NATE test approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs

In the near future, veterans may be hanging up their fatigues and putting on a work shirt with the NATE patch. North American Technician Excellence (NATE) has been approved under the provisions of Section 122 of Public Law 106-419 to provide certification tests to veterans and other eligible persons.

The Montgomery G.I. Bill provides for current and transitioning active duty personnel as well as regular service retirees (not reservists) to take tests for certification or licensing and be reimbursed by the office of Veteran's Affairs (VA). The VA's licensing and certification benefit pays eligible retiring service personnel for licensing or certification tests they take after March 1, 2001. (VA only pays the test cost and not other fees connected with obtaining a license or certification.) Veterans can receive up to $2,000 per test but not more than the actual cost of the test. They can also receive benefits to retake a test they failed. The number of tests a veteran can take is unlimited, except that veterans can't receive benefits to retake a test they have already passed.