Education

If you’re a service member, veteran, or family member interested in education and training opportunities, you can apply for your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and manage your current VA benefits at: https://www.vets.gov/education/apply/.

You may be eligible for several types of VA education and training benefits, but you have to consider several things before you apply for the GI Bill® program. The Post-9/11 GI Bill® is the best option for some, but for other students it would be the Montgomery GI Bill®. To make things easier to decide which education and training benefits are best for you it is recommended to use the comparison tool at https://www.vets.gov/gi-bill-comparison-tool/.

You can use the GI Bill® benefits to cover a VA approved OJT or Apprenticeship program. More information on OJT/APP, including a list of currently approved programs, can be found at the following link: https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/onthejob_apprenticeship.asp.

Additional resources can be found at the following link https://www.tvc.texas.gov/education/gi-bill-main/.

The State of Texas has an education benefit called the Texas Hazlewood Act.

The Hazlewood Act is a State of Texas benefit that provides qualified Veterans, spouses, and dependent children with an education benefit of up to 150 hours of tuition exemption, including most fee charges, at public institutions of higher education in Texas. This does NOT include living expenses, books, or supply fees.

A Veteran must:

• At the time of entry into active duty of the U.S. Armed Forces, (DD Form 214 required) & (40 TAC §461.40)
  • designated Texas as Home of Record;
  • or entered the service in Texas;
  • or was a Texas resident;
• Have received an honorable discharge or separation or a general discharge under honorable conditions as indicated on the Veteran’s Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty,
• Served at least 181 days of active duty service (excluding training);
• Currently reside in Texas; (40 TAC §461.40) & (40 TAC §461.70)

• Have no federal Veteran’s education benefits, or have no federal Veterans education benefits dedicated to the payment of tuition and fees only (such as Chapter 33 or 31; for term or semester enrolled that do not exceed the value of Hazlewood benefits;

• Not be in default on a student loan made or guaranteed by the State of Texas;

• Enroll in classes for which the college receives tax support (i.e., a course that does not depend solely on student tuition and fees to cover its cost), unless the college’s governing board has ruled to let Veterans receive the benefit while taking non-funded courses; and

• Meet the GPA requirement of the institution’s satisfactory academic progress policy in a degree or certificate program as determined by the institution’s financial aid policy and, as an undergraduate student, not be considered to have attempted an excessive amount of credit hours.
  

  For more information, contact educationservices@tvc.texas.gov
  The institution of higher education (IHE) is the final decision making authority on student eligibility.