1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “GI Bill Access to Career Credentials Act”.
GI Bill Access to Career Credentials Act
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the use of educational assistance under chapter 33 of that title to pay for preparatory courses for professional licenses and certifications, and for other purposes.
2. Treatment of certain preparatory courses as programs of education for purposes of Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance programs
In general— Chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding the following new section:
“3315B. Preparatory courses for licensure, certification, or national tests
“(a) In general—An individual entitled to educational assistance under this chapter shall also be entitled to payment for a preparatory course for a licensing or certification test that is required or used to enter into, maintain, or advance in employment in a predetermined and identified vocation or profession.
“(b) Amount—The amount of educational assistance payable under this chapter for a course described in subsection (a) is the lesser of—
“(1) the fee charged for the course; or
“(2) the amount of entitlement available to the individual under this chapter at the time of payment for the course under this section.
“(c) Charge against entitlement—The number of months of entitlement charged an individual under this chapter for a course described in subsection (a) shall be pro-rated based on the actual amount of the fee charged for the course relative to the rate for 1 month payable—
“(1) for the academic year beginning on August 1, 2011, $1,460; or
“(2) for an academic year beginning on any subsequent August 1, the amount for the previous academic year beginning on August 1 under this subsection, as increased by the percentage increase equal to the most recent percentage increase determined under section 3015(h).”
Conforming amendments— Section 3532(g) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
in paragraph (1), by inserting “or a preparatory course described in section 3315B(a) of this title” after “or national test providing an opportunity for course credit at institutions of higher learning described in section 3501(a)(5) of this title”; and
in paragraphs (2) and (3), by inserting “or preparatory course” after “test” everywhere it appears.
Effective date— The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to months beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.