Getting started with the GI Bill
What should I do before my first term?
A pre-term checklist for new GI Bill students: eligibility paperwork, approved programs, degree-plan courses, course load, and cash flow.
Before your first term, get your Certificate of Eligibility, hand it to your school certifying official, register only for classes in your degree plan, and set up direct deposit on VA.gov. Then budget for the first payment to take a few weeks. This is the checklist I walk every new student through.
- Apply early and have your COE in hand. Your school cannot certify you without it.
- Confirm your program is VA-approved. You can check the school and program in the VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool.
- Meet your certifying official before the semester starts. Turn in your COE, any intake forms, and your request to certify.
- Register for courses required for your declared degree. Electives outside your degree plan cannot be certified.
- Check your course load. You need to be enrolled at more than half-time to receive the Post-9/11 housing allowance.
- Set up direct deposit on VA.gov. It is the fastest way to get paid.
- Plan your cash flow. The first payment usually arrives 4 to 6 weeks after your school certifies you, and housing is paid after each month of attendance, not before.
Once the term starts, keep your certifying official in the loop. Any add, drop, or withdrawal changes what we report to the VA, and quick reporting is what keeps you out of debt.