive an award sized to what that credential is worth in the Northern Virginia job market (anchored to federal wage data). Certifications in high-demand NoVA fields earn a $50 bonus. A sample of what's covered:
Technology
CompTIA Security+, AWS Cloud Practitioner, Google IT Support, Cisco CCNA
Business & Project Mgmt.
PMP, CAPM, Google Project Management, Scrum Master
Accounting & Finance
QuickBooks, Enrolled Agent, CPA sections, CFP
Healthcare
CNA, CCMA, Pharmacy Tech, Phlebotomy, EMT, medical coding
Education & Social Services
Praxis, TESOL, RBT, teacher licensure
Trades & Engineering
HVAC/EPA 608, CDL, OSHA, AutoCAD, FE exam, fiber optics
Marketing & Communications
Google Ads & Analytics, HubSpot, Adobe Certified Professional
Human Resources
aPHR, SHRM-CP, PHR
Legal & Administrative
Paralegal exam, Virginia Notary, Microsoft Office Specialist
The full certification schedule with exact award amounts is available from your mentor. Earned a certification that isn't listed? Submit it anyway — unlisted credentials go to the RSF committee for review.
Career Explorer Award · up to $250 per year
Get paid to explore careers by talking to people who work in them. Log each informational interview and have your mentor verify it. Tiers stack — reach Bronze, then keep going.
| Tier | What you do | You earn |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | Complete 3 informational interviews with professionals in fields that interest you | $100 |
| Silver | Reach 5 informational interviews | +$75 |
| Gold | Reach 8–10 interviews and share what you learned in a short written reflection or presentation | +$75 |
Interviews must be with different professionals and are logged through the CCI Evidence Submission Form. More award categories — for internships, research, portfolios, and leadership — are under committee review for future years.
Access Grants Active now
Access Grants cover expenses before and during your career push, so cost is never the reason you skip an exam, an interview, or a shift. Three categories are open this year, with more launching as the program grows.
Certification & Exam Grant
Covers exam fees when you're sitting for a certification on your own — or study materials, prep courses, and practice exams if your exam fee is already covered by a funded program (NOVA FastForward, G3, Pell, VASA).
Transportation Grant
Gets you to class, work, interviews, and internships:
- WMATA SmarTrip, bus & rail passes; OmniRide / VRE
- Gas or rideshare reimbursement for documented career travel
- Parking; driver's license & DMV fees
Professional Clothing Grant
Dress for the job you're going after:
- Interview and workplace attire — suit, blazer, dress pants or skirt, shoes
- Trade-specific gear — scrubs, lab coat, steel-toed boots, safety equipment
- Dry cleaning, up to $50
Grants are reimbursement-based — keep your receipts. Pre-approval through your mentor is strongly encouraged for larger purchases.
How to apply
Talk to your mentor
Tell your mentor what you're planning — an exam, interview travel, work clothing, or a Career Explorer tier. They'll confirm eligibility and remaining pool balance.
Complete the application
Fill out the Career Accelerator application (one form covers both awards and grants) and attach your documentation.
Mentor verification
Your mentor reviews and signs. For Achievement Awards they verify your certification or interview log; for grants they verify receipts.
Get paid
RSF reviews the application against the pool and your annual cap, then issues payment. You'll hear back within two weeks.
Good to know
- Shared cap. All awards and grants combined count toward your $500 annual limit this year.
- First-come, first-served. The annual pool is fixed. Apply early in the year — the remaining balance is published monthly.
- Documentation required. Certification awards need your score report or certificate; grants need itemized receipts; Career Explorer needs your verified interview log.
- Check what's already free. Many NOVA FastForward and G3 programs bundle exam fees, and GMU students get free access to Mason Career Academy courses. Your mentor can help you avoid paying for something that's already covered.
The application
Fill it out right here, then print or save it as a PDF and give it to your mentor with your documentation. One form covers both Achievement Awards and Access Grants.
Section A — Scholar information
Section B — What are you applying for?
Check all that apply.