Getting Started as a VASCO

What is a VASCO?

A Veterans Affairs School Certifying Official (VASCO) is the designated individual at an educational institution responsible for certifying student enrollment and training time to the VA for education benefit purposes.

You are the critical link between your institution, students using VA benefits, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Core Responsibilities

• •Certify Enrollment: Report student enrollment, credit hours, and training time to the VA for each enrollment period
• •Monitor Changes: Report any changes to enrollment (drops, adds, withdrawals) within 30 days
• •Verify Eligibility: Ensure students have valid Certificates of Eligibility before certifying
• •Maintain Compliance: Follow VA regulations and respond to compliance surveys
• •Advise Students: Provide information about benefit usage, certification timelines, and school policies
• •Maintain Records: Keep accurate records of certifications, communications, and student files

Who You Will Work With

Step-by-Step Setup Checklist

1. 1

   Contact Your Regional ELR

   Your Education Liaison Representative (ELR) is your primary VA contact. They will guide you through the setup process.

   Find your ELR: Search "VA Education Liaison Representative" + your state

2. 2

   Complete Required VA Training

   The VA requires all new VASCOs to complete School Certifying Official (SCO) training. This covers regulations, responsibilities, and procedures.

   Training is available online through the VA and typically takes 4 to 6 hours

3. 3

   Request Enrollment Manager Access

   Enrollment Manager is the system you will use to certify student enrollment, and it is replacing the legacy VA-ONCE portal. Your ELR will provide the access request form and instructions. If your institution is mid-transition, see our Enrollment Manager migration hub for the pre-cutover checklist.

   Access typically granted within 1 to 2 weeks after training completion

4. 4

   Review Your School's Approved Programs

   Check WEAMS (Web Enabled Approval Management System) to see which programs at your school are approved for VA benefits.

   WEAMS search available at: inquiry.vba.va.gov/weamspub

5. 5

   Establish Internal Procedures

   Work with your registrar, financial aid, and IT departments to establish workflows for identifying VA students and accessing enrollment data.

   Document your processes for consistency and training future staff

6. 6

   Set Up Student Communication Process

   Determine how students will request certifications, submit documents, and receive updates. Email, student portal, or office hours.

   Clear communication channels prevent delays and student frustration

Basic Certification Workflow

1. 1

   Student Requests Certification

   Student provides COE and requests certification for the term

2. 2

   Verify Eligibility

   Check COE, confirm program is VA-approved in WEAMS

3. 3

   Gather Enrollment Data

   Pull credit hours, program info, expected graduation date from SIS

4. 4

   Calculate Training Time

   Determine if student is full-time, 3/4, 1/2, or less than 1/2 time

5. 5

   Submit in Enrollment Manager

   Complete VA Form 22-1999 with all required information

6. 6

   Monitor and Report Changes

   Track student throughout term, report any drops/adds within 30 days

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