Veterans Affairs Certification of Eligibility

This is the MOST important document that you, the student, must obtain.  Without it, the VA will not pay a thing.  This is NOT the transfer of eligibility the veteran performed months to years ago.  It is a separate notification to the VA that you now intend on using the GI Bill ® benefit.  If you are a family member, you must wait until your 18th birthday to submit a request for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

• How do I obtain my COE?

  You must go to the www.vets.gov website and click the button that says “Apply for education benefits.”  Ensure you have a mailing address, bank account and routing information, veteran SSN, student SSN (if not the same person), etc.  You will be taken to a page that is entitled “How to Apply for Education benefits.”  If you have all the aforementioned data, then scroll down until you can click on the “Find Your Education Benefits Form.”  It will ask you a series of questions, that when properly answered, will then take you to the correct form to complete.  You should take a screen shot of the confirmation page upon completing all the fields and print it out.  Bring that in with you to the ETSU Veterans Affairs office along with a copy of the Veterans Member 4 DD-214.
• I am transferring in to ETSU from another school at which I used GI Bill ® benefits…must I obtain a new COE?

  Yes.  Go to the www.vets.gov website, and go to the point where you “Find Your Education Benefits Form.”  At the first question, select that you are “Updating my current education benefits.”  Answer everything else and you will be taken to the form “Change of Program or Place.”  This will generate a new COE for ETSU.
• I am changing my academic major and will use GI Bill ® benefits…must I obtain a new COE?

  Yes.  Go to the www.vets.gov website, and go to the point where you “Find Your Education Benefits Form.”  At the first question, select that you are “Updating my current education benefits.”  Answer everything else and you will be taken to the form “Change of Program or Place.”  Update everything accordingly, and input your new academic major.  This will generate a new COE for ETSU.
• How long does it generally take for the VA to issue me a COE?

  Anywhere from 10-30 days.  The COE will confirm/deny whether you have a GI Bill ® benefit, and in cases where you are eligible for more than one Chapter, it will recommend the one to use.  If you disagree with their finding, there is an appeal process identified as part of the packet which is mailed to the address you listed on the www.vets.gov form.