VA education benefits go well beyond GI Bill tuition: the VA also pays for tutoring, licensing and certification exams, college admission tests, part-time work-study jobs, apprenticeships, and school for eligible spouses and children. Most of these stack on top of your primary benefit — and most go unclaimed simply because veterans don’t know they exist.
Here is every program, what it pays, and the form that starts it.
The primary benefits (choose one at a time)
- Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) — tuition paid to your school, a monthly housing allowance, and a book stipend. Full GI Bill guide here.
- VR&E (Chapter 31) — career retraining for veterans with service-connected disabilities, with no tuition cap plus counseling and job placement. Full VR&E guide here.
- Montgomery GI Bill (Chapters 30 and 1606) — a fixed monthly payment for active-duty veterans who paid in, and a smaller version for Selected Reserve members.
- DEA (Chapter 35) and the Fry Scholarship — education support for spouses and children of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled, died from service-connected causes, or died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001.
Tutorial assistance: paid tutoring when a class gets hard
If you’re using GI Bill benefits, enrolled at least half-time, and struggling in a required course, the VA pays for a tutor — and it doesn’t count against your months of entitlement. Get a grade or instructor statement showing the need, have your tutor and school complete VA Form 22-1990t, and submit it through your school’s certifying official. Ask early; don’t wait for a failing grade.
Licensing and certification reimbursement
The VA reimburses exam fees for professional licenses and industry certifications — nursing boards, teaching credentials, CDL, IT certifications like CompTIA and Cisco, CPA, PMP, real estate, the bar exam, and more. It covers the test fee itself (not prep courses), and there’s no limit on how many approved exams you can claim. Pay for the exam, then file VA Form 22-0803 with your receipt and results. Current per-test caps are listed at va.gov.
National testing reimbursement
Admission tests are covered too: SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, and DAT among them. Same process — take the test, submit Form 22-0803 with proof of payment and your score report.
Work-study: earn while you study
Students enrolled at least three-quarter time and using VA education benefits can work up to 25 hours a week in VA-related jobs — at VA offices and medical centers, your school’s veterans office, or state veterans agencies — earning at least minimum wage, paid in advance. Earnings don’t reduce your other benefits, and veterans with service-connected disabilities get placement priority. Apply with VA Form 22-8691.
On-the-job training and apprenticeships
Learn a trade while earning a paycheck. In approved OJT and apprenticeship programs — electrical, plumbing, HVAC, manufacturing, automotive, IT, healthcare, and more — your employer pays your wages while the VA adds a monthly allowance that starts at the full housing-allowance rate and steps down as your skills (and wages) grow. Find approved employers through the GI Bill Comparison Tool or apprenticeship.gov.
Flight training
The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers a share of approved flight training — commercial pilot, instrument and multi-engine ratings, CFI — at FAA-approved Part 141 schools, generally for veterans at the 100% benefit level who already hold a private pilot license.
Support services worth using
- VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC): VA counselors at many schools for academic and benefits help.
- Student veterans organizations: peer support and advocacy on campus.
- Disability accommodations: testing accommodations, note-taking help, and assistive technology for service-connected conditions.
- State benefits: many states add free or reduced tuition at state schools on top of federal benefits — Texas, California, Illinois, New York, and Florida among them. See veteran benefits by state.
How to claim what you’ve earned
- Apply for your primary benefit at va.gov/education (VA Form 22-1990) two to three months before classes start.
- Give your Certificate of Eligibility to your school’s certifying official and keep them informed of every enrollment change.
- Stack the extras: work-study, tutorial assistance, and test reimbursement as they apply.
- Questions? Call 888-442-4551 or ask a Veterans Service Officer — free, always. Our list of free education programs covers non-VA options too.
Common questions
Can I get these extras on top of my GI Bill?
Yes — that is the point. Tutorial assistance, work-study, and licensing or testing reimbursement stack on top of your primary benefit, and tutorial assistance does not use up your months of GI Bill entitlement.
What happens if I fail a class while using benefits?
One failure will not stop your benefits, but you must maintain satisfactory academic progress as your school defines it. If you failed for reasons beyond your control, you generally will not owe the VA money — and tutorial assistance exists exactly for this situation, so ask for it early.
Are there education benefits for my spouse or kids?
Yes. Service members can transfer unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to family while still serving. Separately, DEA (Chapter 35) supports family of veterans who are permanently disabled or died from service-connected causes, and the Fry Scholarship covers children and spouses of those who died in the line of duty after 9/10/2001.
Does the VA reimburse the SAT, GRE, or professional exams?
Yes. National admission tests (SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT and more) and licensing or certification exams are reimbursable. Pay for the test, then submit VA Form 22-0803 with your receipt and score report.