Veteran Readiness & Employment // Chapter 31

VR&E Chapter 31 for
Trade Training.

Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) is an employment-focused VA program. For eligible veterans with a service-connected disability, an approved plan may include hands-on training for a new career in automotive reconditioning.

VR&E (Chapter 31) helps eligible veterans with a service-connected disability prepare for and find suitable employment. If a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor approves a training plan that includes automotive reconditioning, VR&E is designed to cover approved training costs. Eligibility, entitlement, and plan approval are determined by the VA — verify your status at va.gov.

VR&E Eligibility
Counselor & Plan
Approved Training
Suitable Employment

Why It Fits // Reconditioning

Built Around a
Real Career Outcome.

VR&E is about getting to suitable, lasting employment. A focused trade with clear day-one skills lines up well with that goal — but your counselor and the VA decide what belongs in your plan.

Employment-Focused

VR&E is built around a suitable career outcome — a natural match for a concrete, in-demand trade skill.

Counselor-Guided

A VRC helps shape your plan. We provide the program details you and your counselor need to evaluate fit.

Plan-Based Approval

Training is tied to your approved rehabilitation plan. Approval decisions rest with the VA and your counselor.

Service-Connected

VR&E specifically supports veterans with a service-connected disability and an employment handicap.

In Their Words // Vocational Rehabilitation

A Veteran's VR&E
Training Path.

Hear from a veteran who pursued paintless dent repair training through Vocational Rehabilitation — a real example of a service-connected veteran building toward suitable employment in a hands-on trade.

How to Use VR&E for Training

How It Works // Step by Step

From Eligibility to
Approved Training.

VR&E runs through your counselor and an approved plan. Here is the general path from application to starting training.

01
Apply for VR&E at VA.gov
Submit your VR&E application through the official VA site. The VA reviews your service-connected disability and employment situation to determine eligibility and entitlement.
02
Meet Your Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
If found eligible, you are paired with a VRC. Together you identify suitable career goals — this is where a hands-on trade like automotive reconditioning can enter the conversation.
03
Build Your Approved Plan
Your VRC helps create a rehabilitation plan. If a reconditioning program supports your employment goal, it can be written into that plan. Bring our program information to this meeting.
04
Coordinate Training With VTS
Once your plan is approved, talk with our admissions team so we can align your start date and paperwork with the process your counselor outlines.

This is a general overview, not legal or benefits advice. Confirm VR&E eligibility, entitlement, and plan details with the VA at va.gov.

VR&E // Field Questions

VR&E Chapter 31
Questions.

Common questions about using Veteran Readiness and Employment for trade training. The VA is the source of truth on eligibility.

VR&E generally supports veterans and service members who have a service-connected disability and an employment handicap. The VA determines eligibility and entitlement individually. Start your eligibility check at va.gov.

VR&E (Chapter 31) is an employment-focused program built around returning to suitable work, and it pairs you with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC). The Post-9/11 GI Bill is an education benefit. Some veterans may qualify for both — the VA can explain which applies to your situation.

Your VRC works with you to identify suitable employment goals and an approved plan to reach them. If reconditioning training fits your approved plan, the VRC coordinates the details. The counselor — not the school — drives plan approval.

For veterans approved under VR&E, the program is designed to cover approved training costs, and a subsistence allowance may be available. Actual coverage depends on your approved plan and is determined by the VA, not by Veteran Trade School.

Apply through va.gov. Once you are found eligible, you are assigned a VRC and begin building your rehabilitation plan. We are glad to speak with you about our program so you have the information you need for that conversation.

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