Veteran Certification

The first thing you need to do is apply for educational benefits through the Veteran’s Administration.  You may do so by going to www.vets.gov and clicking on "Apply for education benefits" and follow the prompts to apply. You may also complete a VA 22-1990 paper form and send it directly to the VA. 

The application for educational benefits must be completed even if you are transferred benefits from a family member. Once this is completed and processed, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) in the mail from the VA.  You must provide a copy of the CoE to the University. 

For more detailed information, please visit the Veteran Services website.

Your First Semester

Your first semester using VA benefits will take the longest to process.  After you’ve completed your orientation and registered for courses, you will need to complete a Veteran’s Certification Request form.

• From the Student Tab in Ursa, select the “Veteran’s Certification Request” link located in the Important Links channel. 
• You will be prompted to select the correct semester that you are registered for and your personal and course information will automatically populate. 
• Verify your benefit information, phone number, and registered courses.  You are required to select whether each course is required for graduation for your degree program.  Courses that are NOT required for graduation cannot be certified to the VA for payment.  Please read the information listed at the bottom of the page and then click “Submit."
• Completing the Veteran’s Certification Request form sends your information electronically to our office where we will confirm your registration and submit your certification to the VA. 
• Processing of a certification can take up to 4-6 weeks, so please be patient.  Certifications can be submitted to the VA 120 days before a semester begins to ensure that book stipends and housing payments are paid in a timely manner (if you are eligible for them). 
• For most benefits, we must wait until the drop deadline to submit your tuition and fee amount to the VA. Also, depending on your benefit, payment may be made to you or the school. For more information about your benefits, please contact your SCO. Military cash advances may be available for students with immediate financial assistance. Please contact your SCO to see if you qualify.
• Please note that it is your responsibility to inform the Registrar’s Office of any schedule changes that you make after your initial Veteran’s Certification Request form is completed.  If you change your schedule in any way, please complete a new certification request and submit it.  This will ensure that neither the University nor you the student end up with any unnecessary debts due to a schedule change. 

Future Semesters

After your first semester here, you will be required to complete a Veteran’s Certification Request form every semester you are here. 

Without completing the request, we will not know that you are still attending and that you still wish to use your VA benefits to help pay for your education. 

Again, it is your responsibility to complete a new Veteran’s Certification Request form any time you make a change to your schedule and add or reduce your credit hours after your initial submission.

VA Payments and Financial Aid

Students who chose to complete a FAFSA and apply for Financial Aid are welcome to do so to receive the necessary aid to fund their education. 

If you are receiving both financial aid and veteran benefits and would like to receive an advance, it is absolutely necessary that you provide UNC with your Certificate of Eligibility (CoE).  If you have not provided your CoE, you will not be allowed to receive an advance on your financial aid over the standard emergency cash advance of $500.

Once we receive your financial aid, it will be used to pay your bill and if there is any credit remaining after your balance is paid, you will receive a refund. 

You may receive an additional refund later in the semester after the VA has paid the school for your tuition and fees. 

List of Fee codes that are billable and not billable to the VA. 

VA Certification FAQs

• I haven’t gotten paid yet.  When will my money arrive?

  The VA can take up to 4-6 weeks to process a certification.  The University does not submit your tuition and fee amount to the VA for payment until after the drop deadline each semester and that payment is made directly to the University.  You will receive your book and housing money directly from the VA.  Although your certification can be submitted 120 days before the start of a semester, the VA typically does not begin processing those until 2-4 weeks before the semester actually begins.

• How do I know what benefits I’m eligible for?

  You can contact the VA directly at 1-888-GIBILL-1 to confirm your benefits or check your Certificate of Eligibility.

• What happens if I fail or withdraw from a course?

  Failing a course is not penalized as long as it is an earned grade.  Your instructor will provide a last date of attendance for any failing grade.   If you stopped attending a course for any reason, you must either provide the School Certifying Official with documentation to support mitigating circumstances or your last date of attendance will be reported and you may end up owing the VA money back for that course.  Withdrawing from a course must be reported to the VA and your tuition payment may be pro-rated to reflect the date of withdrawal.  If payment has been made in full, you may end up owing the VA money for the course.

• I’m a full-time student, but I’m not receiving my full Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH).  Why?

  The VA verifies your attendance based on the actual dates your courses begin and end.  If you are taking a short-term course, the VA will calculate BAH based on your rate of pursuit on any given day during the semester.  Just because you are considered full-time by University standards does not mean that the VA will recognize you as full-time for the entire semester. 

  For example, if you are in 9 credit hours that run the full semester and 3 credit hours that lasts 8 weeks, you will receive your full BAH amount for the 8 weeks you are in 12 credit hours and a reduced amount for the remainder of the semester that you are only in 9 credit hours.  

  If you have any questions, please contact your School Certifying Official.