The Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs is the state's approving agency.

The Utah State Approving Agency for Veterans Education (UT-SAA) validates academic and vocational programs so eligible individuals may receive GI Bill® education benefits administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to advance their career goals.

Its core duties are inspecting, examining, and evaluating applicants. It provides application assistance and support to educational institutions, training establishments, apprenticeships, and other postsecondary organizations seeking initial and continued approval. It also performs essential monitoring functions to ensure compliance with Title 38 of the U.S. Code, federal regulations, and applicable state laws. These standards protect veterans, schools, and the public from fraud, waste, and abuse.

For more information about the approval process, please reach out to the Utah SAA team.

FIND APPROVED EDUCATION TRAINING PROGRAMS HERE

SAA Contact Information:
Email: SAA Email
Phone: (801) 584-1972

Types of Approval Educational & Training Programs

Clear and transparent eligibility criteria ensure a straightforward approval process. UT-SAA approves seven types of programs from educational institutions and training organizations for federal GI Bill® education benefits under Title 38 of the United States Code. Approvable programs span various fields and industries, catering to a wide range of educational and career paths, but all must meet a strict definition of being educational and vocational.

Universities and colleges offer instruction at the post-secondary level, which leads to an associate degree or higher. To be eligible for approval, for-profit and nonprofit IHLs must be registered post-secondary education providers with the Utah Division of Consumer Protection. IHLs may be accredited or nonaccredited. Accredited institutions of higher learning must participate in Title IV or have a temporary waiver while seeking accreditation. Unaccredited institutions will be carefully reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The IHL designation also includes hospital programs that offer education at the post-secondary level. Institutions of Higher Learning may also receive approval for Non-College Degree (NCD) programs and Flight (FLT) programs.

Technical colleges, trade schools, vocational schools, and various training organizations and businesses offer certificate or diploma programs as an alternative to a standard college degree. NCD programs often lead to a professional certification or licensure in a regulated field, which requires students to meet specific clock hour requirements. NCDs may be accredited or nonaccredited. Accredited NCDs must participate in Title IV or have a temporary waiver while seeking accreditation. Unaccredited NCDs will be carefully reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Institutions must have lawfully operated at the same location for the last two years to be eligible for approval. Institutions must be registered with the Utah Division of Consumer Protection to provide post-secondary training or the specific state agency that grants school approval for their field. Likewise, institutions and instructors whose programs lead to licensure must also be registered with the Utah Division of Professional Licensing.

In industry-based practical training, a veteran or eligible person earns an entry-level wage while training for a designated skill or trade in a goal-oriented program. OJT programs range from six to twenty-four months, while APPs must be two or more years long. APPs also require 144 hours of annual supplemental instruction beyond working/training hours. While OJTs do not need to meet the same training requirements as APPs, the establishment must satisfy other approval criteria, which include program length, wage scale/progression, and a written training agreement.

Only a high school's principal or executive director may request UT-SAA’s approval of their school. High school students who turn 18 during their senior year and are eligible to utilize Chapter 35 Survivors or Dependents Educational Assistance benefits may encourage their high school to seek approval as a qualified educational institution. High school facilities are approved as NCD programs through a simplified process. While public high schools and charter schools are encouraged to seek approval, they are not required to participate. NOTE: By law, UT-SAA must discontinue the approval of all High Schools in 2026.

For SCOs: School Certifying Official Resource Page:

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers extensive and accessible resources to assist School Certifying Officials on its website.

Click Here For The SCO HANDBOOK

Click Here For The VR&E SCO HANDBOOK

For Veterans and Beneficiaries

You can see if an educational institution or program is currently approved for the GI Bill by using the Web Enabled Approval Management System (WEAMS) school search provided by the VA. If you have a question for a State Approving Agency outside of Utah, you can find contact information on the National Association of State Approving Agencies website.

Learn more about state and federal education benefits: Education Benefits