VET TEC 2.0 is open for applications

VET TEC 2.0 is open for applications

The VA reopened its tech training benefit for veterans on June 15, 2026. The new version is called VET TEC 2.0, and the application portal is now live.

If you're a veteran moving toward a career in software, data, or cybersecurity, this benefit can pay for the training and cover your housing while you study. Here's the background, who qualifies, and how to apply.

Some history

The original VET TEC ran as a five-year pilot from 2019 to 2024. Congress created it through the Forever GI Bill (the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017) to connect veterans with short, intensive tech courses outside the traditional degree path.

The pilot worked. It was popular enough that funding ran short in some years, and the original authority expired in 2024.

VET TEC 2.0 brings it back. Congress restored the program through the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, signed into law in early 2025. The new version runs under Chapter 36 of Title 38 and is funded through September 30, 2027.

One detail worth flagging: the program is capped at 4,000 paid participants per fiscal year. Congress can change that number, but for now, the seats are limited, so early applicants have an advantage.

What the benefit covers

VET TEC 2.0 covers:

• Tuition and fees, paid directly to your training provider

• A monthly housing allowance, set at the Post-9/11 GI Bill rate

• A stipend for books and supplies

The training has to fall in a high-tech field. The VA approves courses in computer programming, computer software, data processing, information sciences, and media applications.

Who qualifies

You may be eligible if one of these is true:

• You're a veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, or

• You're an active-duty service member within 180 days of separating.

And you have to meet both of these:

• You served at least 36 months on active duty, and

• You're under 62 years old when the VA approves your application.

Two points worth knowing. You don't need to have used a VA education benefit before to qualify. And you can still participate even if you've already used your full 48 months of education benefits.

If you do have remaining entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty, or DEA, the VA will charge one month of entitlement for each month of full-time VET TEC training. If you have no entitlement left, there's no deduction.

How to apply

The application is now online and open. You'll use VA Form 22-10297.

Apply here: https://www.va.gov/education/other-va-education-benefits/vet-tec-2/apply-for-program-form-22-10297/

Before you pick a course, confirm it's approved for VET TEC 2.0. Approval did not carry over from the old pilot, so a provider who participated previously must be re-approved under the new rules. You can check status in the GI Bill Comparison Tool.

Seven providers have approved programs as of mid-June 2026:

• ICOHS College, San Diego, CA (distance learning available)

• ACI Learning Tech Academy, Colorado Springs, CO

• DSDT College Inc., Detroit, MI (distance learning available)

• Great Horizons Career Centers, Charlotte, NC

• Training Concepts, Columbia, SC

• Intellectual Point, Sterling, VA

• Skillspire LLC, Bellevue, WA

That list will grow as the VA approves more. Two of these offer distance learning right now, which expands access beyond their home cities.

One ongoing requirement during training is that you must verify your enrollment every month to keep the housing allowance flowing.

After you finish, your provider gives you a certificate and helps you find work in your field. You and the provider report your employment to the VA, and you verify that you stayed in the job for 180 days, or 365 days if the provider hired you directly.

Full program details are on the VA page: https://www.va.gov/education/other-va-education-benefits/vet-tec-2/

A note for HR teams and veteran ERGs

This is where employers can do something useful with very little effort.

You almost certainly have veterans on your payroll who qualify and have never heard of VET TEC. Some are quietly looking to move into a technical role. Some want a credential to back up skills they already use on the job.

The ask is simple. Put a short message in front of your veteran population letting them know the benefit exists and the portal is open.

Your veteran ERG or BRG is the right channel for it. A two-line post in your internal community or a mention in the next ERG newsletter will reach people who would otherwise miss the window. Given the 4,000-seat annual cap, timing matters.

If you want help drafting that internal message or folding it into your veteran engagement plan, that's work we do at Veteran Bridge Solutions. Reach out and we'll put something together for your team.