GI Bill Adds Best in Class Coaching Credentials to Supported Professional Development for Veterans

Veterans can apply GI Bill benefits to support their pursuit of International Coaching Federation credentials

Lexington, Kentucky, USA — The U.S. Veterans Administration approved two International Coaching Federation (ICF) credentials for professional development covered by the GI Bill, offering veterans seeking a new career path access to the rapidly growing profession of coaching.  

ICF’s coaching credentials are recognized around the world as the best in class for the profession. While anyone can become a coach, an ICF credential validates a coach’s knowledge and competence in evidence-backed coaching competencies and their commitment to uphold professional ethics. As such, coaches with an ICF credential gain a competitive advantage in a high-demand industry. Both the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credentials are covered by the GI Bill under the new addition.  

“Coaching offers a fulfilling, flexible, and high-opportunity career path. It has proven to be an invigorating second career for many, and veterans will find it to be a passionate and welcoming community,” said Magdalena Nowicka Mook, CEO of ICF. “Coaching s a positive ripple effect that goes far beyond the individual coached, extending to a client’s family, teams, and communities. As veterans pursue new paths after military service, I believe many will find coaching to be a new and rewarding way to remain professionally engaged in a very meaningful way. The leadership, teamwork, and work ethic that veterans bring with their experience will serve them – and their clients – well in a coaching career.”

According to ICF’s 2025 Global Coaching Study, 73% of coaches worldwide say clients expect their coaches to be certified or credentialed. Earning an ICF credential will not only make them one of the more than 60,000 credentialed professionals globally but will help lend further legitimacy to their work with clients.

With the GI Bill, veterans can use part of their entitlement to cover the costs of tests (up to $2,000 per test) for a job that requires a license or certification, even if they already receive other education benefits. The cost of the test, including registration and administrative fees, will be reimbursed, and the entitlement will be charged based on the amount reimbursed.

Both the ACC (Associate Certified Coach) and PCC (Professional Certified Coach) credentials are listed on the Veterans Administration Directory of Approved Certifications.

For more information, visit the Current VA education benefit rates.