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 VE***********@va.gov.
VET TEC training providers with questions should email the VET TEC Education Liaison Representative team at EL***************@va.gov.
For other questions about their GI Bill® education benefits, beneficiaries should call the Education Call Center at 1-888-442-4551.