--- kind: "section" citation: "10 U.S.C. § 2006a" title: "10" title_heading: "Armed Forces" number: "2006a" heading: "Assistance for education and training: availability of certain assistance for use only for certain programs of education" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/2006a" units: - "Subtitle A — General Military Law" - "Part III — Training and Education" - "Chapter 101 — Training Generally" --- # §2006a. Assistance for education and training: availability of certain assistance for use only for certain programs of education - (a) **In General.—** Effective as of August 1, 2014, an individual eligible for assistance under a [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense educational assistance [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) or authority covered by this section may, except as provided in [subsection (b)](#b), only use such assistance for educational expenses incurred for a [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) as follows: - (1) An eligible [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) (as defined in section 481 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ([20 U.S.C. 1088](/usc/20/1088.md))) that is offered by an [institution of higher education](/usc/10/2199.md?p=2) that has entered into, and is complying with, a [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) participation agreement under [section 487](/usc/10/487.md) of such Act ([20 U.S.C. 1094](/usc/20/1094.md)). - (2) In the case of a [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) designed to prepare individuals for licensure or certification in any [State](/usc/10/4951.md?p=4), if the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) meets the instructional curriculum licensure or certification requirements of such [State](/usc/10/4951.md?p=4). - (3) In the case of a [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) designed to prepare individuals for employment pursuant to [standards](/usc/10/3011.md?p=3) developed by a [State](/usc/10/4951.md?p=4) board or [agency](/usc/10/3451.md?p=3) in an occupation that requires approval or licensure for such employment, if the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) is approved or licensed by such [State](/usc/10/4951.md?p=4) board or [agency](/usc/10/3451.md?p=3). - (b) **Waiver.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense may, by regulation, authorize the use of educational assistance under a [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense educational assistance [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) or authority covered by this chapter for educational expenses incurred for a [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) of education that is not described in [subsection (a)](#a) if the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1)— - (1) is accredited and approved by a nationally or regionally recognized accrediting [agency](/usc/10/3451.md?p=3) or association recognized by the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Education; - (2) was not an eligible [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) described in [subsection (a)](#a) at any time during the most recent two-year period; - (3) is a [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) that the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) determines would further the purposes of the educational assistance [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) or authorities covered by this chapter, or would further the education interests of students eligible for assistance under such [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) or authorities; and - (4) the institution providing the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) does not provide any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on success in securing enrollments or financial aid to any [persons](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) or entities engaged in any student recruiting or admission activities or in making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance, except for the recruitment of foreign students residing in foreign countries who are not eligible to receive Federal student assistance. - (c) **Definitions.—** In this section: - (1) The term “[Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense educational assistance [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) and authorities covered by this section” means the [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) and authorities as follows: - (A) The [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) to assist [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [spouses](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-5) in achieving education and [training](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) to expand employment and portable career opportunities under [section 1784a of this title](/usc/10/1784a.md). - (B) The authority to [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) tuition for off-duty [training](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) or education of members of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) under [section 2007 of this title](/usc/10/2007.md). - (C) The [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) of educational assistance for members of the Selected [Reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) under [chapter 1606](/usc/10/chstE/ptIV/ch1606.md) of this title. - (D) The [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) of educational assistance for [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) [component](/usc/10/3011.md?p=13) members supporting [contingency operations](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-13) and certain other operations under [chapter 1607](/usc/10/chstE/ptIV/ch1607.md) of this title. - (E) Any other [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) or authority of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense for assistance in education or [training](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) carried out under the laws administered by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense that is designated by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3), by regulation, for purposes of this section. - (2) The term “[institution of higher education](/usc/10/2199.md?p=2)” has the meaning given that term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act for 1965 ([20 U.S.C. 1002](/usc/20/1002.md)). ## Source credit (Added Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title V, § 541(a), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 760; amended Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title X, § 1081(a)(6), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1001; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title X, § 1081(a)(15), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1984.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Amendments 2018—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 115–232 substituted “such programs” for “the such programs”. 2015—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–92 substituted “August 1” for “August, 1” in introductory provisions. ### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ### Effective Date Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title V, § 541(c), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 762, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [enacting this section] shall take effect on August 1, 2014.”