Title 38, Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-110

§3315B Preparatory Courses for Licensure, Certification, or National Tests

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

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

If you qualify for educational benefits under this chapter, you can also get paid for a covered preparatory course. The payment will be the smaller of the course fee or the amount of your remaining entitlement when the payment is made. The months of entitlement used will be prorated based on the actual fee compared to the one-month rate. The one-month rate is $2,042 for the academic year starting August 1, 2020, and for later years it is increased by the most recent percentage change under section 3015(h). A covered preparatory course is a class that helps you prepare for a required licensing or certification test for a specific job or profession and that is approved by the State approving agency.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §3315B

Veterans' Benefits, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—
An individual entitled to educational assistance under this chapter shall also be entitled to payment for a covered preparatory course.
(b)Amount.—
The amount of educational assistance payable under this chapter for a covered preparatory course is the lesser of— (1)
(2)the amount of entitlement available to the individual under this chapter at the time of payment for the covered preparatory course under this section.
(c)Charge Against Entitlement.—
The number of months of entitlement charged an individual under this chapter for a covered preparatory course shall be pro-rated based on the actual amount of the fee charged for the covered preparatory course relative to the rate for 1 month payable—
(1)for the academic year beginning on August 1, 2020, $2,042; 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).
(d)Covered Preparatory Course Defined.—
In this section, the term “covered preparatory course” means a course—
(1)for a licensing or certification test that is required or used to enter into, maintain, or advance in employment in a predetermined and identified vocation or profession; and
(2)that has been approved by the State approving agency concerned.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 116–154, § 5(d), Aug. 8, 2020, 134 Stat. 692, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [enacting this section] shall take effect on August 1, 2021.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 3315B

Title 38, Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110