Skilled trades training for veterans: free and benefit-funded options
Apprenticeships and training in construction, welding, electrical, HVAC, machining and other trades.
28 programs listed. 19 are free with no VA benefit needed, 5 are free or paid through a VA benefit (GI Bill, VR&E or VET TEC 2.0), and 4 are paid or have unclear cost. 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 (28)
- BMW Military Service Technician Education Program (MSTEP)
BMW of North America with Universal Technical Institute · Free
16-week BMW technician training; graduates are placed at BMW dealers
- The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding (paid shipbuilding apprenticeship)
HII Newport News Shipbuilding - The Apprentice School · Free
Full-time paid registered apprenticeship in a shipbuilding trade with academic and trade-theory courses; apprentices hired on or after Jul 27, 2020 graduate with an associate of…
- UA Veterans in Piping (VIP) - welding, HVACR and fire sprinkler SkillBridge
United Association (UA) of Plumbers, Pipefitters, Sprinkler Fitters · Free
720-hour DoD SkillBridge course in welding, HVACR or fire suppression at select bases; graduates are placed into a UA local apprenticeship
- UBC Military Veterans Program - free carpenter and millwright training
United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) · Free
Free 8-week training (framing, drywall, rigging, forklift, OSHA 10, first aid) leading to direct entry and 1 year of credit in a UBC apprenticeship (carpenter, millwright or pile…
- VEEP - Veteran's Electrical Entry Program (IBEW-NECA)
electrical training ALLIANCE (IBEW and NECA) · Free
Electrical pre-apprenticeship: 7-week in-person or 9-week hybrid inside-wireman course (online-only option), or 16-week outside lineman course; direct entry into an IBEW-NECA…
- 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…
- GM Shifting Gears Automotive Technician Training Program Verify details
General Motors with the U.S. Army and V2X · Free
Free 12-week full-time on-base automotive technician training (GM, U.S. Army and training partner V2X) with GM Silver certificates in electrical, brakes, chassis, engine…
- John Deere Military Hiring Program (dealer technician SkillBridge internships) Verify details
John Deere and John Deere dealerships · Free
SkillBridge internships at John Deere dealerships with free John Deere technician training, leading to dealership technician jobs; Deere handles much of the SkillBridge paperwork…
- HBI Military PACT - free residential construction training
Home Builders Institute (HBI) · Free
12-week pre-apprenticeship training in residential construction, electrical, carpentry or HVAC with PACT certification, OSHA 10 construction safety certification and job placement
- 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…
- Hiring Our Heroes Skilled Trades Academy
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation - Hiring Our Heroes · Free
Free hands-on trades training with industry certifications and employer connections. Tracks: construction (6 weeks full-time; credentials may include OSHA 30, NCCER Core, DOT…
- National PETE Military Training Program - free OSHA 10/30 (Zoom)
National PETE with Barton Community College / Great Plains OTI Education Center · Free
Free OSHA 10 and 30-hour Construction and General Industry courses taught live on Zoom (DOL OSHA cards; college credit at no cost)
- Veterans Resource Center Dallas - free welding training
Veterans Resource Center (with Dallas College and Airgas) · Free
9-10 week welding course (MIG, stick, aluminum, torch cutting) preparing for the AWS certification test, plus forklift and OSHA 10 certification and job-search classes
- Veterans Transition Support - free OSHA 10 General Industry
Veterans Transition Support (VTS) · Free
Free in-person OSHA 10-Hour General Industry course with a DOL OSHA card
- Forage virtual job simulations (11 free employer simulations)
Forage (with employers: Bloomberg, British Airways, Citi, Deloitte Australia, Electronic Arts, Goldman Sachs, Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Mastercard, Red Bull, Siemens Mobility, Walmart USA) · Free
Free, self-paced virtual job simulations built with real employers; each takes about 1-6 hours and ends with a certificate of completion. Simulations: Bloomberg Client Service…
- IREC Exploring Careers in the Solar Industry - free online course
Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) · Free
Free 8-module online course on solar careers, plus links to solar SkillBridge providers and NABCEP veteran pathways
- mikeroweWORKS Work Ethic Scholarship (trade school)
mikeroweWORKS Foundation · Free
Scholarship toward trade school training for people pursuing skilled trades careers
- Path to Pro Skills Program (Home Depot Foundation) - free online trades training
The Home Depot Foundation · Free
Free on-demand virtual training in skilled trades basics plus a free jobs network connecting to employers
- Folds of Honor scholarships (including Path to Pro skilled-trades scholarships) Verify details
Folds of Honor (with The Home Depot Foundation Path to Pro) · Free
Scholarships for spouses and dependents of fallen or disabled U.S. service members (K-12, higher education and, through The Home Depot Foundation's Path to Pro, skilled-trades…
- 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…
- Solar Energy International - military and veteran solar training Verify details
Solar Energy International (SEI) · Cost unclear (Veteran scholarships available; amounts not stated)
Solar training toward NABCEP credentials; veteran scholarships and a SkillBridge Solar Ready Vets program for the last 90-180 days of service
- Heroes MAKE America - manufacturing, logistics and A&P training pathways Verify details
The Manufacturing Institute · Cost unclear (Not stated on the training page; confirm with HMA)
6-16 week pathways: A&P prep (Wichita, Fort Bragg, Fort Stewart), automation and robotics, logistics (CLT/CLA, Lean Six Sigma, OSHA 30, forklift), manufacturing operations (MSSC…
- Lincoln Tech SkillBridge: Johnson Controls fire protection and Hussmann refrigeration technician Verify details
Lincoln Tech with Johnson Controls and Hussmann · Cost unclear (Cost not stated on the page (employer-partnered SkillBridge); confirm with Lincoln Tech)
Employer-partnered SkillBridge training: 6-week Electronic Fire Protection Technician program with Johnson Controls, or 8-week commercial refrigeration (HVAC-R) program with…
- 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
- 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…
- Caterpillar ThinkBIG (Cat dealer technician associate degree with paid internships) Verify details
Caterpillar and Cat dealers with partner colleges · Not always free
Associate of applied science degree in heavy equipment or electric power generation, alternating 8 weeks at college with 8 weeks in a paid Cat dealer internship (about 2,000…
- 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…