VA Certification Request Process

Certification Process

In Summer 2024, the VMSC began using a new platform for the certification request process. This new platform is a comprehensive solution for managing VA Education Benefits. Its objective is to streamline the application process for staff and students. It will improve the student experience by giving guided access to submit applications at any time and interact with staff through a centralized communication hub.

If you are a current student needing the link to this new certification platform, please email vmsc@uark.edu for more information 

If you're a new student to the university, please contact us at 479-575-8742 to schedule an appointment (in person, by phone, or virtual) to discuss the certification process in more detail. 

 

Verifying Attendance

All students using Chapter 1606, 1607, and 30 benefits must verify their attendance with the VA monthly in order to recieve your benefit. Usually no earlier than the last calendar day of each month, but somtimes sooner. Verify attendance online at the VA website or on phone at 877-823-2378.

 

Step 1: Meet with your Academic Advisor. The VA only pays for coursees that count toward your degree. Meeting with your advisor early on can help to ensure that you enroll only in courses from your Degree Requirements Checklist so no unexpected costs are incurred.

 

 

Step 2: Complete a class certification form. After you are enrolled in classes, make sure to complete a Class Certification Form. Forms are specific to each college within the UofA, so be sure to complete the correct form. All Graduate students should complete the Graduate Certification Form. It is also important to enter in your courses exactly as they appear on your UAConnect Student Account. Do not included courses for which you are Waitlisted.

 

 

Step 3: College Verification. Each College has a designated offical that checks the courses on your Class Certification Form against your degree requirement checklist to ensure that all courses count towards the obtainment of your degree. The College Official will then mark each course as either "Meets Requirements" or "Does Not Meet Requirements"

 

 

Step 4: Reporting To The VA. College Officals send verified Certification Forms to our office where our VA Certifying Officials check to ensure that you are enrolled in all courses on your form. We then report your credit hours to teh VA Regional Office in Muskogee, OK. Tuition and applicable feess for those under the Post 9/11 GI Bill are reported after the 11th day of classes.

 

 

Step 5: Recieving Your Benefits. After a period of time allowed for processing, your VA Education Benefits will be direct depositied into the account designated when originally applying for benefits. Chapters 1606 and 30, as well as those grandfathered in under 1607 must call monthly to verify enrollment at 1-877-823-2378

 

Certifying Course Work

The University of Arkansas requires all students to certify their schedule with the Veteran and Military-Affiliated Student Center every term in which they want to have their classes certified to the Department of Veterans Affairs for disbursement of VA Education Benefits. Please do not submit certification forms until you have your final schedule and all classes have been registered for in UAConnect. If you are on a waitlist, please wait to submit the class certification until after you have been approved for entry into the course.

If you do not receive a confirmation email within 10 business days, please contact the VMSC at 479-575-8742 or by email at vmsc@uark.edu to check the status.