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Learn how to:
● recognize your State Approving Agency
● request approval for education and training programs
● and more...
See our School Resources page.
VET TEC, a new pilot program offering training for high-tech careers to Veterans, is now taking applications from potential training providers.
See our webpage for more information.
Information about the School Certifying Officials (SCOs) Annual Training Requirements is now available to new and existing SCOs.
See our webpage to read more about the requirements and to take the online training.
Post-9/11 GI Bill STEM students: If you used all your benefits or are about to, you may be eligible for this extension. See our Rogers STEM Scholarship webpage for more info
Choose a School
Compare VA-approved institutions and review other information to choose the educational program that works best for you.
Average Processing Times
24 Days: First Time Applications
10 Days: Supplemental*
*A supplemental claim is a re-enrollment or other change that impacts your benefit.
FAQs
Apply for Benefits
You served with honor and you’re ready to further your education and skills. If you qualify, apply for VA education and training benefits online, in person, or request an application over the phone.
Contact Us
Call us at 888-GIBILL-1 (888-442-4551) between 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Central Time, Monday-Friday
Ask us a Question - Get an answer in four to five working days. You can also search for answers to frequently asked questions. This contact method is available worldwide 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Announcements
December 12 - School Certifying Officials Office Hours Discussing Monthly Housing Allowance and DoD Rate Implementation
December 5, 2019 11:50 AM
Join us Thursday, December 12 at 11a or 1p ET
Please register by COB December 11 (Registration will close when the maximum number of participants for the session is reached)
Audio Information: 1-800-767-1750 Participant Code: 44214#
Test your connection if you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting.
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December 11 - State Approving Agencies Office Hours Discussing Monthly Housing Allowance and DoD Rate Implementation
December 5, 2019 11:45 AM
Join us Wednesday, December 11 at 1p ET
Please register by COB December 10 (Registration will close when the maximum number of participants for the session is reached)
Audio Information: 1-800-767-1750 Participant Code: 44214#
Test your connection if you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting.
Get a quick overview of Adobe Connect
Revised GI Bill Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) Toolkit is now available
November 21, 2019 4:11 PM
The revised GI Bill Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) Toolkit was designed with easy to understand messaging on new MHA changes for GI Bill students.
Webinar Slides Are Available for the 10/30 and 10/31 - STEM Scholarship and SCO Training Requirements for SCOS
November 21, 2019 2:44 PM
The slides for the October 30 and October 31, 2019 STEM Scholarship and SCO Training Requirements for SCOS are now available.
Veterans Affairs (VA) California State Approving Agency (SAA) Open House, November 7 at 10:00 am PST
November 4, 2019 10:30 AM
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as the California SAA in partnership with El Camino Community College is hosting an “Open House” to assist schools and stakeholders better understand and navigate the school catalog approval process.
This open house will take place at El Camino Community College campus, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance, CA 90506, Distance Education Room Center.
Please join us on November 7, 2019 at 10:00 am PST. Interested school certifying officials in the Los Angeles area, please RSVP to Brenda Threatt at bthreatt@elcamino.edu.
Veterans Affairs (VA) California State Approving Agency (SAA) Open House - November 5, 10:00a PST
October 30, 2019 1:30 PM
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as the California SAA in partnership with the Riverside City College is hosting an “Open House” to assist schools and stakeholders better understand and navigate the school catalog approval process.
This open house will take place at Riverside City College campus, 4800 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, CA 92506, Digital Library Room 205. Please join us on November 5, 2019 at 10:00 am PST.
Interested school certifying officials in the Riverside area, please RSVP to Santos Martinez.
Veterans Affairs (VA) California State Approving Agency (SAA) Open House - November 1, 10a PST
October 29, 2019 8:15 AM
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as the California SAA in partnership with Cuyamaca College is hosting an “Open House” to assist schools and stakeholders better understand and navigate the school catalog approval process.
This open house will take place at Cuyamaca College campus, 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, El Cajon, CA 92019, Building I, Room 209. Please join us on November 1, 2019 at 10:00 am PST.
Complimentary parking in student or staff lots will be honored by displaying valid staff permits from all of the San Diego/Imperial Community Colleges and Point Loma Nazarene. Interested school certifying officials in the San Diego area, please RSVP to Debbie Ayers at Debra.Ayers@gcccd.edu.
Veterans Affairs (VA) California State Approving Agency (SAA) Open House - October 29, 10a PST
October 24, 2019 3:00 PM
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as the California SAA, in partnership with the College of Alameda, is hosting an “Open House” to assist schools and stakeholders better understand and navigate the school catalog approval process.
This open house will take place at the College of the Alameda campus at 555 Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway, Alameda, CA 94501. Please join us on October 29, at 10:00 am PST. Interested school certifying officials in the Oakland and Sacramento area, please RSVP La Shawn Brumfield.
Webinar on October 30 - STEM Webinar - For State Approving Agencies (SAAs)
October 23, 2019 8:40 AM
Join us on Wednesday, October 30 at 11:00 am and 1 pm EDT to discuss the STEM Scholarship, a provision of the Colmery Act.
Please register by COB October 28 - Registration (Registration will close when the maximum number of participants for the session is reached)
Audio Information: 1-800-767-1750
Participant Code: 44214#
Test your connection here if you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting.
Get a quick overview of Adobe Connect here.
Webinar on October 31 - STEM Scholarship - For School Certifying Officials (SCOs)
October 22, 2019 1:40 PM
Join us on Thursday, October 31 at 11:00 am and 1 pm EDT to discuss the STEM Scholarship, a provision of the Colmery Act.
Please register by COB October 29 - Registration (Registration will close when the maximum number of participants for the session is reached)
Audio Information: 1-800-767-1750
Participant Code: 44214#
Test your connection here if you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting.
Get a quick overview of Adobe Connect here.
Webinar Slides Are Available for the 10/2 and 10/3 - Certifying at Extension Campuses, Forever GI Bill/Colmery 107 & 501 Updates and Reminders Office Hours
October 8, 2019 10:25 AM
The slides for the October 2 and October 3, 2019 Forever GI Bill Webinar – Office Hours are now available. The target audience was School Certifying Officials and SAAs.
Webinars on October 10 & 11 – VA acting as California SAA
October 8, 2019 8:15 AM
Join us on Thursday and Friday, October 10 & 11 at 11:00 am PST to provide information on VA acting as California SAA. Please register by COB October 9 - Registration (Registration will close when the maximum number of participants for the session is reached)
Audio Information: 1-800-767-1750
Participant Code: 28674#
Test your connection here if you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting.
Get a quick overview of Adobe Connect here.
Effective today VA is serving as the State Approving Agency (SAA) for California
October 1, 2019 2:50 PM
California education and training institutions should forward all approval materials (e.g., applications, updates, changes, etc.) and applicable questions to: ACLApprovals.vbamus@va.gov. Applications for program approval, renewal or amendment are now publicly available on our School Resources page. The process and requirements for approval for GI Bill benefits are set by Federal law and VA regulations, so it will be similar to how the process worked during fiscal year 2019.
We will be establishing a direct phone line to a member of VA’s SAA staff. This number will be provided to you in the coming days. In the coming weeks we will be offering webinars to explain the approval process. Additional details will be provided once the webinar schedule has been set.
Webinars 9/19 - Hybrid Courses and Section 305 Requirements
September 10, 2019 11:35 AM
Join us on Thursday, September 19 at 10a, 1p or 3p to provide information for certifying hybrid courses. Please register by COB September 18 - Registration (Registration will close when the maximum number of participants for the session is reached)
Audio Information: 1-800-767-1750
Participant Code: 44214#
Test your connection here if you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting.
Get a quick overview of Adobe Connect here.
Release of the Revised School Certifying Official (SCO) Handbook
August 19, 2019 8:30 AM
Education Service is pleased to announce the updated release of the School Certifying Official Handbook. This handbook has been revised to include new information concerning how to certify hybrid courses.
Yellow Ribbon Program Information Available for 2019-2020 Academic Year
July 10, 2019 10:40 AM
The Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program 2019 - 2020 list of participating schools and rates is now available.
Release of the Revised School Certifying Official (SCO) Handbook
June 21, 2019 11:00 AM
Education Service is pleased to announce the updated release of the School Certifying Official Handbook. The Handbook has been revised to include new information pertaining to Graduate Level Training and determining Non-Standard Terms Graduate Training updates.
6/18 Webinar Slides Are Available - School Certifying Official
June 20, 2019 1:05 PM
The slides for the June 18, 2019 School Certifying Official Webinar are now available.
Webinar 6/18 - FY 2019 3rd Quarter VBA EDU Quarterly Webinar
June 5, 2019 1:35 PM
Join us on Tuesday, June 18 at 2pm EST for the FY 2019 3rd Quarter VBA EDU Quarterly Webinar.
Click here to join the meeting
Audio Information: 1-800-767-1750
Participant Code: 37639#
Test your connection here if you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting.
Get a quick overview of Adobe Connect here.
Yellow Ribbon Program Open Season for School Participation Ended May 15
May 16, 2019 8:00 AM
March 25 to May 15 was the open season for the Yellow Ribbon Program for the 2019-20 academic year. Please see the Yellow Ribbon Program home page for more information.
3/26 Webinar Slides Are Available - School Certifying Official
April 1, 2019 12:45 PM
The slides for the March 26, 2019 School Certifying Official Webinar are now available.
Yellow Ribbon Program Open Season
March 25, 2019 12:00 PM
From March 25 to May 15 we are accepting new Yellow Ribbon Program agreements, modifications to existing open-ended agreements, or agreements to withdraw from participation. See our Yellow Ribbon Program Schools’ web page for instructions and forms.
Release of the Revised School Certifying Official (SCO) Handbook
March 20, 2019 11:05 AM
Education Service is pleased to announce the updated release of the School Certifying Official Handbook. The Handbook has been revised to include new information pertaining to Graduate Level Training (pages 55 and 56) and determining Non-Standard Terms Graduate Training updates (pages 62 and 63).
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