Boosting Your Career: How the GI Bill Can Help
There are several ways GI educational benefits can assist you in advancing your career.
Financial Stability
Using government funds to pay for your schooling allows you to start your work life without the burden of excessive student loans. You may be entering the workforce later than average due to the years you spent in the military. However, you won't have to spend a decade or more just paying off educational debt. Instead, you can invest any surplus income in advanced training, seminars, and organizational memberships in your chosen field. Employers like to promote people who show this type of initiative.
Apprenticeships/OJT
The MGIB offers reimbursement for On the Job Training (OJT). This allows veterans to work and receive a "salary" benefit while being trained in a new career. The money paid out under this program is tax free. Having access to this extra monthly compensation can make it possible for you to get your start in a number of jobs that offer decent pay and benefits later on. Employers that often participate in this program are:
- State, federal, and local law enforcement agencies
- Aerospace and pharmaceutical manufacturers
- Fire departments
- Penal institutions (detention centers, prisons, etc.)
At this time, the OJT program won't pay for you to receive management training. It just covers entry-level positions. The training period must last for at least six months and you have to be employed full time as a paid employee. At your job, you must be under direct supervision at least 50% of the time to be considered a trainee.
Apprenticeship payments taper off over time; so looking for a job that will get you up to speed within a one-year period is a good idea. If you have been recently hired and think you might qualify for OJT payments, find out quickly. You may be able to get paid retroactively for up to 12 months of training.
Note: You can't use this benefit and get educational reimbursement at the same time.
Certifications/Licenses
Both the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) and the Post-9/11 GI Bill can pay you back for the cost of certain tests. The MGIB will even pay for more than one. In the Post 9/11 plan, this benefit does not reduce your overall tuition reimbursement. You can request repayment for a test fee using VA Form 22-1990. Here are just a few of the licenses/certifications that are eligible:
- Insurance Adjustor
- Certified Public Accountant
- Dietitian
- Loan Officer
- Fire Inspector
- Psychologist
- Vocational Nurse
- Mortgage Broker
The specific tests that qualify under this benefit vary from one state to the next. New ones may be added at any time. The reimbursement covers only the cost of the test itself. This means you would pay for any additional costs including:
- Books or guides
- Pre-tests
- Registration fees
- Processing fees
Being licensed is essential for many occupations. In such cases, you will be getting paid back for an expense you would have incurred anyway. In other circumstances, having the right certification can instantly expand your career opportunities by showing your employer that you mean business.