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Title 38, Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-110

§3315A National Tests

Title 38 › PART III — READJUSTMENT AND RELATED BENEFITS › CHAPTER 33 — POST–9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE › SUBCHAPTER II — EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE › § 3315A

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Veterans who already qualify for education benefits can also get help paying for certain national tests. That includes tests for college admission, tests that can give college course credit, and tests that assess prior learning and may give course credit. The program pays up to the test fee, but not more than the veteran’s remaining benefit balance. The amount of benefit months used is prorated by comparing the test fee to the one‑month benefit rate: $1,460 for the academic year beginning August 1, 2011. For later years, that monthly rate is the prior year’s rate increased by the most recent percentage increase under section 3015(h).

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §3315A

Veterans' Benefits, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—
An individual entitled to educational assistance under this chapter shall also be entitled to educational assistance for the following:
(1)A national test for admission to an institution of higher learning as described in the last sentence of section 3452(b).
(2)A national test providing an opportunity for course credit at an institution of higher learning as so described.
(3)A national test that evaluates prior learning and knowledge and provides an opportunity for course credit at an institution of higher learning as so described.
(b)Amount.—
The amount of educational assistance payable under this chapter for a test described in subsection (a) is the lesser of— (1)
(2)the amount of entitlement available to the individual under this chapter at the time of payment for the test under this section.
(c)Charge Against Entitlement.—
The number of months of entitlement charged an individual under this chapter for a test described in subsection (a) shall be pro-rated based on the actual amount of the fee charged for the test relative to the rate for 1 month payable—
(1)for the academic year beginning on August 1, 2011, $1,460; or
(2)for an academic year beginning on any subsequent August 1, the amount for the previous academic year beginning on August 1 under this subsection, as increased by the percentage increase equal to the most recent percentage increase determined under section 3015(h).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2017—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 115–48, § 108(b)(1), added par. (3). Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–48, § 108(b)(2), in introductory provisions, substituted “shall be pro-rated based on the actual amount of the fee charged for the test relative to the rate for 1 month payable” for “shall be determined at the rate of one month (rounded to the nearest whole month) for each amount paid that equals”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2017 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–48 applicable to a test taken on or after Aug. 1, 2018, see section 108(d) of Pub. L. 115–48, set out as a note under section 3315 of this title.

Effective Date

Pub. L. 111–377, title I, § 108(b), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4119, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [enacting this section] shall take effect on August 1, 2011, and shall apply with respect to national tests taken on or after that date.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 3315A

Title 38, Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110