AVECO July 14 – 18, 2014

VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION AVECO July 14 – 18, 2014

AVECOLACAS/National tests/Cert issues

VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

Licensing and Certification Tests (LACAS)

• Chapter 30, 32, 33, 35, 1606, 1607 • VA can reimburse the cost of approved licensing and certification tests. Students

are reimbursed the cost of the test, not to exceed the approved cost of the test or $2,000. Benefits can be paid for tests that are not passed, for tests retaken if not passed, and for tests required to be recertified or to renew a license.

• Students must be eligible for benefits to receive test reimbursement. They must have remaining entitlement and their delimiting date must not have passed.

• Information about test fee reimbursement can be found on our website at http://gibill.va.gov/resources/education_resources/programs/licensing_and_certification.html.

• The page includes a Search for Tests link where you can find all approved licensing and certification tests.

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Licensing and Certification Tests

• VA students can apply for test fee reimbursement by completing and submitting an Application for Reimbursement of Licensing or Certification Test Fees available at http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-22-0803-ARE.pdf.

• Attach a copy of the test results to the application. If test results are not available, attach a copy of the license or certification and a payment receipt. Test fee reimbursement can be paid for each test for which reimbursement is claimed and the required documents are submitted.

• Entitlement is prorated based on the amount reimbursed. If a student’s full-time benefit is $1,000 per month and the student is reimbursed $500 for a test, then the student’s remaining entitlement will be reduced by ½ month.

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• Entitlement Charge • Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, individuals are charged one month of entitlement for

each $1,460 reimbursed (for Academic Year 2011-2012) rounded to the nearest non-zero whole month. This amount is subject to an annual cost of living allowance.

• Example: A Chapter 33 Veteran who receives reimbursement for a certification test (taken in Academic Year 2011-2012) in the amount of $2,150 will be charged 1 month of entitlement, as the amount reimbursed is less than 150% of $1,460.

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• Entitlement Charge • Under the other benefit programs, entitlement is charged by dividing the amount

paid by the full-time monthly institutional rate payable during the fiscal year in which the test was taken. The amount charged is not rounded to the nearest month.

• Example: A Chapter 30 Veteran who receives reimbursement for a certification test in the amount of $2,150 will be charged 1 month and 14 days of entitlement in FY 2012, as

• $2,150 ÷ $1,473 ≈ 1.46 months.

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National Tests

• Chapters 30, 33, 35, 1606, 1607 • VA students can be reimbursed the fee charged for national admission tests and

national tests for college credit. Some of the approved tests are: – SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) – LSAT (Law School Admission Test) – GRE (Graduate Record Exam) – GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) – CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) – ACT (American College Testing Program) – MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) – PCAT (Pharmacy College Admissions Test) – TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

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National Tests

• Complete information and directions for applying for reimbursement is available at http://gibill.va.gov/resources/education_resources/programs/national_testing_program.html.

• A list of all approved national tests and approved charges can be found through the following link: http://inquiry.vba.va.gov/weamspub/buildSearchNE.do.

• Entitlement Charge • Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, individuals are charged one month of entitlement for

each $1,460 reimbursed (for Academic Year 2011-2012) rounded to the nearest non-zero whole month. This amount is subject to an annual cost of living allowance.

• Under the other benefit programs, entitlement is charged by dividing the amount paid by the full-time monthly institutional rate payable during the fiscal year in which the test was taken. The amount charged is not rounded to the nearest month.

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COMMON REPORTING ERRORS AND PITFALLS

I. General Issues – New Certifying Officials Ensure that an 8794, Designation of Certifying Official

is submitted to VA and training provided – Lack of internal controls by SCO for monitoring pursuit during terms to meet

the 30 day reporting timeliness – Lack of relationship between SCO and Business Office regarding CH 33 tuition

and fee evidence necessary for certifications and changes – SCO has no institution access to student financial records in Business Office – SCO concerns on providing institutional records (academic and financial) for

VA and non-VA students due to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

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II. Enrollment certification issues – Blended/hybrid subjects incorrectly certified as resident credits – Non-standard terms scheduled with quarter or semester are not separately

certified when student is also enrolled in other credits for the full term – Certifying remedial or deficiency credits when pursuit is on-line– Certifying subjects that do not apply to the degree or diploma program – Tuition and fees are not confirmed or verified (sources must be student

account ledger) with Business Office before certifying enrollment to VA – Insufficient or no academic evaluation for prior credit transfer – Concurrent enrollment issue – no documentation at parent institution to grant

secondary institution subject; parent institution not obtaining grade reports from secondary institution

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III. Changes in enrollment issues – Failure to report credit load reduction (withdrawals) within 30 days – Failure to report end of term non-punitive grades – Failure to report unearned F grades and effective dates – Failure to report when student cancels registration or completely withdraws

during a term

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AVECO 2014

• Questions?

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Documents

AVECO July 14 – 18, 2014