VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION AVECO July 14 – 18, 2014

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_certif ication.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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Licensing and Certification Tests
• 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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Licensing and Certification Tests
• 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_pr ogram.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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COMMON REPORTING ERRORS AND PITFALLS
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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COMMON REPORTING ERRORS AND PITFALLS
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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