Veterans and eligible family members can use GI Bill benefits to pay for the exams that stand between them and a license or certification, including retakes, failed attempts and recertification exams. With Veterans Day just past, here is how the benefit works according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' own page, last updated October 23, 2026: what it pays, what it costs in entitlement and how to file.

What the benefit pays for

VA will reimburse the fee for a test required for a job that needs a license or a certification. That covers credentials such as a state engineering or trades license exam or an industry certification exam, provided the test is approved for GI Bill use. The reimbursement is up to $2,000 per test, and registration and administrative fees charged for the test count toward that amount.

There is no fixed number of tests. A person can take as many approved tests as they want while they have entitlement left and are inside their benefit's time limit. VA states plainly that it also pays for tests a person does not pass, for retakes and for recertification tests.

What it does not pay for is the license or certificate itself. A board's fee to issue a license after you pass is not a test fee, and VA does not cover it.

Who can use it

Test fee reimbursement is available under four programs:

  • Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
  • Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chapter 30)
  • Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
  • Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)

What it costs in entitlement

Using the benefit for a test draws down your GI Bill entitlement, the months of benefit you have left for school or training. VA charges entitlement based on the amount it pays back to you, so a $150 exam uses far less than a $1,500 one. The exact rate depends on which benefit you hold, and VA's rates page for that benefit is where to check it before deciding whether to use entitlement on a test or save it for a degree.

Finding out whether a test is approved

VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool has a section for licenses, certifications and prep courses where approved tests are listed. If a test is not listed, VA says it may still be valid and simply not yet approved, and you can still apply for reimbursement.

How to get reimbursed

  • Pay for the test yourself and take it.
  • Fill out VA Form 22-0803 online or as a downloadable PDF.
  • Attach a copy of the receipt showing the fee, and either your test results or the license or certification you received.
  • Submit through VA's QuickSubmit upload tool or by mail to the Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Intake Center, PO Box 5215, Janesville, WI 53547.

Prep courses are a separate benefit

VA also pays for prep courses, but on narrower terms. Only the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) and Chapter 35 cover them, and only for prep courses tied to a test that is already approved. Entitlement is charged in proportion to the actual course fee, and there is no limit on the number of courses within your remaining entitlement and time limit. The form is VA Form 22-10272, filed online, through QuickSubmit or by mail to the same Janesville address, with the fee receipt and proof of enrollment from the provider.

Before you schedule the exam

Three things are worth confirming in advance: that the exam appears in the Comparison Tool or that you are prepared to apply even if it does not, how much entitlement the fee will use under your specific benefit, and what your licensing board requires beyond the exam, since passing a test is usually one step among several. VA takes questions through Ask VA online and by phone on weekdays.

Licensure and renewal rules differ by state and change over time. Check the current requirements with your state licensing board before you act on them.

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