Apprenticeship and OJT: GI Bill® basics

Earn wages from an employer while the GI Bill pays you a monthly benefit. Works for welding, HVAC, electrical, lineworker, barbering, truck driving and many more trades.

1. Who can use it: veterans, Guard and Reserve members, and qualifying family members. Not while on active duty, or for a spouse using transferred benefits while the service member is on active duty.
2. What counts: an apprenticeship or on-the-job training program approved by a State Approving Agency. OJT programs run six months to two years; registered apprenticeships often longer.
3. Post-9/11 payment: a share of the housing rate (E-5 with dependents BAH) for the training ZIP: 100% months 1-6, 80% months 7-12, 60% months 13-18, 40% months 19-24, 20% after. Prorated under 120 hours a month. Books: up to $83 a month.
4. Montgomery (MGIB-AD) payment, from Oct 1, 2026: 3-year rate $1,950.75, then $1,430.55, then $910.35 a month by six-month period; 2-year rate $1,582.50, $1,160.50, $738.50.
5. Already in an apprenticeship? Department of Labor guidance says veterans may get up to 12 months of retroactive payments once the program is approved. Ask the employer's certifying official.
6. Find approved employers: VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool (filter "On-the-job training"), veterantradeschools.com/apprenticeships/, and DOL's Apprenticeship Job Finder at apprenticeship.gov.
7. Not on the list? An employer can apply to its State Approving Agency for approval.
8. Next step: apply for benefits at VA.gov/education/how-to-apply, then ask the employer's certifying official to submit your enrollment.

Sources: VA, On-the-job training and apprenticeships; VA, Post-9/11 GI Bill rates; VA, Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty rates; VA, School and program approval; U.S. DOL, Using the GI Bill for Registered Apprenticeship fact sheet; Apprenticeship.gov. Links at veterantradeschools.com/apprenticeships/