What does a VASCO actually do?

A VASCO (VA School Certifying Official) is the person at a school who reports student enrollment, credit hours, and training time to the VA so that education benefits can be paid. When I explain the role to new colleagues, I put it simply: the VA pays from the numbers we certify, so accuracy and timing are the whole job.

The core responsibilities

• Certify enrollment for each term, including credits, dates, and tuition where the chapter requires it.
• Report changes such as drops, adds, and withdrawals promptly, within 30 days of the change.
• Confirm each student has a Certificate of Eligibility and is in a VA-approved program before certifying.
• Keep records that will stand up to a compliance survey.
• Advise students on how certification, payment timing, and their enrollment choices affect benefits.

Who you work with

Inside the school, I lean on the registrar, financial aid, the bursar, academic advisors, and IT. Outside the school, my main contacts are our Education Liaison Representative (ELR), the State Approving Agency (SAA), VR&E counselors for Chapter 31 students, and of course the students themselves.