This bill would require that non-accredited educational courses meet certain requirements before Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits (or G.I. Bill benefits) can be used to pay for tuition and fees. Programs that prepare students for employment in fields that require licensure or certification by a state would have to demonstrate that the courses satisfy state prerequisites or have been state-approved.

The VA could waive the requirement that the state approve of the courses or curriculum in question if:

• The educational institution is accredited by an agency or association recognized by the Dept. of Education;

• The program didn’t meet the requirements at any time during the two-year period preceding the waiver;

• The waiver furthers educational assistance programs or furthers the education interests of the individual;

• The educational institution doesn’t provide any incentive payments based on securing enrollments or financial aid to people involved in recruiting or admitting students or in making decisions about financial aid awards. Foreign students who are ineligible for federal assistance would be excluded from this provision.

Within 30 days of issuing a waiver, the VA would be required to notify Congress and justify why the waiver was issued.

The VA would be required to disapprove of a course unless the educational institution publicly discloses any conditions or additional requirements like training or exams that are required to obtain the license, certification, or approval the program prepares for. Other courses at a given educational institution would not necessarily be disapproved by the VA, so the individual could pursue other programs if they stay enrolled continuously.