Office of Veterans Education & Training

GI Bill® & Other Education Benefits

You Can Use Your GI Bill Benefits for OJT Training or Apprenticeship - Brochure

The most common types of benefits:

Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chapter 30)

The Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) can help you pay for education and training programs. If you’ve served at least 2 years on active duty, you may qualify for the MGIB-AD program.

Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31)

If you have a service-connected disability that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working, Veteran Readiness and Employment (formerly called Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) can help. This program—also known as Chapter 31 or VR&E—helps you explore employment options and address training needs.

Post-9/11 GI Bill(opens in a new tab) (Chapter 33)

The Post-9/11 GI Bill helps you pay for school or job training. If you’ve served on active duty after September 10, 2001, you may qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33).

Survivors' and Dependents' Education Assistance (Chapter 35)

Learn about the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program. If you’re the child or spouse of a Veteran or service member who has who has been killed in action, died due to service connected disabilities, or has a 100% P&T rating, you may be able to get help paying for school or job training through the DEA program—also called Chapter 35.

Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)(opens in a new tab)

The Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) program offers up to 36 months of education and training benefits. If you’re a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard, you may be eligible for this benefit.

Work Study

The veterans work-study program can help you earn money while you’re enrolled in a college, a vocational school, or professional training program.

Applying for Benefits

How do I prepare before starting my application?

Note: To apply for Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31) or educational and career counseling through Personalized Career Planning and Guidance (Chapter 36), you’ll need to use a different application.

Find out how to apply for Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31)

Find out how to apply for educational and career counseling (Chapter 36)

What documents and information do I need to apply?
  • Social Security number
  • Bank account direct deposit information
  • Education and military history
  • Basic information about the school or training facility you want to attend or are attending now
How do I apply?

You can apply online at https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/

You can also apply:
By mail

Call 888-442-4551, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET, to request that we send the application to you. Fill it out and mail it to the VA regional claims processing office that’s in the same location as your school.
See a list of regional claims processing offices

In person

Go to a VA regional office and have a VA employee help you.
Find a VA regional office near you

Work with your school’s certifying official. This person is usually in the Registrar or Financial Aid office at the school.

Current School Certifying Officials List

With the help of a trained professional

You can work with a trained professional called an accredited representative to get help applying for education benefits.
Get help filing your claim

After You Apply

How Long Does it Take VA to Make a Decision?
30 days (average) to process education claims
What should I do while I wait?

The transition from military to civilian life can be challenging. We offer tools and counseling programs to help you make the most of your educational options.

Learn about educational and career counseling

What happens after I apply?

You’ll get a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), or award letter, in the mail if we’ve approved your application. Bring this to the VA certifying official at your school.

School Certifying Officials

You can also start looking at future careers and job opportunities.

Learn about career-development resources

If you disagree with a decision on your education benefits claim, you can request a decision review. You can also manage any review requests or appeals you already filed. Request a decision review or manage a legacy appeal

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.