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Certificate Programs for Texas Veterans

Use the Veterans Benefits you’ve earned to take your education to the next level.

The Professional Development Center (PDC) is proud to be an approved institution by the Texas Veterans Commission. We are committed to providing the best possible educational experience and service to all our students. Veterans of the U.S. military who have available educational benefits can enroll in any of the Veteran Administration (VA) approved certificate programs listed below.

In an effort to help our veteran students, PDC coordinates with the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist a qualifying veteran, or his/her dependents in the enrollment process. Our goal is to provide all the pertinent information required for a smooth and seamless transition for all our VA students while providing excellent customer service.

The PDC Certifying Official acts as a liaison between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the veteran student. This involves assisting with a variety of processing and information needs such as documentation requirements, correspondence, and the certification and receipt of benefits.

Please call us or come by the PDC Office to see how we can help you!

Veterans Administration (VA) Approved Certificate Programs

Application Process

Veterans, veteran dependents, and others eligible for veterans’ education programs should determine their benefits and obtain authorization prior to enrolling in courses. Eligible VA students may utilize their educational benefits for approved certificate programs only.

Students using VA education benefits are encouraged to download The Veterans Application Packet and submit their certification forms as soon as possible to begin the process of activating any applicable Veteran education benefits. This packet must be returned to the VA Certifying Official at PDC, located at the Professional Development Center at the Thompson Conference Center. Instructions to obtain and maintain VA Education Benefits while attending PDC certificate programs can be found in our Veterans’ and Dependents’ Educational Benefits Handbook.

Please note: Professional Development Center programs are not eligible for Hazelwood Act benefits.

Accepted Benefit Chapters

Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (MGIB-AD/Chapter 30)
Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR/Chapter 1606)
Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP/Chapter 1607)
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA/Chapter 35)
Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program (Chapter 31)

For detailed information and eligibility for these chapters, visit the Department of Veterans Affairs website.

MyCAA and Tuition Assistance

Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts

PDC currently participates in the Department of Defense (DoD) Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program. This program provides financial assistance for military spouses who are pursuing a certificate program at PDC. For program eligibility requirements and restrictions, please contact Military One Source at (800) 342-9647 or you can visit their website at www.militaryonesource.com.

If you would like to use MyCAA benefits at PDC, please review the following steps to enrollment:

Establish your MyCAA account at the MyCAA website at https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa.
Create your Career and Training Plan at https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa.
Make sure you are selecting The Professional Development Center as the designated school.
Within 30 days of each course start date, a current MyCAA Financial Assistance (FA) voucher must be submitted to the PDC Office. You can send the form in via mail, fax, or emailing the PDF form to pdc@austin.utexas.edu.

Note: If you are unable to access the MyCAA website, please contact a Military OneSource Career and Education Consultant at (800) 342-9647 for assistance.

Tuition Assistance (TA)

Students using Tuition Assistance must submit the authorization contract from their Base Education to our office at the time of enrollment with the enrollment form. Your payment (or student share) that the government is not covering is also due at the time of enrollment.

Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP)

Congress passed, and the President has signed into law, the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011. Included in this new law is the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP). VRAP offers up to 12 months of training assistance to unemployed Veterans.

The VRAP offers 12 months of training assistance to Veterans who:

Are at least 35 but no more than 60 years old
Are unemployed on the date of application (see definition of unemployed)
Received an other than dishonorable discharge
Are not be eligible for any other VA education benefit program (e.g.: the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Assistance)
Are not in receipt of VA compensation due to unemployability
Are not enrolled in a federal or state job training program

The program is limited to 54,000 participants from October 1, 2012, through March 31, 2014. Participants may receive up to 12 months of assistance equal to the monthly full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty program (currently $1,473 per month). DOL will offer employment assistance to every Veteran who participates upon completion of the program.

Participants must be enrolled in a VA approved program of education. The program must lead to an Associate Degree, Non-College Degree, or a Certificate, and train the Veteran for a high demand occupation.

See the listing of High Demand Occupations (pdf format) currently covered.

Aditional Assistance

For additional assistance regarding VA educational benefits, please contact the Veteran Administration at 1-888-442-4551 or http://www.gibill.va.gov.

To contact a Professional Development Center Certifying Official please contact:

Aaron Gutierrez
Registrar, PDC
512-232-2237
aarong@austin.utexas.edu

Veronica Phillips
Manager, PDC Certificate Programs
512-471-2926
vphillips@austin.utexas.edu

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