VET TEC 2.0 FY2027 Is Open: Slots, Eligibility, and How to Claim One

What is VET TEC 2.0?

VET TEC 2.0 is a VA benefit that pays for short, non-degree tech training — things like coding, cybersecurity, data, and IT support programs — for eligible veterans and separating service members. It's a different program from the original VET TEC pilot that ran 2019–2024 and expired. VET TEC 2.0 was reauthorized under the Senator Elizabeth Dole Act and runs through September 30, 2027.

An old VET TEC Certificate of Eligibility does not carry over. If you used the original pilot, you'll need to apply again under VET TEC 2.0's rules.

Am I eligible?

You qualify if you meet both of these:

• You served at least 36 months on active duty, and
• You're under 62 when VA approves your application

And at least one of these:

• You were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, or
• You're an active-duty service member within 180 days of separating

You don't need any remaining GI Bill entitlement to qualify. That's a real change from the old pilot, which required GI Bill eligibility. You can use VET TEC 2.0 even if you've already used all 48 months of your VA education benefits.

One tradeoff worth knowing: if you do have GI Bill entitlement left (Post-9/11, Montgomery, or DEA), VET TEC 2.0 charges one month of it for every month of full-time training. Those months don't count against your 48-month lifetime cap, but they do draw down whatever you have left. If protecting your GI Bill months matters more to you and you have a service-connected disability, it's worth comparing against VR&E (Chapter 31) before you apply.

What does it pay for?

• Tuition and fees, paid directly to the training provider, up to the Post-9/11 GI Bill national cap. Payment comes in milestones: 25% when you enroll, 25% when you graduate, and the final 50% only after you land a job in your field and hold it for 180 days (or continue training in that field).
• Monthly housing allowance, if you're enrolled more than half-time — the Post-9/11 rate for your school's location, or the national online rate for fully remote programs. You verify your enrollment every month to keep payments coming.
• Books and supplies, up to $41.67 per credit hour, capped at 24 credits.

Programs must be non-degree, run 6–28 weeks, and fall into one of five fields: computer programming, computer software, data processing, information sciences, or media application.

How do I apply?

1. Confirm you meet the eligibility rules above.
2. Pick a VA-approved VET TEC 2.0 provider and program in one of the five eligible fields.
3. Submit VA Form 22-10297 online at VA.gov. An old pilot-era Certificate of Eligibility doesn't transfer — this is a new application regardless of your history with the program.
4. Once VA approves you, the training provider decides whom it enrolls — schools only get paid in full when their graduates land jobs, so they screen for fit.

Check your school against VA's own approved-provider list on the VET TEC 2.0 page before you commit. A provider claiming "VET TEC approved" on its own site isn't the same as appearing on VA's list.

Why apply now instead of waiting

VA caps VET TEC 2.0 at roughly 4,000 paid participants per fiscal year, and that cap has filled well before year-end in past cycles. The FY2027 cycle just reset October 1 — this is the point in the year when your odds of getting a seat before the cap closes are best. Waiting until spring means competing for whatever's left.