VA’s highly sought after five-year pilot program—Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC)—is coming to an end this April. This innovative program provided $45 million annually to pair Veterans and transitioning service members with high-technology programs, and featured performance targets and oversight of providers based on the agreements entered with VA.
VA is proud to have offered this pilot program to provide opportunities for Veterans to obtain the technology skills sought by today’s top employers. Over the five-year program, more than 14,000 VET TEC beneficiaries completed their program and nearly half have reported finding meaningful employment with an average starting annual salary of $65,000.
What does this mean for Veterans and eligible service members?
- As of March 25, VA is unable to fund any new VET TEC students. The VET TEC program formally ends April 1.
- Students currently enrolled in VET TEC programs will continue training uninterrupted. VET TEC monthly housing allowance and tuition and fees payments can be made through fiscal year 2024; so, no students’ payments will be affected, even if their formal term ends after April 1.
- Veterans in receipt of a VET TEC Certificate of Eligibility, but not yet enrolled in a program, will be notified that funding for the pilot program has ended and will be reminded that this is the last year of the VET TEC pilot program. VA is unable to fund any new VET TEC students. This means no new VET TEC enrollments can be submitted or paid.
- New VET TEC applicants will have their applications for the pilot program reviewed, and if found eligible will be notified that while they met the necessary criteria, no funding remains for the pilot program.
Individuals with questions regarding their VET TEC eligibility or the VET TEC program should email the VET TEC team at VETTEC.VBABUF@va.gov.
VET TEC training providers with questions should email the VET TEC Education Liaison Representative team at ELR-VETTEC.VBABUF@va.gov.
For other questions about their GI Bill® education benefits, beneficiaries should call the Education Call Center at 1-888-442-4551.
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I am so sad I didn’t know about this until now … :(
I never really understood the requirements to even get into the program. I only have 2 and a 1/2 months left on my education Eligibility for what’s covered. I found out just a month ago about the vet tech program however not the eligibility requirements and certainly not anybody talking about this. I wish more was available for veterans In rural places and women veterans in general.
I also wish more courses and classes were offered online instead of driving for those of us that live far away from campuses.
I was honestly looking forward to going back to school with a hopeful chance of having job placement Immediately after with this program. During the covid 19 pandemic for the past 2 and a half years it completely messed up my schooling and my internship so I did not retain or learn anything and my lack of skills even with a degree are basically useless because I have no training and honestly at this point it’s like I know nothing. Guess The vet tech program was not for me.
Good luck out there, especially with inflation and an extremely competitive job market. I have been searching for a Remote entry level good paying position for several months and nothing.
Great program in an area in which both the government and the military services acknowledge they are WOEFULLY short on employment numbers… so terminate. Makes sense considering Congress can barely pass the required authorization bills let alone anything else.
Why wasn’t this program disclosed when I have inquired about benefits multiple times over the last three years for pilot programs? All I got was use your gi bill for Gen Ed’s and the housing step to pay for the rest. Why wasn’t this advertised? Would have been greatly successful if education reps told us about it. Hope it gets refunded to help others and you know maybe actually tell people about it.
Vet Tech program reads like a successful endeavor. Ok. Let’s terminate. So nice.
Pelletier CW3, USA (Ret)
Just got my certificate of eligibility… guess that was all for nothing!
Still baffles the mind how a very successful program gets terminated. Each year, more and more veterans jumped onto this program and thrived. But I guess when something is successful, cut it off ASAP. What is even more baffling is that after all the petitions sent to congress, they just brushed us off. I will never understand why veterans are an afterthought, yet a political soundbite especially during election season
…..ah its just critical national infrastructure at stake. Wonder if Congress cares about that?