To request certification of VA Education Benefits at City College of San Francisco, there are 3 routes to certification.

• New Students 
• Continuing Students 
• Returning Students (Have not been enrolled at CCSF for 2 consecutive semesters) 

To find the Certification Request Forms visit: Student Vet Checklist | CCSF there you will click the drop-down boxes for the steps. 

Apply on-line at www.gibill.va.gov, www.ebenefits.va.gov or www.vets.gov. Please download a copy of your completed application and bring it to Cloud 333 along with your DD214 to start a file at the CCSF Veterans Education Transitional Services (VETS) Office.

Transcripts: All recipients who have completed courses at other post-secondary institutions MUST submit official transcripts from those schools. All Air Force veterans will need to also bring in an official copy of their transcript from the Community College of the Air Force.

• Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill®: Application form 1990 and a copy of your DD 214 (member 4 copy) that indicates an honorable discharge and a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility (or copy of completed application until your COE arrives).
• Chapter 33, Post 9/11 GI Bill®: Students are required to bring in a Member 4 copy of their DD 214, indicating an honorable discharge and their Certificate of Eligibility (COE) (or copy of completed application until the COE arrives).
• Chapter 35 for Dependents of Disabled or Deceased Veteran: Spouses need to submit a copy of their marriage certificate. Dependant children need to provide a copy of their birth certificate if completing an application in our office and a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility with the full VA File Number as issued to the student from DVA.
• Chapter 1606 Selected Reserve: Students are required to bring in a “Notice of Basic Eligibility” (NOBE) that can be obtained from their Reserve or National Guard unit. They must be signed up for a six year commitment and a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility.
• Chapter 1607 (REAP): National Guard members and Reservists who have served on active duty for 90 days or more in a contingency operation after September 11, 2001, need to bring in a copy of the DD 214(member 4 copy) and the “Notice of Basic Eligibility” (NOBE). These military reservists will be informed by the Department of Veteran Affairs what their benefit package will be. They will be eligible for this benefit as long as they continue to be in the Active Reserves.

*Please note that GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about educational benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Yes. 

NEW VA policy for Post 9/11 GI Bill (Ch.33): Verification of Enrollment Starting 12/17/2021. Each month Vets using Ch.33 are required by the VA to Verify their Enrollment. All student veterans using the Post 9/11 GI Bill must Verify their Enrollment each month with the VA. 

Find the steps to Opt-In text verification with the VA: Enrollment Verification Process.pdf - Google Drive (Flyer with Instructions) 

Once an application for educational benefits is sent to the Department of Veterans Affairs Processing Center it usually takes four to six weeks before the certificate of eligibility is sent to the student. The certificate of eligibility needs to be brought into the CCSF VA office as soon as it is received by the student.

You can apply at APPLY

Yes.

You can find the checklist here: Student Vet Checklist | CCSF

No! Before a student can receive payment for the educational benefit, they must meet with the CCSF Veterans Academic Counselor who specializes in VA education benefits and establish a Student Educational Plan (SEP) based on their educational goal (such as transfer to a university, associate degree or certificate program). Only courses required for these programs are certifiable for VA educational benefits. This process will be explained in detail during your counseling meeting.

After all of the admissions and application steps have been completed as mentioned above and you have requested certification, the VA can take between six and eight weeks to process a payment. (Depending on the time of year, processing time may vary).

At your local County Veteran Service Office, you will be assisted by an accredited Veterans Service Representative who is trained on how to submit claims for service connected disability benefits. You can find a County Veteran Service Office by visiting this link: https://www.calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/Pages/CVSO-Locations.aspx or by calling this number: 1-844-SERV-VETS (844-737-8838)

San Francisco County Veterans Service Office (SFCVSO):

The VA will mail you a hardcopy of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to your home of record. Upon receiving your COE, it is critical that the Veteran scan the COE and email it to our office. Once we are back on campus you can bring the document to be scanned and put into your e-file.

Please also download a copy of your Education Benefits Summary from your ebenefits or va.gov profile. Once you have the PDF of your summary completed application and bring it to Cloud 333 along with your DD214 and other needed documents to start a file at the CCSF Veterans Education Transitional Services (V.E.T.S) Office.

Click Here to upload. 

*Formally named, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment – changed by VA in 2020

The Cal-Vet Fee Wavier for Veteran Dependents benefit waives mandatory system-wide tuition and fees at any state of California Community College, CSU, or UC campus. This program does not cover the expense of books, parking or room and board. There are four plans under which dependents of Veterans may be eligible.

For more information visit the CalVet Veteran Services College Fee Waiver webpage.

Transcripts: All recipients who have completed courses at other post-secondary institutions MUST submit official transcripts from those schools. All Air Force veterans will need to also bring in an official copy of their transcript from the Community College of the Air Force.

Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill®: Application form 1990 and a copy of your DD 214 (member 4 copy) that indicates an honorable discharge and a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility (or copy of completed application until your COE arrives).

Chapter 33, Post 9/11 GI Bill®: Students are required to bring in a Member 4 copy of their DD 214, indicating an honorable discharge and their Certificate of Eligibility (COE) (or copy of completed application until the COE arrives), and any previous transcripts need to be submitted to CCSF.

Chapter 35, Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA): Spouses need to submit a copy of their marriage certificate. Dependent children need to provide a copy of their birth certificate and a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility with the full VA File Number as issued to the student from the VA.

Chapter 1606 Selected Reserve: Students are required to bring in a “Notice of Basic Eligibility” (NOBE) that can be obtained from their Reserve or National Guard unit. They must be signed up for a six-year commitment and a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility.

Through Dec. 21, 2021, current and new students can receive in-person allowance rates if their school’s approved program changed from in-person to remote learning due to COVID-19. Courses will be listed as: REMOTE, LECTURE, IN-PERSON OR RESIDENCE.

When using your myRAM Student Portal to register for classes that are on your Education Plan developed with a Veterans Academic Counselor, the courses MUST be listed as the following: REMOTE, LECTURE, IN-PERSON OR RESIDENCE, to count towards your unit total for Full time which is 12 units for Spring and Fall.

You can register for courses listed as Online, however to get the full BAH rate you need AT LEAST 1 course that is listed as REMOTE, LECTURE, IN-PERSON OR RESIDENCE on your schedule per semester.

If you register for Online classes only you will receive the online BAH rate.

YES! Veterans receive priority registration under Priority Group 1. You do not have to be using VA Education Benefits, but veterans do NEED to submit a copy of their DD-214 and complete the following steps within the enrollment process:

1)    

Submit copy of DD-214

2)    

Complete Math and English Placement Assessment,

3)    

Complete the New Student Veteran Online Orientation,

4)    

Meet with a Veterans Academic Counselor, in order to receive this priority registration for veterans.

YES! Students (including Veterans) can lose their priority registration if:
(Excerpt from Title 5 § 58108. Registration and Enrollment Procedures.)

1.    

Student is placed on academic or progress probation or any combination thereof as defined in section 55031 for two consecutive terms; or

2.    

has earned one hundred (100) or more degree-applicable semester or quarter equivalent units at the district.

For more information visit the CCSF myRam Registration webpage.

Once an application for Educational Benefits is sent to the Department of Veterans Affairs Processing Center it usually takes four to six weeks before the certificate of eligibility is sent to the student. The certificate of eligibility needs to be brought into the CCSF VETS Office as soon as it is received by the student.

Thankfully, we have 3 School Certifying Officials at CCSF. Generally speaking, for new students and returning students it can take between four and five weeks. Students are encouraged to submit their Certification request as soon as they receive their priority registration date.

YES! Students are responsible for requesting certification EACH semester VA education benefits plan on being used, this does not happen automatically. Student Veterans MUST complete the Intake Form each semester for certification.

The VA requires that any time a student Veteran using educational benefits needs to inform the School Certifying Official (SCO) of these changes to their schedule for the semester. Student Veterans can do this by submitting the Veterans Services - Change in Enrollment Form (office.com).

The VA requires that veterans or depends using VA education benefits to maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher. Generally speaking, if a student veteran falls below a 2.0 GPA at CCSF they will have a HOLD on their account and not able to register for the following semester and are REQUIRED to sign a document with their Veterans Academic Counselor, referred to as a “GPA Letter” in order to be recertified for the following academic semester.

Contact the Department of veterans Affairs (VA) at 1-888-442-4551 or view a Summary of Education Benefits via va.gov and go to Education Benefits.

Contact the Department of Veteran Affairs at 1-888-GIBILL (1-888-442-4551) or
Visit www.gibill.va.gov and go to 1.) Questions and Answers or go to your 2.) If you are using Ch. 30 and or Ch. 1606 you will have a Wave Account (If you have not set one up, be sure to do so).

Yes! students using Ch. 30 and 1606 are responsible for verifying their own enrollment at the end of each month. Ch. 30 and 1606 students need to do this in order to receive benefit check for school attendance the previous month. Contact the VA Regional Processing Office each month by phone at 1-877-823-2378 or online at https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/.

At this time NO, out of state students who do not physically live in California are not permitted to take fully online or online courses with required on-site meetings at City College of San Francisco.

Federal regulation requires institutions offering distance education to acquire authorization from any U.S. state in which it “operates.” City College does not have the required permission for students from other states to take courses at City College. This permission is required to maintain eligibility for students of that state to receive federal financial aid.

Until further notice, City College is not filing for authorization to operate in other states. We recommend that out of state students seeking community college courses look for classes offered from an institution in their own state.

If you have been Certified for the semester and receive military orders, please contact the Admissions and Records Office (A&R). You will need to Request a Military Withdrawal (MW). You will need to email your request and orders to the A&R Office. Contact Credit Admissions:

Admission and Records Office
Ocean Campus, MUB 188
admit@ccsf.edu
415-239-3285

YES. Students are required get a Parent School Letter. They will need to complete a majority of their coursework at CCSF in order for the institution to approve certification as a Parent School. Listed below are the minimum number of units that must be taken at CCSF for each term. Summer term - register for 3 or more units; Fall/Spring term- register for 9 or more units.

“Primary School (Parent School) – The primary school is the school that will grant the degree a student is pursuing. Generally, the student will be enrolled at the primary school for the majority of the program of education.” Per the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs: School Certifying Official Handbook page 128.