From: White House Office of Communication
The Department of Veterans Affairs has approved more than 36,000 applications for the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP), a new training and education program for unemployed Veterans to upgrade their skills for in-demand jobs.
“The tremendous response illustrates how important this program is in providing Veterans the opportunity to find employment in a high-demand field,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.
At the current approval rate, VA expects to fill all 45,000 available slots for the fiscal year 2012 phase of the program before the Sept. 30 deadline, and will continue processing new applications for the 54,000 slots available in fiscal year 2013.
The program, a provision of the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, which was passed by Congress and signed by the President in November 2011, is managed by VA and the Department of Labor (DOL) and allows qualifying Veterans to receive up to 12 months of education assistance equal to the full-time Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty rate, currently $1,473 per month.
The goal of VRAP is to train a total of 99,000 Veterans over the next two years in more than 200 job skills that DOL has determined are the most sought-after by employers.
Veterans who have been approved for VRAP are encouraged to enroll as soon as possible to start training full-time in a VA-approved program of study offered by a community college or technical school. The program of study must lead to an associate degree, non-college degree, or certificate for a high-demand occupation as defined by DOL.
Learn more about the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) eligibility rules and application process.
Applicants approved for the 2013 phase should enroll full-time in an approved program and start training by April 2013 in order to take full advantage of this benefit before its termination March 31, 2014.
“I’m thrilled that the response to the program has been so strong,” said VA Under Secretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey. “But we need to keep getting the word out to maintain the momentum.”
VA Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity Curtis Coy acknowledged the program applies to a small segment of the Veteran population that may not have regular interaction with VA or stay informed about Veterans’ benefits and opportunities.
“We ask anyone who knows an unemployed Veteran to tell them about VRAP,” said Coy. “We are counting on the continued help of Veterans Service Organizations and the Department of Labor, as well as the American public, to reach as many eligible Veterans as possible.”
Potential applicants can learn more about VRAP and apply online at www.benefits.va.gov/VOW, or call VA toll-free at 1-800-827-1000. Information about the Department of Labor’s programs for Veterans is available at www.dol.gov/vets. Veterans can also visit the nearly 3,000 One-Stop Career Centers across the nation, listed at www.servicelocator.org, for in-person assistance.
I think its GREAT I am now enroll in School Fulltime, now I am just waiting on my check its a great thing cause I havent been in school in 33 years, getting approve went great.
Word of warning to all applying. VRAP only pays for full time only. $0 for anything less than full time. Your program MUST have a minimum of 18 hours per week class time or you will be denied benefits. This number was not published when I enrolled in an approved class at an approved institution, and resulted in me not getting any money the first month due to a 16 hour per week full time class. I lost a month of school and money and had to change from a night class to a day time class (less chance of finding a job while in school now) to be reconsidered.
I'm not sure where you're getting the math figures here, but, I am enrolled in the Medical Office Professional certificate program at Miracosta Community College in California on a FULL time basis, which is 12 semester hours or 4 classes every week. Each class is worth 3 semester hours or credits. Those 12 semester hours are what the VA has ALWAYS considered FULL time – ever since I first started college back in '75! Each class runs approximately 3 hours a week , which makes it just about 12 sit-down-in-the-chair contact hours a week – not 18 as you claim. Yes, they want you to be enrolled full time, because the basic premise of the program is to get the unemployed older vets (that's us!) retrained as quickly as possible and off and running to get those "high demand" jobs that they claim are out there! I would highly suggest that you contact your friendly VA @ 1-800-827-1000 or 1-888-442-4551 (1888-GI-BILL1) and get the real skinny on this, as somebody is surely BSing you here! I applied on 15 May, the first day when applications were accepted, got my approval letter exactly one month later, and just last week received my first partial monthly check for the first 12 days of the semester term. I have had NO problems with the system, whatsoever! Good luck!
You might check on your status to remain eliigible if you find a job while enrolled. This program clearly states you must be unemployed.
Yes you must be unemployed when you apply but can get employed while using VRAP. You do not have to stay unemployed to use it. I already clarified that.
you only need a minimum of 12 credit hours to be considered full-time unless your program states that 18 hours is the minimum to be considered a full-time student.
Totally disappointed with this so called "benefit". It clearly discriminates against the vets in this program. I've been approved since the first week they were sent out and still can not find a school or class they will approve of. Any other vet can use his/her edu benefits at any school they choose. The hour restrictions are unfair as well. This is nothing more than feel good, election year legislation to garner votes. Once again the VA has drawn a distinct line with regards to who counts and is worth equal benefits.. I have tried to enroll in two different high demand fields at schools approved for any other vet and been denied. Both full time (12+) hours a week. This program has major flaws and needs correcting. The Va needs to consider how difficult it is in a rural area to find a school that meets thier narrow parameters. No such thing as a one size fits all approach in education. I want, no demand, equal treatment by the VA.
Coastline Community College is VRAP approved, online courses, allows credits for military service and is low tuition. Hurry, Fall quarter B is starting in Oct. Good Luck.
all you have to do is get a computer and go to schol online
I am extremelly excited. I am enrolled for online schooling at Everest University for CSI or crime scene investigation a associates degree program. I also have the Pell Grant and that approves me for $5500 a semester. The monthly amount I recieve is $1563 so it does work if you actually look into it. You are a VET it just takes work and research. Being unemployed you have all the time in the world.
I STARTED SCHOOL 1O/8/12, THE SCHOOL SENT A COPY OFMY VA-22-1999 TWICE ONCE ELECTRONICALLY AND THE OTHER ONE WAS FAXED I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM VA YET WHY IS IT TAKEN SO LONG.
I am thankful that this program is available as an option to those of us who would otherwise not have one. Regardless of the program's restrictions compared to other existing veteran educational assistance programs, it is better than no VRAP option. However, it would be great if a list of all approved VRAP schools/programs were made available on the VONAPP site to eliminate much of the confusion and disappointed expressed by some veterans unable to locate an approved program. Every school that is willing to accept the VRAP program, should make it clear up front that they offer VRAP approved programs and state which programs are approved. In the interim of receiving a consolidated listing, let's just help each other by posting our approved schools/programs here. The American College of Technology states on its website which programs are VRAP approved. It is perfect for me, because wanted to enroll into an online program that I can complete in a year.
Hi Sheila, Maybe I missed something, but the 6 VRAP programs listed at ACT (American College of Technology) are all 120 weeks long, meaning close to 2 years (AA degrees), not the one -year you say you want. Also, for info to all considering any of those six "approved" ACT VRAPrograms, they will each cost you almost all of your 12-month VRAP payments in tuition at around $17,700 per course. Just letting you know, if you were planning on using some of that monthly VA check money to live off of while unemployed. Best of Luck to all.
Hey My fellow VETS!!
After hours of research, I finally came upon a post and enrolled in their online school that is VRAP approved. Below is the message I came across.
The American College of Technology (www.acot.edu) appears to be for real. I’m on a chat right now with an admissions representative and he told me that they are approved for VRAP. It even states it on their website. This is directly from their website:
* No upfront tuition payment
* No out of pocket cost
* Tuition is half the national average
* Easy monthly payments that don’t use up your whole monthly benefit
* No application fees (information from the online chat rep)
VRAP Approved Programs at American College of Technology:
* Network Administration and Information Security
* Health Information Technology
* Computer Programming and Systems Design
* Business Administration and Information Technology
* Criminal Justice
If it sounds good to you, please give my name (Adrienne Rhodes) as a student referral.
Hope this helps!! Good Luck & God Bless
How long does it take to get approved and start classes?
WHAT OTHER SCHOOLS ARE THERE,NOT MUCH TO GO WITH,LOOKING FOR SOMETHING IN CONSTRUCTION TRADES,BUILDING INSPECTIONS.
I recieved benifits from the VRAP program in AUG, SEPT.OCT. andNOV. But not for December.I sign UP AGIN ON THE 21ST.of Dec. ShouLD MY BENIFITS still be good for the spring semester classes.