Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP)
The Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP) offers education and training for high-demand jobs to Veterans who are unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Keep reading to find out if you’re eligible and how to apply.
Am I eligible for this program?
To be eligible for this program, you must meet all the requirements listed here.
All of these must be true:
- You’re at least 22 years old, but not older than 66, and
- You’re unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and
- You’re not rated as totally disabled because you can't work, and
- You’re not enrolled in a federal or state jobs program
Note: You can't receive VRRAP benefits at the same time as you're receiving unemployment benefits (including CARES Act benefits).
If I'm eligible for other education benefits or VR&E, can I get VRRAP benefits?
No. At the time you apply for VRRAP, you can’t be eligible for any of these other benefits:
- Post-9/11 GI Bill
- Montgomery GI Bill
- Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)
- Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA)
- Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
Note: You can get VRRAP benefits if you were at one time eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill but you’ve transferred all of your benefits to family members.
What types of education and training programs does VRRAP cover?
VRRAP covers education and training programs approved under the GI Bill and Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC) that lead to high-demand jobs. These include associate degrees, non-college degrees, and certificate programs. The Department of Labor determines what’s considered a high-demand job for VRRAP.
What benefits can I get through this program?
If you’re eligible for VRRAP, you can get:
- Up to 12 months of tuition and fees, and
- A monthly housing allowance based on Post-9/11 GI Bill rates
How do I apply?
You can apply online right now.
Apply for VRRAP education benefits
Participating schools
For Veterans: Find participating schools listed in these 2 PDFs. We grouped the schools by the state where they’re located and split the states into 2 alphabetical lists. The first PDF has Alabama through Indiana. The second PDF has Kansas through Wyoming. We’ll update these lists as schools sign up.
- Find participating schools in states that begin with the letters A - I (Alabama through Indiana) (PDF)
- Find participating schools in states that begin with the letters K - W (Kansas through Wyoming) (PDF)
For schools: Download the participation agreement and learn about the registration process.
Get the information and forms you’ll need to participate in VRRAP
More information about VRRAP
How long will this program be available?
We’ll stop accepting new VRRAP enrollments on December 11, 2022—or when we reach either the $386 million funding limit or the 17,250 participant limit, whichever comes first. If you’re already enrolled in a program under VRRAP, you’ll continue to get your payments.
What if I have other questions?
You can call us at 888-442-4551 (TTY: 711). We’re here Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.