Financial Assistance for Veterans 

 The following courses at the Carrol L. Herring Fire and Emergency Training Institute are approved to accept VA Benefits for the course fee only:

  1. Recruit Firefighter Academy
  2. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

 

VA Benefit Chapters

 The GI Bill is a federally funded program through the Department of Veterans Affairs that helps make college more affordable to eligible veterans and their eligible dependents. Each program differs in eligibility requirements, as well as what kind of aid the veteran/dependent student should expect to receive. Listed below are the different chapters of the GI Bill in which LSU FETI participates.
For more information about the GI Bill, please visit https://www.gibill.va.gov/

Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill 
Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill
Chapter 35 Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Programs
Chapter 1606 Montgomery GI Bill Selected Service Reserve
Chapter 1607 Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

If you would like to proceed with using your VA Benefits to cover the course fee for either of the approved courses listed above, you can use the following steps for assistance.Please note that you will be required to pay the course fee upfront at the time of registration to secure your spot. Step 3 goes into more detail on this.

 

Step 1: Apply for your benefit online via VETS.gov

 

  • Form 22-1990 for Veterans of all Chapters (33, 30, 1607, [1606 – Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) is required])
  • Form 22-1990E for Dependents and Spouses using Ch. 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill Transfer of Entitlement
  •  Form 22-5490 for Dependents and Spouses using Ch. 35 DEA: Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program

First Time Applicants
4-6 weeks after approving your benefit application, the VA will mail you a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) stating that you have been awarded an educational benefit. Our office requires a copy of this document before we can process your benefits so keep this on hand to submit with your registration in Step 3.  If you have not yet received your COE, you will need to contact the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office at: 1-888-442-4551

Transfer Students
If you are transferring your benefits from another institution, you must submit a Change of Program request through your eBenefits portal. Once the VA approves this transfer, they will issue you a new COE. Our office requires a copy of this document before we can process your benefits so keep this on hand to submit with your registration in Step 3. If you have not yet received your COE, you will need to contact the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office at: 1-888-442-4551

 

Step 2: Register with VA eBenefits

Create a PREMIUM account on eBenefits. This is where you will go to check your deposits from the VA along with the history of your certification status and months of benefit remaining, setup direct deposit or update your address.

Step 3: Register and pay for your course

Our office will only be able to certify your enrollment once the course begins and you physically attend therefore we cannot wait for the money from the VA. You will need to submit the following to our VA Certifying Official in a timely manner to sign up for one of the approved VA courses listed above:

  1. Course registration form found here (be sure to check the box for Veteran’s student)
  2. The tuition for the course (This must be paid in full at the time of registration. There aren’t any payment plans or additional financial aid available offered.)
  3. The Certificate of Eligibility (COE) mentioned in Step 1 (If you do not have this at the time of registration, you can still register and pay for the class. You can submit the COE later on but it must be prior to the start of the course.)
  4. Documentation of any and all previously obtained education (If you do not have this at the time of registration, you can still register and pay for the class. You can submit the transcripts later on but it must be prior to the start of the course.)

Step 4: Attend the course to verify enrollment

Once all required documents listed above are received by the Certifying Official and you physically start the course, the Certifying Official will certify your application for benefits with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.

Step 5: Reimbursement of course fee (if applicable)

Any course fees that are sent to our office by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs will then be reimbursed to you using the method that you used to register for the course. You will only be reimbursed for the amount that is sent to our office by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.

 

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