KEY TAKEAWAYS
- VET TEC 2.0 is live as of June 2026 — applications are open now using VA Form 22-10297. This is a completely new program, not a continuation of the original pilot.
- The new service requirement is 36 months of active duty — significantly stricter than VET TEC 1.0, which required only one day of GI Bill entitlement. Veterans must also be under age 62.
- Unlike the original program, VET TEC 2.0 charges GI Bill entitlement — one month of Post-9/11 GI Bill, MGIB, or DEA benefits for every month of full-time training. Veterans with exhausted entitlement can still participate.
- The program is capped at 4,000 paid participants per fiscal year — spots are limited and expected to fill quickly based on demand from the original pilot.
- The program is authorized through September 30, 2027 under the Dole Act. Old Certificates of Eligibility from the 2019–2024 pilot are not valid — you must reapply.
- What Is VET TEC 2.0?
- The Original VET TEC Pilot (2019–2024): What Happened
- What Changed from VET TEC 1.0 to 2.0
- VET TEC 2.0 Eligibility Requirements
- What Benefits VET TEC 2.0 Provides
- GI Bill Entitlement: How the Charge Works
- Approved Training Fields and Current Providers
- How to Apply for VET TEC 2.0
- If You Don’t Qualify: Alternatives for Tech Training
- Frequently Asked Questions
If you’ve heard of VET TEC — the VA program that paid directly for veterans to attend tech bootcamps — and wondered what happened to it, the short answer is: it ended in April 2024 when the pilot program ran out of funding and legal authority. The longer answer is that Congress brought it back as VET TEC 2.0, applications opened in June 2026, and the new version is significantly different from what veterans used between 2019 and 2024. This guide covers everything you need to know about the current program, what changed, and what your options are if you don’t qualify.
What Is VET TEC 2.0?
Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses 2.0 (VET TEC 2.0) is a VA program that funds short-term, intensive technology training for eligible veterans and active duty service members. The VA pays tuition and fees directly to approved training providers — no money passes through your hands — and participants also receive a monthly housing allowance and money for books and supplies during training.
The program covers five technology training fields:
- Computer programming
- Computer software
- Data processing
- Information sciences
- Media application
Programs typically run 6 to 28 weeks — much shorter than a traditional degree — and are designed to move veterans into technology careers faster than a four-year college path. Training providers are approved by the VA and range from cybersecurity certification programs to full-stack web development bootcamps. VET TEC 2.0 is authorized through September 30, 2027 under the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act (Dole Act), signed into law on January 2, 2025.
The Original VET TEC Pilot (2019–2024): What Happened
The original VET TEC program launched in 2019 as a five-year pilot under the Forever GI Bill. It became one of the VA’s most popular education programs almost immediately — primarily because it paid for tech training without touching veterans’ GI Bill entitlement. For veterans who wanted to enter a technology career but also planned to use their GI Bill for a traditional degree, VET TEC let them pursue both without sacrificing months of entitlement on a bootcamp.
The VA allocated approximately $45 million annually to the program. Over its five-year run, more than 14,000 veterans completed training, and the VA reported that nearly half found meaningful employment with an average starting salary of $65,000. By most measures, it was a successful program.
The problem was demand. By 2023, the program was exhausting its annual budget by mid-November — leaving veterans who applied in the fall with approved certificates of eligibility but no funding. On April 1, 2024, the program’s legal authority expired and the VA formally ended all new enrollments. Veterans already enrolled continued training with payments funded through the end of fiscal year 2024.
Congress ultimately reauthorized the concept through the Dole Act, but with meaningful changes designed to address the accountability concerns that surfaced during the pilot — particularly a declining employment rate trend in the program’s final years that GAO had flagged for review.
What Changed from VET TEC 1.0 to 2.0
If you researched or used VET TEC before 2024, assume the rules you knew are different now. VET TEC 2.0 is not a continuation of the pilot — it’s a new program authorized under different legislation with different eligibility, entitlement, and provider requirements.
| Feature | VET TEC 1.0 (2019–2024) | VET TEC 2.0 (2026–2027) |
|---|---|---|
| Service requirement | 1 day of GI Bill entitlement | 36 months of active duty |
| Age limit | None | Under 62 at time of approval |
| GI Bill entitlement charged | No — was a separate benefit | Yes — 1 month per month of training |
| Annual participant cap | No hard cap (funding-limited) | 4,000 per fiscal year |
| Prior COE valid | N/A | No — must reapply |
| Provider approvals transferred | N/A | No — providers must reapply |
| Application form | VA Form 22-0994 | VA Form 22-10297 |
| Program authorization | Forever GI Bill pilot | Dole Act (through Sept 30, 2027) |
The most impactful change for most veterans is the service requirement. VET TEC 1.0 was broadly accessible — if you had even one day of GI Bill entitlement, you could apply. VET TEC 2.0 requires 36 months of active duty service, which excludes many veterans who served shorter enlistments and some Guard and Reserve members whose qualifying service periods don’t reach that threshold.
VET TEC 2.0 Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for VET TEC 2.0, you must meet the following requirements per VA.gov:
Service status — one of the following:
- A veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, or
- An active duty service member within 180 days of separating from service
Both of the following must also be true:
- You served at least 36 months on active duty
- You are under age 62 when the VA approves your application
Notably, you do not need to have previously qualified for or used any VA education benefit to participate — VET TEC 2.0 has its own eligibility pathway. Veterans who have already exhausted their GI Bill entitlement (used the full 36 or 48 months) can still participate, which makes this program particularly valuable for veterans further into their post-service careers who want to pivot into technology.
The 4,000-slot annual cap is the program’s most significant practical limitation. Given that the original program served 14,000+ veterans over five years at roughly $45M/year, and demand was consistently outpacing supply, the 4,000 cap is expected to fill quickly. If you’re eligible and interested, applying early in the fiscal year (October through December) is advisable.
What Benefits VET TEC 2.0 Provides
Approved participants receive three forms of support during training:
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- Tuition and fees: Paid directly to the approved training provider — no money passes through your hands and no up-front payment is required
- Monthly housing allowance: Paid at the E-5 with dependents BAH rate for the training location’s ZIP code for in-person or hybrid programs. Online-only programs receive a flat rate of $1,169/month through July 31, 2026, rising to $1,261/month on August 1, 2026
- Books and supplies: Funding toward required course materials
After completing training, you receive a certificate from your provider. Both you and the provider are required to report your employment or education status to the VA, and later verify that you remained employed for 180 days (or 365 days if the training provider itself hired you). This outcome-tracking requirement is new to VET TEC 2.0 and reflects Congress’s response to the declining employment rate trend seen in the original pilot’s final years.
GI Bill Entitlement: How the Charge Works
This is the biggest operational difference for veterans planning their education benefits:
Under VET TEC 1.0: Participation did not consume any GI Bill entitlement. A veteran could complete a full tech bootcamp and walk away with all 36 months of Post-9/11 GI Bill intact for future use.
Under VET TEC 2.0: If you have remaining entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD), or Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA), the VA charges one month of entitlement for every month of full-time training.
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A 6-month program consumes 6 months of GI Bill entitlement. A 3-month program uses 3 months. This changes the math for veterans who are planning to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill for a traditional degree program after completing tech training — the entitlement used for VET TEC 2.0 is not recoverable.
However — and this is important — veterans who have already exhausted their GI Bill entitlement can still participate, even if they’ve used the full 48-month maximum. This creates a genuine pathway for veterans who thought their VA education benefits were fully spent. VET TEC 2.0 is separate enough that prior exhaustion of entitlement doesn’t disqualify you; it simply means there’s nothing to charge.
For veterans with remaining GI Bill months, the decision to use VET TEC 2.0 versus a GI Bill-funded bootcamp at a VA-approved provider comes down to: how many months do you have remaining, what is the program length, and how do you plan to use any remaining entitlement afterward? Our GI Bill eligibility guide and GI Bill housing allowance guide can help you understand what’s at stake before applying.
Approved Training Fields and Current Providers
VET TEC 2.0 is in early rollout as of July 2026, and the approved provider list is significantly smaller than the original pilot at this stage. All prior VET TEC provider approvals were voided — every training organization had to reapply and meet new requirements, including an accreditation requirement for distance learning providers that was not part of the original pilot framework. This is why some well-regarded bootcamps from the original program are not currently on the list.
Current approved providers and programs per VA.gov (as of July 2026):
- ICOHS College (San Diego, CA / distance learning) — A Plus-Module I; Network Plus-Module II
- DSDT College Inc. (Detroit, MI / distance learning) — Technology Professional 6; Technology Professional 6 On-line
- Great Horizons Career Centers (Cary, NC) — Cyber Security Specialist
- Training Concepts (Columbia, SC) — Cisco Professional Certification; CompTIA Secure Infrastructure; IT Security Professional; IT Career Start
- Intellectual Point (Sterling, VA) — AI and Machine Learning; Cloud Architect; Cyber Security Analyst; Cyber Warrior; DevOps; Help Desk; Systems Administration
- Skillspire LLC (Bellevue, WA) — Full Stack Web Development; iOS Development; Java and Cloud; Cyber Security; Data Analytics; AI/Machine Learning; C# and Azure Cloud; UX Design
- ACI Learning Tech Academy (Colorado Springs, CO; Irving, TX; San Antonio, TX) — Computer User Support Specialist; Cyber Security Analyst
- Code Platoon (Chicago, IL / distance learning) — AI Cloud and DevOps Engineering; Full Stack Software Engineer; Full Stack Software Engineer Immersive
This list will expand as more providers complete the new participation agreement process. Check the VA GI Bill Comparison Tool for the most current list of approved VET TEC 2.0 providers and programs — it updates in real time as new approvals are added.
How to Apply for VET TEC 2.0
Applications are open now. The process:
- Confirm your eligibility. Review the requirements above — particularly the 36-month service requirement and age cap. If you have a prior VET TEC 1.0 Certificate of Eligibility, it is not valid for 2.0. You must start the application process fresh.
- Choose an approved program. Browse current approved providers on the GI Bill Comparison Tool and identify a program that fits your career goals. Confirm the program is specifically approved for VET TEC 2.0 — not just GI Bill-approved — before applying.
- Apply online at VA.gov. Submit VA Form 22-10297 through the VET TEC 2.0 application page. You’ll need your DD-214 or service records and direct deposit information.
- Receive your approval and enroll. Once the VA processes your application and approves you, you’ll receive a Certificate of Eligibility for VET TEC 2.0 (not transferable from the old program) and can enroll with your chosen approved provider.
- Verify enrollment monthly. You must verify your enrollment every month to continue receiving your monthly housing allowance.
Given the 4,000-slot annual cap, applying early in the fiscal year gives you the best chance of securing a slot before the program fills. The fiscal year runs October 1 through September 30.
If You Don’t Qualify: Alternatives for Tech Training
The 36-month service requirement will exclude veterans who served shorter enlistments, many National Guard and Reserve members, and anyone separated before accumulating 36 months of qualifying active duty. If VET TEC 2.0 isn’t an option for you, these alternatives cover the same tech training territory:
Post-9/11 GI Bill at VA-Approved Tech Bootcamps
The GI Bill covers tuition and fees at thousands of VA-approved programs — including many technology bootcamps and coding schools that are not VET TEC 2.0 providers. You receive the full housing allowance (E-5 BAH rate for your school’s location) plus the books stipend. The tradeoff versus VET TEC 2.0 is that you’re consuming GI Bill entitlement either way, but the provider network is far larger. Use the GI Bill Comparison Tool to find VA-approved bootcamps in cybersecurity, software development, and data science. For eligibility requirements and entitlement details, see our full GI Bill guide.
DoD SkillBridge (Active Duty Only)
SkillBridge lets active duty service members spend their last 180 days of service working with a civilian employer — including technology companies, cybersecurity firms, and coding bootcamp partners — while continuing to receive active duty pay, BAH, and benefits. It uses zero GI Bill entitlement. If you’re still on active duty and approaching separation, SkillBridge is arguably the single best transition tool available for veterans heading into tech. Apply through your unit’s chain of command and the DoD SkillBridge portal.
VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E, Chapter 31)
Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 10% or higher may qualify for VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Chapter 31), which can fund technology training without touching GI Bill entitlement. VR&E assesses your employability and may authorize training in cybersecurity, software development, IT support, or related fields if it aligns with a feasible employment goal. The program also provides a subsistence allowance during training, career counseling, and job placement support. VR&E is an underutilized option for veterans with disability ratings who don’t meet VET TEC 2.0’s service requirements.
WIOA and American Job Centers
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds job training through a network of American Job Centers across the country. Veterans receive priority of service under WIOA — they move to the front of the line for available training funds. WIOA can fund technology certification programs, bootcamps, and community college tech courses for eligible veterans at no cost and without touching GI Bill entitlement. Find your nearest American Job Center at CareerOneStop.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Certificates of Eligibility issued under the original VET TEC pilot (2019–2024) are not valid for VET TEC 2.0. This is a new program with a new application form (VA Form 22-10297). If you received a COE under the original program but never enrolled — or enrolled but didn’t complete your program — you must reapply from scratch under the new eligibility rules.
Yes. Veterans who have exhausted their GI Bill entitlement — even those who have used the full 48-month maximum — can still participate in VET TEC 2.0. When there’s no entitlement remaining to charge, the VA simply funds the training without a deduction. This makes VET TEC 2.0 one of the few VA education programs accessible to veterans who’ve already fully used their GI Bill.
Not under the current rules. VET TEC 2.0 requires 36 months (3 years) of active duty service — a significantly stricter threshold than the original pilot, which required only one day of GI Bill entitlement. If you served a standard 2-year or shortened enlistment, look at the GI Bill at VA-approved bootcamps, DoD SkillBridge (if still on active duty), VA Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31, if you have a disability rating), or WIOA workforce training as alternatives.
All VET TEC 1.0 provider approvals were voided when the pilot ended. Every provider must reapply under VET TEC 2.0’s new participation agreement requirements, which include an accreditation requirement for distance learning providers that didn’t exist in the original pilot framework. Many well-regarded bootcamps that served veterans under the original program have been denied or are still working through the approval process as a result. The provider list is expected to grow through 2026 and 2027 as more institutions complete the new requirements — check the VA GI Bill Comparison Tool regularly for updates.
The math depends on your specific situation. Since VET TEC 2.0 charges entitlement at the same rate as the GI Bill, the main advantages of VET TEC 2.0 are: access for veterans with exhausted entitlement, and the potential for a dedicated provider relationship with built-in employment support and outcome tracking. The GI Bill at a VA-approved bootcamp gives you a much larger selection of providers and programs. For veterans with significant remaining entitlement who have flexibility in provider choice, the GI Bill route may offer more options. For veterans with exhausted entitlement or those specifically targeting VET TEC 2.0 approved programs, VET TEC 2.0 is the right path. See our Post-9/11 GI Bill overview and GI Bill transferability guide for more context on managing your entitlement.
This article is provided by USMilitary.org, an independent educational resource. We are not affiliated with the Department of Defense, VA, or any government agency. Program details, approved providers, and eligibility rules are subject to change — verify current information at VA.gov.
