What to Expect After Certification

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Certification Process

You must request certification for each term you intend to use your veteran’s educational benefits via CalCentral (My Dashboard> Student Resources > Submit a Form > VA Enrollment Certification Request).

Timing: The Veterans Benefits unit begins the certification process one to two months prior to the beginning of the semester to increase the likelihood that you will receive your benefits at the start of the semester.

To be certified for benefits, you must:

  • Have no active financial or enrollment holds on your account (viewable on the “My Academics” page of CalCentral).
  • Submit an enrollment certification request.

Note: Please promptly notify the Veterans Benefits unit at veteransbenefits@berkeley.edu if you withdraw, change programs/majors, or add or drop units. These changes require us to update your certification and may impact the level of benefits you receive. 

Additional Benefits Information

If You Receive a Not Passed or Unsatisfactory Grade

The VA will not pay benefits for classes in which you receive a grade of NP (Not Passed) or U (Unsatisfactory). Berkeley’s Veterans Benefits unit must report these grades to the VA, which will recalculate your benefits as though you were never enrolled in those classes and bill you for any resulting overpayment. 

  • Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill): If the reduction in units drops you below the full-time course load for the term, the VA will bill you for the difference in Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) between your earned units and those for which you were initially certified (for example, if you were certified for 12 units and received an NP in a 3 unit class, the VA will bill you for 25 percent of the BAH paid for the term).
  • Chapters 30, 35, 1606, 1607: If the reduction drops you below the full-time course load for the term, the VA will bill you for the difference between the stipend for your earned units and those for which you were initially certified (for example, if you were certified for 12 units and received an NP in a 3 unit class, the VA will bill you for 25 percent of the stipend paid for the term).
  • Chapter 31: Payments and any penalties are administered at the discretion of your case manager. If you receive NP/U grades, contact your case manager for information and guidance.  

VA Benefits for Summer Session

UC students may use federal VA benefits and/or the Cal Vet Fee Waiver for Summer Session. Visiting students may use VA benefits.

UC Berkeley Students

  • Request certification via CalCentral (MyDashboard > Student Resources > Submit a Form > VA Enrollment Certification Request).

Students Visiting from Other Institutions

  • Notify Veterans Benefits at veteransbenefits@berkeley.edu of your wish to use veteran’s benefits during Summer Session as soon as you have finalized your enrollment schedule.
  • Provide a Parent Institution Letter from your home campus.
  • Summer Session tuition and fees for students visiting from institutions other than another UC campus are not subsidized by the state and, therefore, are not covered by the Cal Vet fee waiver program.

All Students

  • If your enrollment changes, notify Veterans Benefits promptly at veteransbenefits@berkeley.edu.
  • Regardless of the number of units in which you enroll, using Federal Veterans Educational Benefits during the summer term will reduce your remaining months of eligibility.

Limited Benefits for Study Abroad, Visitor, and Exchange Programs

The California College Fee Waiver program (Cal Vet) may be applied to study abroad and visitor/exchange programs such as: 

  • UC Education Abroad Program 
  • UC Berkeley Washington, DC, Program
  • Haas International Exchange
  • Berkeley Study Abroad

Federal veterans’ educational benefits can no longer be applied to these types of programs due to recent policy changes by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Please contact us at veteransbenefits@berkeley.edu if you have any questions.

What to Do If Called to Active Duty

If you are called to active duty, contact us at veteransbenefits@berkeley.edu immediately and provide a copy of your orders. If you are a Reserve or National Guard member of the U.S. Armed Forces and are called to active duty for service other than your training commitment, or if you are on active duty while attending UC Berkeley and are deployed elsewhere, we will assist you to:

  • Withdraw with a refund of eligible tuition and fees paid out of pocket (funds paid by the VA need not be refunded).
  • Petition your faculty for Incomplete grades.
  • Apply for readmission without a fee.

Academic Progress Policy 

Standards of academic progress for students receiving VA educational benefits are exactly the same as those for all UC Berkeley students pursuing the same course of study.

  • Please consult the Academic Policies published in the Berkeley Academic Guide, paying particular attention to policies regarding Degree Progress, Probation and Dismissal, Grades, Graduation, and Repetition of Courses.
  • It’s important to also consult the policies published for your specific college, school, program office, or the Graduate Division. Regulations and procedures governing academic probation, dismissal, and eligibility to resume a course of study after dismissal vary by college, school, and graduate program. Please contact your college, school, program office, or the Graduate Division should you have questions.