Can You Use the GI Bill for IT Certifications? Here's How It Works

Yes. The GI Bill can pay you back for approved IT certification exams, up to $2,000 per test, including registration and administrative fees, and it pays for retakes too. Post-9/11 GI Bill and Chapter 35 users can also use benefits for prep courses tied to approved tests. For full technology training programs, VA runs a separate program called VET TEC 2.0.

What the GI Bill doesn't do is cover every training company. I'll explain the difference, because it trips up a lot of veterans.

Which GI Bill benefits pay for certification exams?

As of September 2026, VA says you can get paid back for licensing and certification tests if you're covered under one of these benefits.

• GI Bill benefit: Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
  Pays back test fees: Yes
  Pays for prep courses: Yes
• GI Bill benefit: Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chapter 30)
  Pays back test fees: Yes
  Pays for prep courses: No
• GI Bill benefit: Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
  Pays back test fees: Yes
  Pays for prep courses: No
• GI Bill benefit: Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)
  Pays back test fees: Yes
  Pays for prep courses: Yes

You can use this even if you're already receiving other education benefits. Entitlement is charged based on the amount VA pays, so a cheaper exam uses less of it. Check the rates page for your benefit to see exactly how it's charged.

Which IT certifications does the GI Bill cover?

Only tests VA has approved. VA has a licensing and certification search tool on its website where you can look up a test by name and see whether it's approved and what it costs. If you don't see a test listed, VA says it may be valid but not yet approved, and it encourages you to apply for reimbursement anyway.

CompTIA says many of its exams are GI Bill approved and points people to the same VA search. For ISC2, ISACA, PMI and AWS exams, search each one by name before you count on it. I'd do that before you book anything, since approval is by test. If you're still picking your first cybersecurity certification, look that exam up on VA's list before you commit.

How do you get paid back for an IT certification exam?

The process works as a reimbursement. You pay the exam fee, take the test, then ask VA to pay you back.

1. Confirm the test is approved using VA's search tool.
2. Pay for and take the exam.
3. Fill out VA Form 22-0803, Request for Reimbursement of Licensing or Certification Test Fees. You can complete it online or download it.
4. Attach a copy of your receipt and a copy of your test results or certificate.
5. Upload it through VA's QuickSubmit tool or mail it to your regional processing office.

VA pays even if you don't pass, if you need to take the same test more than once, or if you retake a test to recertify. It won't pay fees for the certificate document itself. There's no limit on the number of tests as long as you have entitlement left and use it within your time limit.

Does the GI Bill pay for certification prep courses?

It can, with limits. VA pays for prep courses only for tests it has already approved, and only for Post-9/11 GI Bill and Chapter 35 users. The entitlement charge is prorated based on the course fee.

To get paid back, you submit VA Form 22-10272 with a receipt for the course and proof of enrollment, online, through QuickSubmit or by mail. My advice is to contact VA through Ask VA before you enroll and confirm the specific course and provider will qualify. Don't assume it.

What about VET TEC 2.0?

VET TEC 2.0 is VA's program for full technology training, the kind of multi-week program that goes beyond a single exam. It covers non-college-degree training in areas like computer programming, software, data processing, information sciences and media applications. VA pays tuition to the training provider, and you can get a monthly housing allowance while you train.

Here's who VA says may qualify, as of September 2026.

VET TEC 2.0 requirement: Details

• Service status: Veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, or active duty within 180 days of separating
• Active duty time: At least 36 months
• Age: Under 62 when VA approves the application
• Use: One time only
• Cap: 4,000 paid participants per fiscal year, with 2,000 openings listed as available on VA's page

Only approved providers can train you under VET TEC 2.0. You'll find the list on VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool.

Can I use the GI Bill for Accumentum courses?

I want to be straight with you here. Accumentum doesn't claim GI Bill school approval, and as of August 25, 2026, we aren't on the VET TEC 2.0 provider list. So don't assume your GI Bill will cover our training. Ask us first.

What you may be able to do is use the GI Bill for the exam itself. If your certification test is on VA's approved list, you can pay the exam fee and request reimbursement from VA, even though our course isn't paid by the GI Bill. Still on active duty? Army Credentialing Assistance and Air Force COOL are separate programs with their own rules, and our funding page covers both.

For the course cost, PathPay® lets you spread payments over 3 to 18 months, and terms of 3 to 6 months are at the base price. It's a payment plan, not a loan. We also have Skill Forge, which helps veterans match military experience to certification paths. Our guide on how to pay for IT certification training covers the other options. Reach out and ask what funding options may be available.

Across all our courses, 2,403 students have certified out of about 2,435 attempts, a 98.7 percent pass rate.

Frequently asked questions