# 38 CFR § 21.5800: Courses

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-21.5800

## Section

- **Citation:** 38 CFR § 21.5800
- **Heading:** Courses
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 38—Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief > CHAPTER I—DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS > PART 21—VETERAN READINESS AND EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION > Subpart H—Educational Assistance Test Program > Courses

## Text

(a) Courses permitted. An individual may receive educational assistance and subsistence allowance only while receiving instruction in a postsecondary course offered at any institution in the United States (including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands) that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association or by an accrediting agency or association recognized by the Secretary of Education.
(Authority: 10 U.S.C. 2142)
(b) Courses precluded. An individual shall receive neither educational assistance nor subsistence allowance while pursuing any of the following courses:
(1) A course offered at the secondary level or below;
(2) A course offered by an institution located outside the United States (except in Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands);
(3) A course offered by a nonaccredited institution; and
(4) Courses which do not require the student to receive instruction at the institution. These include—
(i) Correspondence courses,
(ii) Combination correspondence—residence courses, and
(iii) Courses offered through independent study.
(Authority: 10 U.S.C. 2143)

## Nearby sections

- [38 CFR § 21.5720 § 21.5720 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-21.5720.md)
- [38 CFR § 21.5725 § 21.5725 Obtaining benefits.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-21.5725.md)
- [38 CFR § 21.5730 § 21.5730 Applications, claims, and time limits.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-21.5730.md)
- [38 CFR § 21.5740 § 21.5740 Eligibility.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-21.5740.md)
- [38 CFR § 21.5741 § 21.5741 Eligibility under more than one program.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-21.5741.md)
- [38 CFR § 21.5742 § 21.5742 Entitlement.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-21.5742.md)
- [38 CFR § 21.5743 § 21.5743 Transfer of entitlement.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-21.5743.md)
- [38 CFR § 21.5744 § 21.5744 Charges against entitlement.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-21.5744.md)
- [38 CFR § 21.5745 § 21.5745 Period of entitlement.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-21.5745.md)
- [38 CFR § 21.5800 § 21.5800 Courses.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-21.5800.md)
- [38 CFR § 21.5810 § 21.5810 Certifications of enrollment.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-21.5810.md)
- [38 CFR § 21.5812 § 21.5812 Reports of withdrawals and terminations of attendance and changes in training time.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-21.5812.md)
- [38 CFR § 21.5816 § 21.5816 False or fraudulent claims.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-21.5816.md)
- [38 CFR § 21.5820 § 21.5820 Educational assistance.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-21.5820.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-21.5800. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.