If you are retiring from military duty, are a veteran, or have been honorably discharged, and are currently on the hunt for a promising civilian career, then you might be considering pursuing the life of a real estate agent, or Realtor®. It is one of the most common career choices for people in the military when transitioning into the civilian sector.
Becoming a realtor requires acquiring a state-issued real estate license, which can be quick or drawn-out (depending on the state), and can cost a decent chunk of change when you consider the course costs, exams, licensing fees, and more. The good news is that the GI Bill is here to help you out. You can use your GI Bill entitlement benefits to pay for your real estate licensing course and exam.
If you want to find out more on how the licensing and certification benefit works for GI Bill real estate agent certifications, read on further.
How do I get a Real Estate License?
A real estate license allows you sell, broker, or rent real estate properties on behalf of a real estate brokerage. The requirements in getting a license vary from state to state, but in general, you can acquire this license by completing an average of 80 hours of real estate education from an accredited program (the bulk of the cost), pass a licensing exam that takes about 1.5 to 3.5 hours and costs anywhere from $15 to $60 or higher, and file a real estate application to your state’s Realtor® board.
Can the GI Bill help me get a Real Estate Agent License?
The GI Bill is an education benefit provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs for members of Active Duty, Selected Reserve, and National Guard Armed Forces, as well as their families or dependents. It is aimed to help shoulder education or training costs in covered fields of study. While everyone knows the GI Bill will cover traditional college tuition, many people don't realize that it will cover many certifications such as a real estate agent license.
Qualified recipients of the GI Bill can be reimbursed for any (covered) licensing and certification tests they take, regardless if they pass or fail. The maximum amount of reimbursement per test is $2000, and you can retake the test as many times as you need to. The cost of the test will be deducted from your total months of remaining benefits based on your monthly benefit rate for full-time training. This will apply each time you take a licensing or certification test, or retake one that you previously failed.
It is important to note that this only applies for the test costs, and not on any other licensing fees, such as registering with the State Board.
How do I know if I qualify?
Everyone in the following Department of Veterans Affairs and GI Bill programs are qualified to avail of this benefit:
- The post-9/11 GI Bill
- Montgomery GI Bill for Active Duty and Selected Reserve
- Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
- Dependents’ Educational Assistance
- The Fry Scholarship
To find out whether you are eligible for any of these programs, visit the VA.gov website.
What is the process get GI Bill reimbursement for my license?
To get your reimbursement for the licensing or certification test cost, follow these steps:
- Apply for education benefits, if you haven’t done so yet, online through the VA.gov website. After processing your application, the VA will determine your eligibility for the GI Bill and other programs.
- Fill up the VA Form 22-0803 or the Application for Reimbursement of Licensing and Certification Test. Provide the following information:
- Your personal information (including your social security and VA file number)
- Your VA education information
- The test information (date and venue of the exam taken, type of exam)
- The licensing organization for which you are applying a license
- Submit the form along with your test results, an authorization letter and signature, and your proof of payment, to the Ask a Question website, or mail these to the nearest VA regional processing office.
- Wait for the reimbursement of payment.
Is there a time limit to use my GI Bill?
For the licensing and certification benefit, and for all other GI Bill education benefits, there may or may not be time limits in availing the benefits, depending on which program you belong to. Generally, however, the case is as follows:
- If you are under the pre-9/11 Montgomery GI Bill, you can use the benefit within 10 years.
- If you are part of the post-9/11 GI Bill program, you have 15 years to avail of the benefits.
- If you are enlisted in a GI Bill program after January 1, 2013, there is no time limit in availing any of the benefits you are qualified for.
Are there other licenses and certifications that the GI Bill can help me with?
Yes! A license or certification is a state-issued document that lets employers know you are competent in the field and meet state and government regulations.
Having one allows you to work on your chosen field, as well as providing career advancement opportunities.
The GI Bill can be used in helping pay for several licensing and certification costs, including getting a Maritime License, a CDL License, a Nursing Certification, and a Paralegal Certification.
For a complete list of licenses and certifications covered by the GI Bill benefits, explore our home page which shows you types of programs available.
To recap, the GI Bill can definitely help you in getting a real estate license by reimbursing licensing or certification costs, and the steps into availing of this benefit are quite simple and easy!
Do make sure that the school or program you are joining to acquire your real estate education, and the testing center where you will be taking your licensing test meet the state requirements and are approved by the state realtor board, and of course, the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Otherwise, you may not be able to get your money reimbursed, and worse, your license might not be accredited.
>> To view a list of VA-Approved Real Estate Schools, browse through the list here.
