STEPS TO GETTING STARTED
STEP 1



STEP 2

Apply for Admission
start your benefits & obtain the Yellow
online at
Information Checklist. You can also
www.cerritos.edu
download the form at
Apply online for your GI Bill Benefits
www.cerritos.edu/va
at wwww.gibill.va.gov
What do I need to submit.
Submit a Free Application for Federal

under
Schedule an appointment with the Vet-
Student Aid (FAFSA) at
erans Counselor for an Educational
www.fafsa.gov
Plan (Ed-Plan).
the Federal school code for

Visit the Veterans’ Education Office to

Submit all documents requested on the
Cerritos College 001161
Yellow Information Checklist to the
New Students must take the
Veterans’ Education Office.
Assessment Test for English, Reading
STEP 3
& Math.
Veterans’ Education Office
11110 Alondra Blvd
Norwalk, CA 90650
(562) 860-2451 Ext. 3716
www.cerritos.edu/va

Transfer Students must submit Official transcripts from all

previously
Register for classes online through
your MyCerritos account on your
attended colleges.
appointment date.

Notify the Veterans’ Education Office
once you have enrolled in classes. To
request certification of your classes.
OFFICE USE ONLY:
Date Received:
Cerritos Community College
Veterans Education Resource Center
www.cerritos.edu/va
New Students Educational Benefits Checklist
______/______/_______
Staff initials: ________
Last Name : __________________ First Name: ______________ Date of Birth: _______/_______/______
Student ID: ______________ Contact No. (____)______-________ Email ____________@____________
Submit the following forms below to start my file at the Veterans Resource Center:
1. Apply for the GI Bill educational benefits on-line at www.gibill.va.gov (print summary page ) an
submit Certificate of Eligibility. Students changing colleges must submit form 22-1995 on-line.
2. Make a counseling appointment for an Educational/Pr ogr am Plan call 562-860-2451 ext. 3716
3. Veteran Student Responsibilities form. You must r ead and under stand your Student r esponsibility form.
4. Submit Copy of DD214 (Member 4) if active duty dischar ged or DD2384( Notice of Basic
Eligibility) if currently on active reserves, form must be signed by commander of reserve unit.
New Students must take the Assessment & Orientation-Counseling online at http://cms.cer r itos.edu/
counseling/Orientation/
Transfer students must submit All academic Official Transcripts fr om all schools attended including
foreign transcripts (required by the VA department) List Name of Colleges attended:
________________________________________________________________________________________
Enroll in classes only required for Program at www.cer r itos.edu Only Veter ans r eceive pr ior ity r egistr ation,
dependents are not eligible. Courses not on Educational Plan will not be Certified with the VA department and payments will be reduced.
Pay fees. All fees must be paid within 7days of enr ollment. Excluding Post 9/11 & Voc. Rehabilitation.
Submit all forms in order to start a file to the Veteran Resource Center.
Apply for Financial Aid. Fr ee Application for Feder al Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov
Complete the Request Certification form at the VRC or submit it online at www.cer r itos.edu/va This must
be done every semester you wish to receive benefits. Inform the VRC of any enrollment changes.
Failure to report may result in delay or owing money to the VA department.
Register for EBenefits Pr emium account to view payment and manage your educational benefits at
https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-portal/ebenefits.portal
Military Credit: Veterans who have served on active duty a period of one
year or longer and who have received other than a dishonorable discharge may be granted
four (4) units credit. The units will be designated as “Military Credit” on the transcript. To
apply for these units the Veteran must present Form DD 214.
Dependents not applicable.
Staff use only:
Credits enter _____/______/______
Student Group
Staff Initials: ______
Vet Hold ( Chapter 31&33 only)
NOTE: Lack of complete information, or failure to report subsequent changes may result in delay of benefits.
Student Signature: ___________________________________
Date: _____/_____/_____
UPDATED 10/2013-DB
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Students must be currently enrolled in an approved educational program and must have a current
benefit Certificate of Eligibility form in file.
Approved courses: You must register in courses that are required for the educational objective
you have selected. The Veterans Administration only pays benefits for those courses that are part
of an approved degree program, and that have not been previously and successfully completed (
The VA will not pay for Audit classes).
Request Certification of enrollment: on-line or in person each semester if you wish to receive
VA payments on time. It’s recommended you submit the request as soon as you register for
classes.
Pay Fees: All fees must be paid within 7 days of enrollment. Excluding Post 9/11 & Voc.
Rehabilitation
Apply for Financial Aid: Complete the Free FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov. Cerritos College code
001161.
Change in major: If at a later date you wish to select a different educational objective, you must
come to the Veteran Resource Center and request the change of educational plan and complete
form 22-1995.
Changes in registration may alter the payment the VA will award the student.
Lack of complete information, or failure to report subsequent changes may result in delay
of benefits.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How long does it take for my information to process?
Up to 5 business days at the Veterans Resource Center, once submitted to the VA department it
could take up to 4-6 weeks to process.
I didn’t receive my housing payment or book stipend?
First check if you have been certified for the current semester.
Second if you have been certified for the current semester and 4-6 weeks have passed and you
have created a eBenefits account check if there is a pending payment.
Third if there is no pending payment call 1-888-GIBILL 1 (1-888-442-4551) with your CERT
ID, TRANS ID and Certification DATE.
Can I use my GI BILL benefits and receive financial aid?
Yes, veterans are encouraged to apply for both. This does not affect your educational benefits.
Semester Weeks Equivalency Table
Semester
Units per
Term
12 or more
units
11 Units
10 Units
9 Units
8 Units
7 Units
6 Units
5 Units
4 Units
3 Units
2 Units
1 Units
15 to
wks19
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
FT
FT
FT
FT
FT
FT
FT
FT
FT
FT
FT
FT
FT
FT
FT
¾
¾
¾
½
½
½
½
½
¼
¼
¼
FT
FT
¾
¾
¾
½
½
½
¼
¼
¼
FT
FT
FT
¾
¾
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½
¼
¼
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FT
¾
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½
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¾
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eBenefits
[http://www.ebenefits.va.gov/]
Students are encouraged to register and utilize eBenefits to assist them in the following:
• Obtaining up to date information on their educational entitlement
• Updating their Direct Deposit and personal contact information
• Downloading VA letters and personal documents
• Viewing the current status of their payments (both education and disability)
WAVE
www.gibill.va.gov/wave/index.do.
Students receiving Chapter 30, 1606, and 1607 must verify their enrollment monthly by Web
Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) The monthly verification of enrollment has not
been added for Chapter 33 and Chapter 35
For additional information about each educational chapter check www.gibill.va.gov
CERRITOS COLLEGE Veteran Resource Center
Veteran Student Responsibilities for VA payments
( Please Read Carefully)
Name:
Student Number:
Date of Birth:
/
/
Initials
DEGREE OBJECTIVE: You MUST pursue an AA degree/Certificate or a transfer object to receive VA payments.
You MUST declare a major before you are certified for benefits. You will only be paid for courses that are
required for your declared major.
TRANSCRIPTS FROM PRIOR COLLEGES; You MUST have official copies of transcripts from all colleges you have
attended before, during and after your military service. You will be certified ONLY TWICE until all transcripts
have arrived.
EDUCATION PLANS (PREPLANS): If you have between ZERO (0) AND TWENTY-THREE UNITS completed, you will
need to schedule a counseling appointment to develop an educational plan. It is a MANDATORY REQUIREMENT
that MUST be done each semester and submitted to the Veterans Office DURING office hours before we can
certify you for payment.
24 UNITS COMPLETED: If you have completed TWENTY-FOUR (24) UNITS OR MORE, It is MANDATORY that you
schedule a counseling appointment to have a Veterans Evaluation completed, and submitted to the Veterans
Office DURING office hours. YOU WILL BE PAID ONLY FOR CLASSES THAT APPEAR ON THE EVALUATION.
SATISFACTORY PROGRESS: Veterans MUST maintain the standards of scholarships as stated in the College
Catalog.
REPEATING CLASSES: You will not receive benefits for repeating classes for which your received credit, unless it
is specifically stated in the college catalog that the course may repeated.
CREDIT/NO CREDIT CLASSES: The VA will not pay benefits for a class in which you receive a grade of “NC”.
WORK EXPERIENCE AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES: You may not receive benefits for work experience or
physical education classes unless they are required for your declared major and /or you need elective credit.
This would have to be determined by the academic counselor.
BENEFIT OVERPAYMENT: Once you enroll, begin attending classes and subsequently drop out, we will follow
our refund policy. If the change in enrollment causes a VA debt, VA will collect the debt from the student.
MILITARY CREDIT: It is required that any veteran receiving benefits apply for military credit. You will receive 4
units of elective credit.
CHANGE OF STUDENT STATUS: IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO REPORT ALL CHANGES
(DROPS/ADDS/MAJOR COURSE OF STUDY) TO THE VETERANS OFFICE LOCATED IN THE ADMISSIONS DEPT.
PRIVACY ACT: The Veterans Affairs Office is not permitted to discuss or release any information from your file to
anyone without written authorization from you. THIS INCLUDES SPOUSES.
I CERTIFY THAT I HAVE READ THE ABOVE REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES. FUTHRERMORE, I UNDERSTAND
THAT FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE REULATIONS WITLL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY.
SIGNATURE
DATE
UPDATED 9/13 -DB
Veterans regulation form/updated by vg/09