38 USC § 7699 - Eligibility; agreement

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t38/s7699"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "38 USC § 7699 - Eligibility; agreement"
title_number: 38
title_name: "VETERANS’ BENEFITS"
section_number: "7699"
section_name: "Eligibility; agreement"
chapter_number: 76
chapter_name: "HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM"
subchapter_number: "IX"
subchapter_name: "READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM"
part_number: "V"
part_name: "BOARDS, ADMINISTRATIONS, AND SERVICES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 116–171, title V, § 502(a), Oct. 17, 2020, 134 Stat. 815.)"
---


# § 7699. Eligibility; agreement

**(a)** **In General.—** An individual is eligible to participate in the Program, as determined by the Readjustment Counseling Service of the Department, if the individual—

**(1)** is accepted for enrollment or enrolled (as described in section 7602 of this title) in a program of study at an accredited educational institution, school, or training program leading to a terminal degree in psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, or mental health counseling that would meet the education requirements for appointment to a position under section 7402(b) of this title; and

**(2)** enters into an agreement with the Secretary under subsection (c).

**(b)** **Priority.—** In selecting individuals to participate in the Program, the Secretary shall give priority to the following individuals:

**(1)** An individual who agrees to be employed by a Vet Center located in a community that is—

**(A)** designated as a medically underserved population under section 330(b)(3) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b(b)(3)); and

**(B)** in a State with a per capita population of veterans of more than five percent according to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics and the Bureau of the Census.

**(2)** An individual who is a veteran.

**(c)** **Agreement.—** An agreement between the Secretary and a participant in the Program shall (in addition to the requirements set forth in section 7604 of this title) include the following:

**(1)** An agreement by the Secretary to provide the participant with a scholarship under the Program for a specified number of school years during which the participant pursues a program of study described in subsection (a)(1) that meets the requirements set forth in section 7602(a) of this title.

**(2)** An agreement by the participant to serve as a full-time employee of the Department at a Vet Center for a six-year period following the completion by the participant of such program of study (in this subchapter referred to as the “period of obligated service”).

**(d)** **Vet Center Defined.—** In this section, the term “Vet Center” has the meaning given that term in section 1712A(h) of this title.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 116–171, title V, § 502(a), Oct. 17, 2020, 134 Stat. 815.)

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Secretary of Veterans Affairs to begin awarding scholarships under this subchapter for programs of study beginning no later than one year after , see , set out as a note under .