VA Certifying Official

Complete First

  1. Applied to ODU and was accepted for admission.

  2. Enrolled for classes relevant to degree program.

  3. Received a Certificate of Eligibility from the VA.

Reminders

  • Ensure your program is approved for VA benefts via WEAMS.

  • If you've previously used your benefits at another institution, click here to fill out the 22-1995 form and transfer them to ODU.

  • To receive your VA benefits, you need to apply here.

  • Submit your Veterans Clearance Form at least 30 days prior to the start of the term.

Certification Process

All students using G.I. Bill® benefits must have their enrollment certified by the ODU School Certifying Official to receive their educational benefits. To initiate the certification process, you must complete a Veterans Clearance Form.

ODU School Certifying Officials (SCOs) begin reporting enrollment to the V.A. 30 days before the first day of your class start dates. This first step will trigger the V.A.'s disbursement of your educational benefits. Depending on your chapter, this can include BAH, book stipends, or other monthly allotments. Tuition and fee coverage come later. Check additional chapter information down below for more specific details.

Our staff notifies the Office of Finance to place a tuition deferment on your account. Deferments prevent your account from accruing late fees as we wait on payment from the V.A. If you submit a late clearance form after getting late fees, they should be reversed within 1 week.

Note: Chapter 31 students and Engineering Management students in the Portable Media Program do not need to complete the Veterans Clearance Form. Chapter 31 students will coordinate with their assigned VA Educational Counselor. Engineering Management students in the Portable Media Program will coordinate with the Engineering Management department

Additional Chapters Information

Chapter 1606 is also known as the Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve Program. This Chapter requires you to meet certain training and time commitments.

  • The V.A. requires you to verify your enrollment at the end of each month to keep receiving payments. You can verify your enrollment online through the Web Automated Verification system (called "WAVE") or by phone by calling 877-823-2378.
  • Click here to see the current monthly rate entitlement.
  • Payment: The monthly check payment from the V.A. goes directly to you. Then, you're responsible for paying your tuition balance before the deferment deadline.

For eligibility requirements, how to obtain these benefits, and additional information regarding Chapter 1606, please click here.

Chapter 30 is also known as the Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty Educational Assistance Program. You may be eligible for these benefits if you're on Active Duty or after you're separated from Active Duty.

  • The V.A. requires you to verify your enrollment at the end of each month to keep receiving payments. You can verify your enrollment online through the Web Automated Verification system (called "WAVE") or by phone by calling 877-823-2378.
  • Click here to see the current monthly rate entitlement.
  • Payment: The monthly check payment from the V.A. goes directly to you. Then, you're responsible for paying your tuition balance before the deferment deadline.
  • Check out this PDF resource pamphlet for more information.

For eligibility requirements, how to obtain these benefits, and additional information regarding Chapter 1606, please click here.

Chapter 31 is also known as Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), formerly Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment.

This chapter provides beneficiaries with tuition, fees, books, and supplies. You might also receive a monthly stipend. To qualify for this benefit chapter, you must have a service-connected disability that the Department of Veterans Affairs rates at least 20% disabling.

  • Payment: The invoicing for your tuition balance will be coordinated by ODU's Third Party Billing (thirdpartybilling@odu.edu) in the Office of Finance and your V.A. Educational Counselor.
  • You do not need to fill out a Veterans Clearance Form. You will work directly with your V.A. Educational Counselor, who will send your authorization to our certifying team. Our certifying team will then submit your registration certification to the V.A. Your VA Educational Counselor will also make arrangements for ODU to bill the V.A. directly.
  • Our staff will send your information to ODU's Parking Services so they can issue you a parking pass. As well as notifying the ODU Bookstore for you to obtain your books and supplies.

For eligibility requirements, how to apply, and additional information regarding Chapter 31, please click here.

Chapter 33 is also known as the Post-9/11 GI Bill. You may be eligible for this program, which provides up to 36 months of educational benefits, if you have at least 90 days of active duty service after September 10, 2001.

The VA requires a two-part certification process for those using Chapter 33 benefits. First, we report your total credit hours for the semester to trigger the VA to issue you a book stipend and housing allowance. The second step happens after the add/drop period so we can report your actual tuition and fees for the semester to the VA. Then, the VA will pay your fees directly to ODU. Deferments are placed on your student account so you don't accrue late fees while waiting on payment from the VA.

  • Payment: The VA sends tuition and fee payments directly to ODU. * Except for Day One Access Course materials fees.
  • BAH is triggered by the initial enrollment certification. To get full BAH, you must be considered full-time and be in at least one 1-credit hour on campus. Click here for the current BAH allowance which is based on your zip code and pay grade. *The rate will be reduced if taking online-only courses.
  • A Book Stipend is triggered by the initial enrollment certification. You will need to pay for your books, including Bookstore Course Materials that are charged directly when you register. You pay for this yourself through Leo Online. Click here for the current Book Stipend allowance rates.
  • The V.A. requires you to verify your enrollment at the end of each month to continue receiving your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments. By verifying that you are still enrolled in the same courses every month, you help avoid overpayments caused by changes to your training schedule and safeguard your G.I. Bill entitlement by preventing entitlement charges for training you did not attend. To streamline the process verify enrollment easily and securely via text message.

For eligibility requirements, how to apply, and additional information regarding Chapter 33, please click here.

Chapter 35 is also known as the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program. This benefit chapter offers education and training opportunities to the survivor or dependents of Veterans who are disabled due to a service-related condition or who died on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition.

  • Payment: The monthly check payment from the VA goes directly to you, and you will be responsible for paying your tuition balance before the deferment deadline.
  • There are age and time limits for this program depending on if you are the child or spouse of the Veteran or service member. Please click here for those details.
  • Per V.A. guidance, we report tuition and fees to the V.A. if you're below half-time.

For eligibility requirements, how to apply, and additional information regarding the Fry Scholarship, please click here.

The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) provides education benefits to spouses and children of military service members killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who have been rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a result of military service.

Military service includes service in the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces Reserves, or the Virginia National Guard.

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) is responsible for managing the program and collaborates with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and Virginia's public colleges and universities to assist spouses and children of qualified military service members and Veterans in attaining their educational goals. (See the Code of Virginia, Section 23-7.4:1.)

This program is not handled through the Department of Veteran Affairs or the Office of the Registrar. For assistance with this program, please visit the ODU Office of Financial Aid and their Scholarship page under the Virginia Military Survivors & Dependents Education Program.

Chapter 1606 is also known as the Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve Program. This Chapter requires you to meet certain training and time commitments.

  • The V.A. requires you to verify your enrollment at the end of each month to keep receiving payments. You can verify your enrollment online through the Web Automated Verification system (called "WAVE") or by phone by calling 877-823-2378.
  • Click here to see the current monthly rate entitlement.
  • Payment: The monthly check payment from the V.A. goes directly to you. Then, you're responsible for paying your tuition balance before the deferment deadline.

For eligibility requirements, how to obtain these benefits, and additional information regarding Chapter 1606, please click here.

Chapter 30 is also known as the Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty Educational Assistance Program. You may be eligible for these benefits if you're on Active Duty or after you're separated from Active Duty.

  • The V.A. requires you to verify your enrollment at the end of each month to keep receiving payments. You can verify your enrollment online through the Web Automated Verification system (called "WAVE") or by phone by calling 877-823-2378.
  • Click here to see the current monthly rate entitlement.
  • Payment: The monthly check payment from the V.A. goes directly to you. Then, you're responsible for paying your tuition balance before the deferment deadline.
  • Check out this PDF resource pamphlet for more information.

For eligibility requirements, how to obtain these benefits, and additional information regarding Chapter 1606, please click here.

Chapter 31 is also known as Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), formerly Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment.

This chapter provides beneficiaries with tuition, fees, books, and supplies. You might also receive a monthly stipend. To qualify for this benefit chapter, you must have a service-connected disability that the Department of Veterans Affairs rates at least 20% disabling.

  • Payment: The invoicing for your tuition balance will be coordinated by ODU's Third Party Billing (thirdpartybilling@odu.edu) in the Office of Finance and your V.A. Educational Counselor.
  • You do not need to fill out a Veterans Clearance Form. You will work directly with your V.A. Educational Counselor, who will send your authorization to our certifying team. Our certifying team will then submit your registration certification to the V.A. Your VA Educational Counselor will also make arrangements for ODU to bill the V.A. directly.
  • Our staff will send your information to ODU's Parking Services so they can issue you a parking pass. As well as notifying the ODU Bookstore for you to obtain your books and supplies.

For eligibility requirements, how to apply, and additional information regarding Chapter 31, please click here.

Chapter 33 is also known as the Post-9/11 GI Bill. You may be eligible for this program, which provides up to 36 months of educational benefits, if you have at least 90 days of active duty service after September 10, 2001.

The VA requires a two-part certification process for those using Chapter 33 benefits. First, we report your total credit hours for the semester to trigger the VA to issue you a book stipend and housing allowance. The second step happens after the add/drop period so we can report your actual tuition and fees for the semester to the VA. Then, the VA will pay your fees directly to ODU. Deferments are placed on your student account so you don't accrue late fees while waiting on payment from the VA.

  • Payment: The VA sends tuition and fee payments directly to ODU. * Except for Day One Access Course materials fees.
  • BAH is triggered by the initial enrollment certification. To get full BAH, you must be considered full-time and be in at least one 1-credit hour on campus. Click here for the current BAH allowance which is based on your zip code and pay grade. *The rate will be reduced if taking online-only courses.
  • A Book Stipend is triggered by the initial enrollment certification. You will need to pay for your books, including Bookstore Course Materials that are charged directly when you register. You pay for this yourself through Leo Online. Click here for the current Book Stipend allowance rates.
  • The V.A. requires you to verify your enrollment at the end of each month to continue receiving your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments. By verifying that you are still enrolled in the same courses every month, you help avoid overpayments caused by changes to your training schedule and safeguard your G.I. Bill entitlement by preventing entitlement charges for training you did not attend. To streamline the process verify enrollment easily and securely via text message.

For eligibility requirements, how to apply, and additional information regarding Chapter 33, please click here.

Chapter 35 is also known as the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program. This benefit chapter offers education and training opportunities to the survivor or dependents of Veterans who are disabled due to a service-related condition or who died on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition.

  • Payment: The monthly check payment from the VA goes directly to you, and you will be responsible for paying your tuition balance before the deferment deadline.
  • There are age and time limits for this program depending on if you are the child or spouse of the Veteran or service member. Please click here for those details.
  • Per V.A. guidance, we report tuition and fees to the V.A. if you're below half-time.

For eligibility requirements, how to apply, and additional information regarding the Fry Scholarship, please click here.

The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) provides education benefits to spouses and children of military service members killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who have been rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a result of military service.

Military service includes service in the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces Reserves, or the Virginia National Guard.

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) is responsible for managing the program and collaborates with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and Virginia's public colleges and universities to assist spouses and children of qualified military service members and Veterans in attaining their educational goals. (See the Code of Virginia, Section 23-7.4:1.)

This program is not handled through the Department of Veteran Affairs or the Office of the Registrar. For assistance with this program, please visit the ODU Office of Financial Aid and their Scholarship page under the Virginia Military Survivors & Dependents Education Program.

What else? Check these out:

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill