AVECO July 14 – 18, 2014

1. AVECO LACAS/National tests/Cert issues AVECO July 14 – 18, 2014

2. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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)

8. 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.

10. 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)

11. 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

12. 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

13. AVECO 2014 • Questions?