Training Courses Eligible
You may receive benefits for a wide variety of training, including:
- An undergraduate or graduate degree at a college or university. You may take a cooperative training program. You may also take an accredited independent study program leading to a standard college degree.
- A certificate or diploma from a business, technical, or vocational school.
- An apprenticeship or OJT program offered by a company or union. Apprenticeships or OJT programs may offer an alternative to college or vocational school for helping you gain experience in the field you choose.
- A correspondence course.
- Flight training. You must have a private pilot certificate and meet the medical requirements for the desired certificate before beginning training.
- Programs overseas that lead to a college degree.
Remedial, Deficiency or Refresher Training
You may receive benefits for remedial or deficiency courses if you need them to assist you in overcoming a weakness in a particular area of study. The courses must be necessary for your program of education.
Refresher training is for technological advances that occurred in a field of employment. The advance must have occurred while you were on active duty or after your separation.
The VA must charge entitlement for these courses.
Tests, Licenses, and Certifications
You may receive benefits for a test you take to obtain a license or certification. You can’t receive benefits for other fees relating to a license or certification. (However, many courses leading to a license or certification are also approved for benefits).
You may take as many tests as you need. You don’t have to pass the test to receive benefits. You can receive benefits to retake a test you failed, and to renew or update your license or certificate.
You can receive reimbursement for the cost of the test, up to $2,000.
Tutorial Assistance
You may receive a special allowance for individual tutoring if you train in school at one-half time or more. To qualify, you must have a deficiency in a subject, making the tutoring necessary. The school must certify the tutor's qualifications and the hours of tutoring.
If eligible, you may receive a maximum monthly payment of $100. The maximum total benefit is $1,200.
The VA won’t charge you entitlement for the first $600 of tutorial assistance. For payments beyond $600, the VA figures your entitlement charge by dividing the amount they paid beyond $600 by your full-time rate for schooling.
Work-Study Benefits
You may be eligible for an additional allowance under a work-study program. Under the work-study program, you work for VA and receive an hourly wage. You may do outreach work under the supervision of a VA employee, prepare and process VA paperwork, work at a VA medical facility, or other approved activities.
You must train at the three-quarter or full-time rate. The maximum number of hours you may work is 25 times the number of weeks in your enrollment period. Payments will be at the Federal or State minimum wage, whichever is greater.
Restrictions on Training
You may not receive benefits for the following courses:
- Bartending and personality development courses.
- Non-accredited independent study courses.
- Any course given by radio.
- Self-improvement courses such as reading, speaking, woodworking, basic seamanship, and English as a second language.
- Any course that is avocational (not related to employment) or recreational in character.
- Farm cooperative courses.
- Audited courses.
- Courses that don’t lead to an educational, professional, or vocational objective.
- Courses you’ve taken before and successfully completed.
- Courses you take on active duty through Tuition Assistance or other Armed Forces program
- Courses you take as a Federal government employee under the Government Employees' Training Act.
- A program at a proprietary school if you’re an owner or official of the school.
Other Restrictions
The VA must reduce your benefits if you’re in a Federal, State, or local prison after being convicted of a felony.
The law Prohibits veterans and eligible dependents from receiving veterans benefits while a "fugitive," which is defined as a person fleeing to avoid prosecution, or custody or confinement after conviction, for an offense, or an attempt to commit an offense, which is a felony under the laws of the place from which the veteran flees.
If you seek a college degree, the school must admit you to a degree program by the start of your third term.
