Additional information

After you apply, you can expect a decision on your eligibility for the Education and Training Benefit within four weeks.

Find out more

Watch this video for a quick overview of the Education and Training Benefit.

Build your education plan

If you are approved for funding, you will then submit your education and training plan. The first step is to think about your options. Here are some things to consider:

Are you interested in pursuing a university degree? A trade school? A few workshops?

How many years does it usually take to complete the program?

Will you need to work while going to school?

Do you have other commitments which might limit the time you can dedicate to your studies?

Your answers to these and other questions will help you build your plan. It can be a lot to think about. Fortunately, most Veterans who qualify for this benefit are also eligible for VAC’s Career Transition Services, which can provide one-on-one help to:

Choose the field of study that is right for you,

plan your studies to suit your circumstances,

complete your forms, and

support your search for a job when you have completed your courses.

We need to receive your completed plan in advance of your course or period of study (e.g. semester) before we can send you any funds. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide retroactive payments.

Submit your education plan

If you use Career Transition Services, your career coach will help you submit your plan. If you are doing this on your own, there are two application forms to choose from – one for a formal program and one for a short course. You can submit your plan through My VAC Account or you can download the plan and mail it to us.

Formal program

The formal program plan requires information such as number of courses, cost of the program and start/end dates. This helps us calculate your payment plan to ensure you have enough funding for the duration of your program. If we need more information from you, we will contact you. Once your plan is approved, you will receive a letter detailing the total amount you will receive and your payment schedule.

Short course

You should fill out the short course plan when the course you want is short term and will not result in a college or university certificate, diploma or degree. For example:

small business/entrepreneurial boot camps,

continuing education,

workshops,

certification or professional designations, or

other professional development.

Monitor your progress

When you finish a period of study (e.g. semester), you will complete and submit the Education and Training Benefit – Monitoring Form (VAC 1550). This form is required before we can send the next payment in your schedule. When you submit the monitoring form, you will also need to include:

Proof of completion of the recently finished period of study (e.g. transcript), and

Proof of enrollment in the upcoming period of study (e.g. confirmation of registration).

To ensure that these documents reach VAC quickly, we recommend uploading the monitoring form through My VAC Account. Once VAC receives your completed form, your next payment will be issued.

Note: We can only issue payments within 60 days of the start of your study period.

The graduate bonus

After you complete your plan and achieve your diploma, degree or certification, you can apply for the “completion bonus.” All you need to do is submit the Education and Training Benefit - Completion Bonus (VAC 1572), along with proof of your achievement, and you will receive an additional $1,000.

The Education and Training Benefit - Applicant Guide (PDF) also covers all of the above steps from applying to this program through to your graduation.

Related programs

Career Transition Services - Access to a career counselor for Veterans who want to find a new job.

Vocational rehabilitation - Coaching, support and any other training you need to return to work or find a new job after an injury.

Transition Interview – Before you release, a meeting to provide information on VAC programs and services available to you and your family.