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AVECO
LACAS/National tests/Cert issues
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
AVECO July 14 – 18, 2014
Licensing and Certification Tests (LACAS)
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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
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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
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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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Licensing and Certification Tests
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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
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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
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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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AVECO 2014
• Questions?
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
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