Military Learning for Credit Act of 2025
The Military Learning for Credit Act of 2025 would let veterans use their educational benefits (GI Bill and similar VA education programs) to pay for exams and assessments that can earn college credit toward a degree at accredited colleges or universities. Covered options include DSST and CLEP exams, the National Career Readiness Certificate, other similar exams, and institution-specific portfolio or written-narrative assessments of a veteran’s prior military learning. The bill sets a cap: the VA can cover up to the lesser of the exam cost or $500 per exam/assessment. The entitlement charged for using benefits would be calculated by dividing the exam cost (subject to the cap) by the veteran’s monthly benefit rate, with any fraction treated as a partial month. It clarifies that this use of benefits for exams does not affect DoD Tuition Assistance and applies to approved programs of education at institutions of higher learning.
Key Points
- 1Authority to use veterans educational assistance for examinations and assessments that earn college credit toward degrees for approved programs of education.
- 2Covered examinations and assessments include DSST, CLEP, the National Career Readiness Certificate, other similar exams, and portfolio or written-narrative assessments of prior military learning.
- 3Financial cap: VA coverage is limited to the lesser of the exam/assessment cost or $500.
- 4Entitlement charge: the number of months (or fraction) of entitlement charged equals the cost (as capped) divided by the monthly rate of veterans educational assistance at the time of the exam; this charge does not affect DoD educational benefits (e.g., Tuition Assistance).
- 5Definitions and scope: specifies what counts as an “approved program of education,” what qualifies as an “institution of higher learning,” and ensures alignment with existing VA education provisions (38 U.S.C. provisions mentioned).