The
Licensing
and Certification Benefit allows VA (Department of
Veteran Affairs) to pay you, if you’re eligible, for a
test for a license or certification. You can receive
reimbursement for approved licensing or certification
tests you take on or after March 1, 2001. These tests
must be specifically approved for the GI Bill. This
VA
Benefit covers only the cost of test and not other
connected fees.
In today’s
business and government climate, having a license or
certification can open doors for you. A license is
required for most professions, and for jobs that are
subject to State or other government regulations.
Certification is voluntary, but frequently sought after.
That’s because getting a certification can help you get,
keep, or advance in a job. In jobs from
mechanics, installers, repairers to medical technicians
to therapists to computer network engineers, Web site
developers, and many, many others, certification plays a
key role.
You can receive
reimbursement of up to $2,000 per test but not more than
the actual cost of the test. You can receive benefits to
retake a test you failed. The number of tests you
take is unlimited, except that you can’t receive
benefits to retake a test you passed.
Note:
Your total months of entitlement to VA education
benefits will be reduced each time you use your
benefits
for licensing and certification. To determine the charge
to you entitlement, we divide the cost of the test by
your monthly benefit rate for full-time training. For example, if
your test costs $400, and $800 is your full-time rate,
you’d use one-half month of entitlement ($400/$800).
If you are on
duty:
- You must have first enlisted on or after July 1,
1985
- You must have had a pay reduction of $1,200.00
- You must have had continuous active duty equal
to or greater than your initial enlistment period
- Some VEAP participants were able to convert to
the GI Bill during special conversion programs
Persons who
were discharged early for:
- reduction in force
- disability
- hardship
- a physical or mental condition which interfered
with duty
- a medical condition which existed prior to
service
are eligible for GI Bill
entitlement for a time period that is the same as the
number of months served. Persons discharged for
Convenience of the Government must serve 20 months of a
2 year enlistment or 30 months of a 3 year enlistment to
be eligible for GI Bill benefits.
If you are
recalled to active duty, immediately notify your school
and the VA, you may be able to keep the benefits you've
already received and you may be eligible to extend your
ending date for benefits.
Reservists
follow different eligibility criteria. There are two
reserve GI Bills: Chapter 1606 for regular
drilling reservists and Chapter 1607 for
reservists who have had extended mobilizations after
September 11, 2001. The eligibility differs for each
program.
For Chapter
1606 , basic eligibility requirements are:
- Must be an active drilling reservist
- Completed IADT
- High School Diploma or Equivalent
- Good standing in your unit
- Remain in a drilling status
- Have at least a 6 year obligation
For
Chapter 1607 - all of the above qualifications apply
- PLUS:
- You must have been mobilized after 9/11/01 for
at least 90 consecutive days
If You've
decided on a Program:
-
Find out if the certification training program is approved for
VA
benefits - check with the school ’s Financial Aid
Office or training facility employment office, or
contact VA.
If the facility hasn’t requested approval before,
ask the school or training facility official to
contact the VA to request approval.
-
Complete the application (VA Form
22-1990) and submit it to the
appropriate VA
regional office.
-
Ask the school or training official to certify
your enrollment to VA.
If the
certification training program has been approved for VA benefits,
check in with the school or training facility
official who certifies enrollments for VA benefits.
At a school, this certifying official may be in one
of the following offices: Financial Aid, Veterans
Affairs, Registrar, Admissions, Counseling, or
others. For on-the-job training or an
apprenticeship, the official may be in the Training,
Finance, Personnel, or other office. VA will review
your application and let you know whether we need
anything else. The certifying official isn’t a
VA
employee, and can’t make decisions about your
eligibility for VA benefits.
If you haven’t decided on a
certification training program, or simply
want a determination of your eligibility for the
MGIB, just submit the application to the
appropriate VA
regional office. If you’re eligible, you’ll
receive a Certificate of Eligibility showing how
long you’re eligible and how many months of benefits
you can receive.
You can proceed
your application (VA Form
22-1990) on-line, or submit a printed copy. When
doing on-line, after submitting your application, print out the signature page and send it
to VA, since they need your original signature
to begin payments. If you’re on active duty,
your Education Services Officer must also sign your
application. If you know the certification
training program you want to take, you
should also take a copy of the printed form to the
certifying official for VA benefits at the school or
training facility. If you prefer, you can
use a printed
application form and mail it to VA. You can get the
printed form on
the school or training facility you’re attending.
You must send your completed application or signature
page, if you chose to submit an Electronic Application,
to one of four Regional Processing Offices.
If you have
questions on the licensing and certification benefit, or
on applying for benefits, you can:
-
Check the
VA Benefits
Official Website.
-
Send an e-mail inquiry to the VA
Regional Processing Office near you by going to
and clicking on 'Ask a Question'.
-
Call 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551), or for
the hearing-impaired, 1-800-829-4833. However, VA phone lines are often very
busy, especially when school enrollments are heavy.
You may have more success contacting them through the
Internet.
Compiled by Stephanie N. Gray,
and Wander S. Weberling
from VA Pamphlet 22-02-1 and from
www.gibill.va.gov. - June,
2006
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