Training you can pay for with the GI Bill
GI Bill benefits can pay for college and also for non-college training: trade and technical schools, apprenticeships and on-the-job training, flight training, and licensing and certification tests. Eligibility depends on your service; for example, the Post-9/11 GI Bill generally requires at least 90 days of active duty on or after September 11, 2001 (other routes exist). The listings below require the GI Bill or can be paid with it. Using it spends entitlement, so compare free options first. Source: VA: About GI Bill benefits (checked Oct 4, 2026).
33 programs listed. 7 are free with no VA benefit needed, 26 are free or paid through a VA benefit (GI Bill, VR&E or VET TEC 2.0). Last checked Sep 30 to Oct 4, 2026.
Use the program finder to filter by who you are, your benefits, state and format. Questions about benefits? See the FAQ.
Check before you apply: details change often, so confirm on each program's official page. Verify details = some details not fully confirmed.
Programs (33)
- Werner military apprenticeships (truck driver, diesel technician, transportation management)
Werner Enterprises · Free
Registered apprenticeship programs for the military community: Truck Driver Apprenticeship, Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship and Transportation Management Apprenticeship; veterans…
- Norman (OK) Police Department SkillBridge
Norman Police Department · Free
Start the police academy while still on active duty, then be hired; VA education benefits (housing allowance) can be used during the academy and field training
- Duke Energy Distribution Line Apprentice Program (GI Bill OJT) Verify details
Duke Energy · Free
Paid apprenticeship as a Duke Energy employee building and maintaining the electric distribution system; VA-approved OJT/apprenticeship, so the VA may add monthly GI Bill…
- NRAEF restaurant management apprenticeship for veterans (GI Bill approved)
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) · Free
Restaurant management registered apprenticeship and Restaurant Manager SkillBridge (12 weeks of e-instruction plus supervised work); approved for the Post-9/11 GI Bill with a…
- Helmets to Hardhats - building trades apprenticeship matching
Helmets to Hardhats · Free
Free matching to registered building-trades apprenticeships (electrician, carpenter, pipefitter, operating engineer and more); GI Bill can pay a housing allowance during…
- Delta TechOps AMT Pathways (military service pathway) Verify details
Delta Air Lines TechOps · Free
Direct pathway for veterans with aircraft maintenance experience into Delta Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) or Aircraft Support Mechanic (ASM) roles; veterans without an…
- Apprenticeship.gov (DOL) - Veterans apprenticeship finder Verify details
U.S. Department of Labor · Free
Registered Apprenticeship search incl. AI (Artificial Intelligence)/IT occupations; GI Bill OJT optional
- CompTIA certification via VA programs (Military / Veteran) Verify details
CompTIA · Free with benefit (Discounted; free through O2O, VET TEC, VR&E)
Military discounts and vouchers; CompTIA exams reimbursable via VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) licensing/certification benefit
- Airstreams Renewables - wind and communications tower technician Verify details
Airstreams Renewables, Inc. · Cost unclear (Tuition not posted; SkillBridge approved and approved for VA education benefits)
240-hour Renewable Energy and Communications Tower Technician program with climber/rescue, OSHA 10, first aid/CPR, working at heights, fiber optic and electrical certificates…
- Code Platoon (Veteran software bootcamp) Verify details
Code Platoon · Paid; GI Bill / VR&E may cover it (Free/low cost with GI Bill/VET TEC or scholarships)
Software engineering, DevOps, and AI (Artificial Intelligence) bootcamps for veterans
- Workshops for Warriors - CNC machining and welding school Verify details
Workshops for Warriors (nonprofit school) · Cost unclear (Tuition not posted; programs are eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill and DoD SkillBridge)
16-week CNC machining and welding programs with nationally recognized credentials (e.g. AWS, NIMS) and career services
- Georgia Tech OMSA (Online MS Analytics)
Georgia Institute of Technology · Paid; GI Bill / VR&E may cover it
Online MS Analytics (computational data/ML tracks)
- Georgia Tech OMSCS (Online MS Computer Science, ML specialization)
Georgia Institute of Technology · Paid; GI Bill / VR&E may cover it (~$7,000 total tuition; $0 if VR&E or scholarship pays)
Online MS CS with Machine Learning / AI (Artificial Intelligence) specializations
- UIUC Online MCS / MCS-DS (Coursera)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Paid; GI Bill / VR&E may cover it (~$22,000+; $0 via VR&E)
Online MCS with data science/AI tracks
- UT Austin Online MS Data Science / MS CS
University of Texas at Austin · Paid; GI Bill / VR&E may cover it (~$10,000 total; $0 via VR&E)
Online MSDS or MSCS
- UT Austin Online MS in Artificial Intelligence (MSAI)
University of Texas at Austin · Paid; GI Bill / VR&E may cover it (~$10,000 total; $0 via VR&E)
Online MS in AI (Artificial Intelligence)
- Flex Air Aviation Maintenance SkillBridge (A&P)
Flex Air · Paid; GI Bill / VR&E may cover it (Paid; TA, CA or GI Bill can cover)
60-180 day aviation maintenance SkillBridge; A&P course can be paid with Tuition Assistance, Credentialing Assistance or GI Bill
- Troops Into Transportation - CDL training (The CDL School)
Troops Into Transportation / The CDL School · Paid; GI Bill / VR&E may cover it (GI Bill approved; tuition not posted)
About 4-week Class A CDL and ELDT training at locations nationwide (including SkillBridge sites); some carriers reimburse veterans who used VA benefits
- Western Governors University (via VR&E)
Western Governors University · Paid; GI Bill / VR&E may cover it (~$4,500 to $5,500 per 6-month term; $0 if VR&E approves)
Online competency-based BS/MS (Cyber, Data Analytics, CS, AI (Artificial Intelligence)/ML MS) at flat-rate tuition
- VA GI Bill Flight Training
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Free with benefit (Uses GI Bill entitlement)
GI Bill help paying for approved flight training toward advanced pilot certificates (Post-9/11 pays up to the annual cap; MGIB reimburses 60%)
- VA GI Bill for Non-College Degree Programs (trade and technical schools)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Free with benefit (Uses GI Bill entitlement)
Use GI Bill benefits for approved non-college degree programs such as trade, vocational and technical schools
- VA GI Bill On-the-Job Training and Apprenticeships
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Free with benefit (Uses GI Bill entitlement)
Use GI Bill benefits while you learn a trade on the job (e.g. plumbing, electrical, law enforcement, firefighting); Post-9/11 GI Bill pays a monthly housing payment plus books…
- PTCB Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) exam - GI Bill reimbursable
Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) · Paid; GI Bill / VR&E may cover it (Exam fee; GI Bill can reimburse)
The PTCB CPhT exam fee can be reimbursed under the GI Bill
- Schneider military program - CDL training with GI Bill Verify details
Schneider National · Paid; GI Bill / VR&E may cover it (Use GI Bill for tuition; extra $200/month reimbursement for eligible drivers)
Use GI Bill benefits for CDL tuition plus an extra $200/month tuition reimbursement; in-house apprenticeship; military driving credited as experience
- NC State / UNC System online programs (in-state) Verify details
UNC System · Paid; GI Bill / VR&E may cover it (In-state tuition; $0 via VR&E)
In-state tuition for NC (North Carolina) residents; online MS in CS/Data Science/Analytics options
- University of Colorado Boulder MS-DS / MS-AI (Coursera, performance-based admission) Verify details
CU Boulder · Paid; GI Bill / VR&E may cover it (~$15,000 to $20,000; $0 via VR&E)
Online MS Data Science or MS AI (Artificial Intelligence) with no-application performance-based admission
- NABCEP Veterans Pathway - solar PV certification exams Verify details
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) · Paid; GI Bill / VR&E may cover it (Exam fees apply; NABCEP PV credentials are GI Bill reimbursable (per IREC))
Veterans can qualify for NABCEP PV Associate, Installation Professional, Installer Specialist or Commissioning & Maintenance exams through a veterans pathway
- Check Rudisill/Perkins extra GI Bill entitlement (up to 12 more months) Verify details
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Free with benefit
Possible restoration of up to 48 total months of GI Bill (MGIB + Post-9/11) for veterans with qualifying periods of service
- Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Verify details
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Free with benefit
Up to 9 extra months of Post-9/11 GI Bill for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) degrees
- VA Licensing and Certification Test Reimbursement Verify details
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Free with benefit (Free if entitlement remains)
VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) pays cert/license exam fees (charged against GI Bill entitlement)
- Jefferson-Lewis BOCES Army Medic to Practical Nursing (New York) Verify details
Jefferson-Lewis BOCES Adult Education · Paid; GI Bill / VR&E may cover it (Tuition (grants available); eligible for veterans education benefits)
Accelerated 5-month practical nursing program for military medics, leading to NCLEX-PN eligibility and NY LPN licensure
- Lincoln Electric Welding School for veterans (GI Bill) Verify details
Lincoln Electric · Paid; GI Bill / VR&E may cover it
16-week Comprehensive welding program or 6-week Basic Plate Arc Welding course at The Lincoln Electric Welding School, with career fairs and access to Lincoln Electric's welding…
- VA Work-Study Program Verify details
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Free with benefit
Part-time paid work at VA (Department of Veterans Affairs)/school/VSO while in training