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Title 38 — Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73not60

§3691 Change of Program

Title 38 › Part III— READJUSTMENT AND RELATED BENEFITS › Chapter 36— ADMINISTRATION OF EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS › Subchapter III— MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › § 3691

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Eligible veterans and other eligible people can usually switch to a different education program only one time. But if they stopped or failed the program because of their own bad behavior, neglect, or lack of effort, they are not allowed that one change. The Secretary can allow more changes, or allow a first change for someone not covered by the one-change rule, if the Secretary decides the new program fits the person’s skills and interests. If the person previously stopped or fell behind because of their own fault, the Secretary must also think there is a good chance that won’t happen again. The Secretary can also approve extra changes when events beyond the person’s control make a change necessary. A move from one program to another does not count as a change if certain conditions are met, such as finishing the first program, the programs being in the same field or one being a required step for the other, keeping credits when returning, or the same school approving and certifying the switch. In that last case, the person does not need the Secretary’s approval.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §3691

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, each eligible veteran and eligible person may make not more than one change of program of education, but an eligible veteran or eligible person whose program has been interrupted or discontinued due to the veteran’s or person’s own misconduct, the veteran’s or person’s own neglect, or the veteran’s or person’s own lack of application shall not be entitled to any such change.
(b)The Secretary, in accordance with procedures that the Secretary may establish, may approve a change other than a change under subsection (a) of this section (or an initial change in the case of a veteran or person not eligible to make a change under subsection (a)) in program if the Secretary finds that—
(1)the program of education which the eligible veteran or eligible person proposes to pursue is suitable to the veteran’s or person’s aptitudes, interests, and abilities; and
(2)in any instance where the eligible veteran or eligible person has interrupted, or failed to progress in, the veteran’s or person’s program due to the veteran’s or person’s own misconduct, the veteran’s or person’s own neglect, or the veteran’s or person’s own lack of application, there exists a reasonable likelihood with respect to the program which the eligible veteran or eligible person proposes to pursue that there will not be a recurrence of such an interruption or failure to progress.
(c)The Secretary may also approve additional changes in program if the Secretary finds such changes are necessitated by circumstances beyond the control of the eligible veteran or eligible person.
(d)(1)For the purposes of this section, the term “change of program of education” shall not be deemed to include a change by a veteran or eligible person from the pursuit of one program to the pursuit of another program if—
(A)the veteran or eligible person has successfully completed the former program;
(B)the program leads to a vocational, educational, or professional objective in the same general field as the former program;
(C)the former program is a prerequisite to, or generally required for, pursuit of the subsequent program;
(D)in the case of a change from the pursuit of a subsequent program to the pursuit of a former program, the veteran or eligible person resumes pursuit of the former program without loss of credit or standing in the former program; or
(E)the change from the program to another program is at the same educational institution and such educational institution determines that the new program is suitable to the aptitudes, interests, and abilities of the veteran or eligible person and certifies to the Secretary the enrollment of the veteran or eligible person in the new program.
(2)A veteran or eligible person undergoing a change from one program of education to another program of education as described in paragraph (1)(E) shall not be required to apply to the Secretary for approval of such change.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those comprising this section were contained in former section 1672, as added by Pub. L. 89–358, § 2, Mar. 3, 1966, 80 Stat. 15; and former section 1722, Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1196, prior to repeal by section 401(6) and 402(2) of Pub. L. 92–540, respectively.

Amendments

2008—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–389 designated existing provisions as par. (1), redesignated former pars. (1) to (4) as subpars. (A) to (D) of par. (1), respectively, and added subpar. (E) of par. (1) and par. (2). 1992—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–568 amended subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (d) read as follows: “As used in this section the term ‘change of program of education’ shall not be deemed to include a change from the pursuit of one program to pursuit of another where the first program is prerequisite to, or generally required for, entrance into pursuit of the second.” 1991—Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 1791 of this title as this section. 1990—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–366 substituted “The Secretary, in accordance with procedures that the Secretary may establish, may approve a change other than a change under subsection (a) of this section” for “The Secretary may approve one additional change”. 1989—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 101–237 substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing. 1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–502 substituted “the veteran’s or person’s” for “his” in three places. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–502 substituted “if the Administrator finds” for “if he finds” and “the veteran’s or person’s” for “his” wherever appearing. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–502 substituted “if the Administrator finds” for “if he finds”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1990 Amendment Pub. L. 101–366, title II, § 208(b), Aug. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 443, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on June 1, 1991.”

Effective Date

of 1976 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 94–502 effective Oct. 15, 1976, see section 703(b) of Pub. L. 94–502, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 3693 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 3691

Title 38 — Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60