The US Department of Veteran Affairs offers several educational training benefits to those who qualify. If you choose to go back to school for a degree, or looking to take technology education courses, or other non-college degree programs such as HVAC repairs and EMT training and apprenticeships, the VA offers a program to assist.

Continue review each one, see what best fits your goals and how to apply for the programs!

First things first about the GI Bill Benefits: Are you eligible?

After determining if you meet the eligibility requirements, next step is to determine if the school you are wanting to attend accepts GI Bill benefits from the VA. Most schools have a veteran's office to help address any questions or you can call admission for help. You could also review the list of approved GI Bill schools here.

Another thing to note is that if you qualify to receive maximum benefit, you will get tuition and fees covered each semester, housing allowance if you are enrolled for more than half time, money for books and supplies and some may qualify for moving assistance to the school you are wanting to attend.

To understand how the VA determines your percentage of eligibility you can check it out here.

Filing online through the Online Tool or mailing in the VA Form 22-1990 (attached to the course) is require to apply and activate your GI Bill benefits, depending on which program you selected. This would include Post 9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR), and Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP).

I personally found that using the online tool to complete my application was the easiest and fastest way to get enrolled. After creating an account and applying for your education benefits, the VA will process your claim within 30 days and will send you a letter by mail containing your Certificate of Eligibility (COE), or award letter, if you've been approved.

The COE will display information related to the program you signed up for and the allotted payment amount to you monthly and the school's tuition. It will also tell you how much time you have remaining to use your benefits, maximum being 48 months.

There are other related form for applications for family member to use transferred benefits VA Form 22-1990e and applications for VA education benefits under the National Call to Service (NCS) program VA Forma 22-1990n found on the site below.

https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-22-1990/

It is important to note that when you attend a new semester throughout the year you will need to submit a document to your veteran service office indicating how many classes you are taking that semester. Remember, if you are considered a full-time student, then you will receive full housing and supplies pay. If you drop from the full-time status your pay will be prorated accordingly. Your veterans office should be able to assist in informing the VA how many classes you are taking, so check with them!