---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 7651"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "7651"
heading: "Authority for program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/7651"
units:
  - "Part V — Boards, Administrations, and Services"
  - "Chapter 76 — Health Professionals Educational Assistance Program"
  - "Subchapter V — Stipend Program for Members of the Selected Reserve"
---

# §7651. Authority for program

- (a) As part of the Educational Assistance Program, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) Affairs may select qualified individuals to receive assistance under this subchapter.
- (b) To be eligible to receive assistance under this subchapter, an individual must be accepted for enrollment or be enrolled as a full-time student at a qualifying [educational institution](/usc/38/3452.md?p=c) in a course of education or training that is approved by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) and that leads toward completion of a degree in a health profession involving direct patient care or care incident to direct patient care.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 101–366, title II, § 205(a)(1), Aug. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 439, § 4351; renumbered § 7651, Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 4351 of this title as this section.