Sacramento, California – For a veteran heading back to college, military training can mean a head start toward a degree. More than 31,000 California veterans have received college credit for prior learning, passing the state’s initial goal of reaching 30,000.
That milestone is part of a broader effort Governor Gavin Newsom highlighted this Veterans Day: helping former service members turn their experience into civilian opportunities while easing costs for their families.
“California’s veterans answered the call to serve, and we have a responsibility to stand with them when they come home. That means protecting the benefits they earned, lowering costs, and opening doors to education, careers, and opportunity,” Newsom said.
Financial relief includes allowing eligible military retirees and families receiving federal Survivor Benefit Plan payments to exclude up to $20,000 in income annually from state income taxes. The benefit reduces taxable income rather than providing a $20,000 payment.
Expanded property-tax relief for qualifying disabled veterans and surviving spouses will run from 2027 through 2031, with larger exemptions for eligible low-income households. Other measures reduce local business-license fees for qualifying veteran sole proprietors and strengthen protections against fraud targeting people seeking federal benefits.
Career programs are also reaching veterans across the state. California counted 4,320 active veteran apprentices as of Sept. 30, 2026. Since 2019, 14,794 veterans have participated in apprenticeships registered with the Division of Apprenticeship Standards.
In Kern County, $276,000 in California Jobs First Catalyst funding will support the Veteran and Workforce Talent Accelerator Initiative. The program will expand training for transitioning service members, student veterans and unemployed veterans, while building employer partnerships in aerospace, defense, energy and manufacturing.
Small businesses are another part of that effort. Since the beginning of 2026, the California Office of the Small Business Advocate’s Technical Assistance Program has supported 1,688 veteran-owned businesses.
For those pursuing education, a $35 million statewide initiative is expanding Credit for Prior Learning, allowing military training and other experience to count toward degrees or credentials.
Support also extends to families.
The CalVet College Fee Waiver covers tuition fees at California public colleges and universities for qualifying veterans’ dependents. Legislation signed in September grants priority enrollment to students using that waiver or federal GI Bill benefits.
It also extends in-state tuition eligibility for qualifying dependents returning to finish a degree after their military family member transfers out of state or retires.
Together, those measures aim to help families maintain their progress toward graduation.