● School Certifying Official Training Overview
● Coronavirus (COVID-19) Impact – SCO Training
● School Certifying Official Training Countdown
● SCO Online Training Portal
● SCO Annual Training Schedule
● Education Service Webinars and Training Events
● SCO Training FAQs
● SCO Annual Training – Get Started!
● Existing - School Certifying Officials
● New - School Certifying Officials
● Read Only – School Certifying Officials
● Transferring – School Certifying Officials
● Existing SCO Training by Facility Type
● Existing SCOs - Institution of Higher Learning (IHL)
● Existing SCOs - Non-College Degree (NCD)
● Existing SCOs - Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) with Non-College Degree (NCD) Programs
● Existing SCOs - Institution of Higher Learning with Flight Programs
● Existing SCOs - On-the-Job Training (OJT)
● Existing SCOs - Apprenticeship Programs
● Existing SCOs - Vocational Flight Programs
● Existing SCOs - High School Programs
● Existing SCOs - Residency Programs
● Consequences for Non-Compliance (Existing SCOs Only)
● New SCO Training by Facility Type
● New SCOs - Institution of Higher Learning (IHL)
● New SCOs - Non-College Degree (NCD)
● New SCOs - Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) with Non-College Degree (NCD) Programs
● New SCOs - Institution of Higher Learning with Flight Programs
● New SCOs - On-the-Job Training (OJT)
● New SCOs - Apprenticeship Programs
● New SCOs - Vocational Flight Programs
● New SCOs - High School Programs
● New SCOs - Residency Programs
Section 305 of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, also known as the “Colmery Act,” requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in consultation with the State Approving Agencies (SAAs), to develop and administer required training for School Certifying Officials (SCOs) at Covered Educational Institutions effective August 1, 2018.
A “Covered Educational Institution” is an educational institution that has enrolled 20 or more individuals during a calendar year, using VA educational assistance under Title 38, United States Code. This includes main, branch and extension campuses approved by the SAA. Verify your school is on the Covered Educational Institutions list. Questions regarding covered educational institutions should directed to the ELR of
jurisdiction.
On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared Coronavirus (COVID-19) an international pandemic. To stop the spread of coronavirus, health and government officials recommended avoiding large gatherings and maintaining 6-feet from other people, commonly known as, social distancing.
Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; training for SCOs at national, regional, and local conferences may be postponed or cancelled; which may impede SCO’s ability to fulfill their annual training requirement by August 31, 2021. To support and assist SCOs in fulfilling the annual training requirement, VA’s Education Service will provide a variety of training opportunities to include:
1. Log Into the SCO Training Portal
2. Existing SCOs – Enter your Email Address and Facility Code. Update your profile as needed.
3. New SCOs – Create A New User Account
4. Take the training based on your facility type
5. Need Additional Information:
a. Online Instructions
b. Training FAQs
6. Need Technical Support using the Portal? – Contact VBA Support Team
Effective October 1, 2020, Existing SCOs at Covered Educational Institutions that enrolled twenty (20) or more individuals using educational assistance under title 38, United States Code are required to complete VA specified training applicable to their facility type.
An existing SCO is an individual who began work prior to the beginning of the annual training cycle (October 1, 2020) and has access to VA systems for the purposes of certifying student enrollments.
Existing SCOs:
Effective October 1, 2020, new SCOs at educational institutions that enrolled one or more individual(s) using educational assistance under title 38, United States Code are required to complete VA specified training applicable to their facility type.
A new SCO is an individual who began work as a SCO on or after the beginning of the annual training cycle (October 1, 2020).
New School Certifying Officials:
Complete the training according to their facility type:
● New SCOs - Institution of Higher Learning (IHL)
● New SCOs - Non-College Degree (NCD)
● New SCOs - Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) with Non-College Degree (NCD) Programs
● New SCOs - Institution of Higher Learning with Flight Programs
● New SCOs - On-the-Job Training (OJT)
● New SCOs - Apprenticeship Programs
● New SCOs - Vocational Flight Programs
● New SCOs - High School Programs
● New SCOs - Residency Programs
A Read-only SCO is an individual at an educational institution with permission to access enrollment information, request information, and submit inquiries to VA to assist an authorized SCO with obtaining accurate information to certify student’s enrollment. The educational institution must provide the ELR with the name(s) of the Read-Only SCOs on the VA Form 22-8794 before their information is entered in WEAMS.
Read-Only SCOs:
Transferring SCOs who successfully completed the annual training and transfer to another institution of the same facility type before the end of the training cycle are not required to retake the training.
Existing SCOs - Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL): A college, university, technical, or business school offering post-secondary level academic instruction that leads to an associate degree or higher degree.
Existing SCOs – Mandatory Module: Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) | |
1 | Institutions of Higher Learning Program (Only) |
Existing SCOs – Elective Modules: Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) | |
1 | New School Certifying Official Training |
2 | Advanced School Certifying Official Training |
3 | Compliance Surveys |
4 | Flight School Program at IHLs |
5 | Certification Process for Non-College Degree (ND) Programs |
6 | Education Programs and Benefits |
7 | Program Approval and the State Approving Agency |
8 | Yellow Ribbon |
9 | Work-Study Allowance and Public Law 116-140 |
10 | School Liability |
11 | Debt Management Center |
12 | VA-ONCE for Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) |
13 | VA-ONCE for Non-College Degree Programs |
14 | 85/15 Updates and Reminders |
Existing SCOs - Non-College Degree (NCD) - Refer to a course or program of education or vocational training which does not lead to a standard college degree. Non-college degree training includes programs that produce career-specific diploma or professional certifications.
Existing SCOs – Mandatory Module: Non-College Degree Programs (NCD) | |
1 | Non-College Degree Programs (NCD) |
Existing SCOs – Elective Modules: Non-College Degree Programs (NCD) | |
1 | New School Certifying Official Training |
2 | Advanced School Certifying Official Training |
3 | Compliance Surveys |
4 | Flight School Program at IHLs |
5 | Certification Process for Non-College Degree (ND) Programs |
6 | Education Programs and Benefits |
7 | Program Approval and the State Approving Agency |
8 | Yellow Ribbon |
9 | Work-Study Allowance and Public Law 116-140 |
10 | School Liability |
11 | Debt Management Center |
12 | VA-ONCE for Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) |
13 | VA-ONCE for Non-College Degree Programs |
14 | 85/15 Updates and Reminders |
Existing SCOs - Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) with Non-College Degree (NCD) Programs - A college, university, technical or business school offering post-secondary level academic instruction that leads to an associate degree or higher. Additionally, it offers NCD programs or programs of education of vocational training which does not lead to a standard college degree.
Existing SCOs – Mandatory Module: IHL with Non-College Degree (NCD) Programs | |
1 | IHL with Non-College Degree (NCD) Programs |
Existing SCOs – Elective Modules: IHL with Non-College Degree (NCD) Programs | |
1 | New School Certifying Official Training |
2 | Advanced School Certifying Official Training |
3 | Compliance Surveys |
4 | Flight School Program at IHLs |
5 | Certification Process for Non-College Degree (ND) Programs |
6 | Education Programs and Benefits |
7 | Program Approval and the State Approving Agency |
8 | Yellow Ribbon |
9 | Work-Study Allowance and Public Law 116-140 |
10 | School Liability |
11 | Debt Management Center |
12 | VA-ONCE for Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) |
13 | VA-ONCE for Non-College Degree Programs |
14 | 85/15 Updates and Reminders |
Existing SCOs - Vocational Flight Programs - Non-College Degree (NCD) programs that lead to a vocational objective in aviation.
Existing SCOs – Mandatory Module: Vocational Flight Programs | |
1 | Vocational Flight Courses |
Existing SCOs – Elective Modules: Vocational Flight Programs | |
1 | New School Certifying Official Training |
2 | Advanced School Certifying Official Training |
3 | Compliance Surveys |
4 | Flight School Program at IHLs |
5 | Certification Process for Non-College Degree (ND) Programs |
6 | Education Programs and Benefits |
7 | Program Approval and the State Approving Agency |
8 | Yellow Ribbon |
9 | Work-Study Allowance and Public Law 116-140 |
10 | School Liability |
11 | Debt Management Center |
12 | VA-ONCE for Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) |
13 | VA-ONCE for Non-College Degree Programs |
14 | 85/15 Updates and Reminders |
Existing SCOs - Institution of Higher Learning (IHLs) with Flight Programs – A college, university, technical or business school offering post-secondary level academic instruction that leads to an associate degree or higher. Additionally, it offers degree programs that include flight training.
Existing SCOs – Mandatory Module: IHL with Flight Programs | |
1 | IHLs with Flight Courses |
Existing SCOs – Elective Modules: IHL with Flight Programs | |
1 | New School Certifying Official Training |
2 | Advanced School Certifying Official Training |
3 | Compliance Surveys |
4 | Flight School Program at IHLs |
5 | Certification Process for Non-College Degree (ND) Programs |
6 | Education Programs and Benefits |
7 | Program Approval and the State Approving Agency |
8 | Yellow Ribbon |
9 | Work-Study Allowance and Public Law 116-140 |
10 | School Liability |
11 | Debt Management Center |
12 | VA-ONCE for Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) |
13 | VA-ONCE for Non-College Degree Programs |
14 | 85/15 Updates and Reminders |
Existing SCOs - On-the-Job Training (OJT) - Training done while performing a job and earning wages. Examples of OJT training include union plumber, hotel management, or firefighter.
Existing SCOs – Mandatory Module: On-the-Job Training (OJT) | |
1 | On-the-Job Training/Apprenticeship Programs |
Existing SCOs - Apprenticeship Programs - Combines OJT with classroom instruction to prepare workers for a job. Often after completing an apprenticeship, the student receives a Certificate of Apprenticeship. Examples of apprenticeship training include machinist, land surveyor, or baker.
Existing SCOs – Mandatory Module: Apprenticeship Programs | |
1 | On-the-Job Training/Apprenticeship Programs |
Existing SCOs High School Programs - A non-college degree programs that produce a high school diploma.
Existing SCOs – Mandatory Module: High School Programs | |
1 | Non-College Degree (NCD) Programs |
Existing SCOs - Residency Programs - Non-college degree training programs that produce career-specific diploma or professional certifications.
Existing SCOs – Mandatory Module: Residency Programs | |
1 | Non-College Degree (NCD) Programs |
If SCOs at Covered Institutions fail to complete the annual training, VA will:
New SCOs - Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL): A college, university, technical, or business school offering post-secondary level academic instruction that leads to an associate degree or higher degree.
New SCOs – Mandatory Modules: IHLs | |
Module - 1 | Introduction to the School Certifying Official Role |
Module - 2 | Enrollment Certifications |
Module - 3 | Veteran Affairs Payment Information |
Module - 4 | Changes to Certification |
Module - 5 | The SCO Responsibilities to the State Approving Agency (SAA) |
Module - 6 | VA-ONCE Administrative Functions |
Module - 7 | Certifying Enrollments with VA-ONCE |
Module - 8 | Changes to Certifications with VA-ONCE |
Module - 9 | Certify Enrollment with VA Forms |
Module - 10 | Changes to Certifications with VA Forms |
New SCOs - Non-College Degree (NCD) - Refer to a course or program of education or vocational training which does not lead to a standard college degree. Non-college degree training includes programs that produce career-specific diploma or professional certifications.
New SCOs – Mandatory Modules: NCD | |
Module - 1 | Introduction to the School Certifying Official Role |
Module - 2 | Enrollment Certifications |
Module - 3 | Veteran Affairs Payment Information |
Module - 4 | Changes to Certification |
Module - 5 | The SCO Responsibilities to the State Approving Agency (SAA) |
Module - 6 | VA-ONCE Administrative Functions |
Module - 7 | Certifying Enrollments with VA-ONCE |
Module - 8 | Changes to Certifications with VA-ONCE |
Module - 9 | Certify Enrollment with VA Forms |
Module - 10 | Changes to Certifications with VA Forms |
New SCOs - Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) with Non-College Degree (NCD) Programs - A college, university, technical or business school offering post-secondary level academic instruction that leads to an associate degree or higher. Additionally, it offers NCD programs or programs of education of vocational training which does not lead to a standard college degree.
New SCOs – Mandatory Modules: IHL with NCD Programs | |
Module - 1 | Introduction to the School Certifying Official Role |
Module - 2 | Enrollment Certifications |
Module - 3 | Veteran Affairs Payment Information |
Module - 4 | Changes to Certification |
Module - 5 | The SCO Responsibilities to the State Approving Agency (SAA) |
Module - 6 | VA-ONCE Administrative Functions |
Module - 7 | Certifying Enrollments with VA-ONCE |
Module - 8 | Changes to Certifications with VA-ONCE |
Module - 9 | Certify Enrollment with VA Forms |
Module - 10 | Changes to Certifications with VA Forms |
New SCOs - On-the-Job Training (OJT) - Training done while performing a job and earning wages. Examples of OJT training include union plumber, hotel management, or firefighter.
New SCOs – Mandatory Module: On-the-Job Training (OJT) | |
1 | On-the-Job Training/Apprenticeship Programs |
New SCOs - Apprenticeship Programs - Combines OJT with classroom instruction to prepare workers for a job. Often after completing an apprenticeship, the student receives a Certificate of Apprenticeship. Examples of apprenticeship training include machinist, land surveyor, or baker.
New SCOs – Mandatory Module: Apprenticeship Programs | |
1 | On-the-Job Training/Apprenticeship Programs |
New SCOs - High School Programs - A non-college degree programs that produce a high school diploma.
New SCOs – Mandatory Module: High School Programs | |
1 | Non-College Degree (NCD) Programs |
New SCOs - Residency Programs - Non-college degree training programs that produce career-specific diploma or professional certifications.
New SCOs – Mandatory Module: Residency Programs | |
1 | Non-College Degree (NCD) Programs |
Contact us if you are experiencing technical issues with accessing the training modules.