The GI Bill covers more than just tuition. You can use part of your entitlement to cover the costs of certain tests and preparatory courses (also called “prep courses”). Find out how to get paid back for licensing and certification tests and prep courses.
Earning a certificate can be a great way to quickly gain skills and increase your qualifications for many careers. Unlike lengthier degree programs certificate programs allow you to complete targeted training in less than two years. If you’re eligible for GI Bill benefits you may be wondering – can I use these education benefits to pay for a certificate program?
The short answer is yes! The GI Bill can pay for many certificate and non-degree programs.
GI Bill Programs That Pay for Certificates
The two most common GI Bill programs that pay for certificate programs are:
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Post-9/11 GI Bill – This program pays tuition and fees for certificate programs, up to the maximum in-state undergraduate rate for public schools in your state. It also provides a monthly housing allowance and stipend for books/supplies
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Montgomery GI Bill – Both the active duty and selected reserve versions of the MGIB pay a set monthly rate based on your training time for certificate programs.
Other GI Bill programs, like the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program, can also be used for certificate training.
What Certificate Programs Are Covered?
Colleges, universities, technical schools, and even some employers and unions will be able to offer accredited certificate programs that the GI Bill will pay for. Some examples of popular certificate programs covered include:
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Healthcare – Medical assistant, pharmacy technician, EMT, nursing assistant
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Trades – Electrician, plumbing, HVAC, welding
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Technology – Computer programming, cybersecurity, IT certifications
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Business – Bookkeeping, project management, administrative assisting
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Other – Cosmetology, commercial driving, paralegal studies
The GI Bill will pay for your education as long as it is approved by the VA, offered by an approved school, and doesn’t cost more than the undergraduate tuition cap.
How Much of My Certificate Program Will the GI Bill Cover?
As long as you meet the requirements, your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits will cover all of your tuition and fees, up to the maximum in-state undergraduate rate. For the 2022-2023 school year, that cap is $26,804. 71.
If your program costs more than the GI Bill’s coverage, you may need to pay the difference out-of-pocket.
For other GI Bill programs like MGIB, you’ll receive a set monthly rate based on your training time. This may cover the full cost, or you may have a remaining balance.
What Factors Determine My Monthly Payment Rate?
The VA uses several factors to calculate your monthly GI Bill payment for certificate programs:
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Training Time – Payment rates are tiered for full-time, half-time, etc based on weekly clock hours
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Dates of Enrollment – Payments are prorated if a term covers less than a full month
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School Location – For Post-9/11 GI Bill, the tuition cap varies by state
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Service History – For Post-9/11 GI Bill, payment tiers depend on your length of active duty
So your class schedule, enrollment dates, school’s location, and your qualifying service will all impact your payment amount.
How Do I Apply to Use My GI Bill for a Certificate?
Follow these steps to use your GI Bill benefits for a certificate program:
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Find an approved program at a VA-accredited school and apply for admission.
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Apply for your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA to confirm your benefit eligibility.
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Submit your COE and VA form 22-1990 to the VA to set up your education benefits.
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Provide enrollment verification to the VA each term to receive payments.
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Make any required tuition/fee payments that are not covered.
Be sure to apply for benefits and submit paperwork well in advance of enrollment to allow time for processing. Check with your school’s certifying official if you need help navigating the application process.
Key Takeaways
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The GI Bill offers a great opportunity to get career training, earn a certificate, and enter the job market quickly – without taking on education debt.
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All Post-9/11 and Montgomery GI Bill programs can be used for approved certificate programs of up to two years in length.
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Your benefit coverage will depend on the specific GI Bill you qualify for, your service history, enrollment details, and other factors.
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With some advance planning, you can use your hard-earned education benefits to cover the majority of costs for certificate programs in many fields.
Investing in a certificate program through the GI Bill can prepare you for in-demand jobs and expand your skills. Be sure to research program options, understand your benefits, and plan ahead to maximize your coverage.
Prep courses for licensing and certification tests
Your VA benefits can be used to pay for classes that help you get ready for tests for licenses and certifications. We approve only prep courses for licensing and certification tests that we’ve already approved. We’ll prorate the entitlement charges based on the actual amount of the fee charged for the prep course.
You must have already applied for and been approved for one of these benefits before you can use it to pay for prep courses:
- Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), or
- Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)
How many tests can I get paid back for?
We will pay for as many licensing and certification tests as you want to take as long as you don’t go over your time limit and use your benefits.
We’ll pay you back even in these situations:
- You did not get a good enough grade to get your license or certification.
- You need to take the same test more than once
- To get recertified or keep a license you already have, you need to take a test again that you passed the first time.
Note: We won’t pay for fees or costs related to getting the actual license or certification document.
How Much Money I Made Using The Post 9/11 GI Bill
FAQ
Can the GI Bill be used for certificates?
The GI Bill also provides benefits for costs associated with an undergraduate degree at a college or university, a certificate or diploma from a business, technical or vocational school, training programs, apprenticeships, and others. Visit the VA’s Education and Training web page.
Does VA Chapter 35 pay for certificate programs?
Dependents can get up to 45 months of schooling through this program. The money can be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeships, and training on the job. In addition, spouses may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.
Will the VA pay for CompTIA certs?
CompTIA certification exams are approved on the GI Bill and can be reimbursed with GI Bill funds. Should you be interested in a training program, you should only work with authorized training partners who know how to use GI Bill funding for their training solutions.
Does VA pay for GI Bill certification?
(U. S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Alyssa M. Akers) The Department of Veterans Affairs provides reimbursement for licensing and certification tests that have been specifically approved for VA education benefits, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
How do I use my GI Bill benefits?
Here’s how to use your GI Bill Benefits for license or certification tests. The VA will only reimburse you for approved licensing, certification and testing. Before you commit to a test, check the VA’s GI Bill Comparison Tool to ensure that it is VA approved.
How much does GI Bill Pay?
The amount you get depends on which GI Bill program you use and what school you go to. We pay you at the end of each month for the hours you’ve spent training. Post-9/11 GI Bill: We pay a monthly rate that depends on the type of school you’re enrolled in.
Can I use my GI Bill for a certification test?
You can use your GI Bill benefits for a variety of certification and licensing tests. The VA will pay up to $2,000 per certification test – even if you don’t pass. Your benefits may also reimburse you for national testing fees, such as registration and administrative fees, as well as the costs of the tests.
How do I get a GI Bill reimbursement from the VA?
The VA will only reimburse you for approved licensing, certification and testing. Check the VA’s GI Bill Comparison Tool to make sure the test is approved by the VA before you sign up for it. Fill out the VA Form 22-0803, which is an application for reimbursement of licensing or certification test fees, and include proof that the fees have been paid.
Does GI Bill pay for college?
For the Post-9/11 GI Bill, we pay: Find out if you can use GI Bill benefits for college as a Veteran, service member, or qualified dependent. Learn about payment rates for undergraduate and graduate degree courses at institutions of higher learning—like a 4-year university, community college, or graduate school.
