---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 3315A"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "3315A"
heading: "National tests"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/3315A"
units:
  - "Part III — Readjustment and Related Benefits"
  - "Chapter 33 — Post–9/11 Educational Assistance"
  - "Subchapter II — Educational Assistance"
---

# §3315A. National tests

- (a) **In General.—** An individual entitled to educational assistance under this chapter shall also be entitled to educational assistance for the following:
  - (1) A national test for admission to an [institution of higher learning](/usc/38/3501.md?p=a-10) as described in the last sentence of [section 3452(b)](/usc/38/3452.md?p=b).
  - (2) A national test providing an opportunity for course credit at an [institution of higher learning](/usc/38/3501.md?p=a-10) as so described.
  - (3) A national test that evaluates prior learning and knowledge and provides an opportunity for course credit at an [institution of higher learning](/usc/38/3501.md?p=a-10) as so described.
- (b) **Amount.—** The amount of educational assistance payable under this chapter for a test described in [subsection (a)](#a) is the lesser of—
  - (1) the fee charged for the test; or
  - (2) the amount of entitlement available to the individual under this chapter at the time of payment for the test under this section.
- (c) **Charge Against Entitlement.—** The number of months of entitlement charged an individual under this chapter for a test described in [subsection (a)](#a) shall be pro-rated based on the actual amount of the fee charged for the test 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)](/usc/38/3015.md?p=h).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 111–377, title I, § 108(a)(1), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4118; amended Pub. L. 115–48, title I, § 108(b), Aug. 16, 2017, 131 Stat. 978.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2017—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 115–48, § 108(b)(1), added par. (3).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–48, § 108(b)(2), in introductory provisions, substituted “shall be pro-rated based on the actual amount of the fee charged for the test relative to the rate for 1 month payable” for “shall be determined at the rate of one month (rounded to the nearest whole month) for each amount paid that equals”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2017 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–48 applicable to a test taken on or after Aug. 1, 2018, see section 108(d) of Pub. L. 115–48, set out as a note under section 3315 of this title.

### Effective Date

Pub. L. 111–377, title I, § 108(b), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4119, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [enacting this section] shall take effect on August 1, 2011, and shall apply with respect to national tests taken on or after that date.”