VA Certifying Specialist

Texas State Technical College - Harlingen, TX

Full-time - Mid Level

Hybrid - Harlingen, TX

Educational Services

About the position

The Veterans (VA) Certifying Specialist at Texas State Technical College (TSTC) plays a crucial role in advising veterans, their dependents, and active-duty military personnel on the procedures for attaining and certifying Title 38 and state educational benefits. This position is responsible for certifying the enrollment status of veteran students, ensuring compliance with veteran program requirements, and acting as a liaison between the VA Programs Department and other departments within the college. The specialist must maintain the accuracy and confidentiality of student records while providing on-site support to students seeking assistance with their educational benefits. In this role, the specialist will consistently embody TSTC's core values of Excellence, Accountability, Service, and Integrity when interacting with both internal and external stakeholders. The position requires advising veterans and their families on the processes for obtaining educational benefits, ensuring they understand the enrollment processes and eligibility requirements for various programs. The specialist will also be responsible for certifying the enrollment status of veteran students, spouses, and dependents to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, submitting any changes in program or enrollment status within the required timeframe to comply with veteran program requirements. Additionally, the specialist will maintain current knowledge of all veterans' educational programs, including relevant laws and regulations that impact benefits or reporting requirements. This includes completing annual training to remain eligible as a school certifying official. The role involves monitoring the status of VA students for payments, enrollment, degree plans, or transfer credit eligibility to ensure accurate reporting to the Veteran Administration. Collaboration with other departments is essential to provide comprehensive benefit advising, and the specialist will maintain student records to ensure accuracy, integrity, and confidentiality in compliance with federal, state, and institutional policies. Reporting responsibilities include compiling data and preparing special or recurring reports for supervisors or other departments as needed, including for federal audits.

Responsibilities

• Advise veterans, their dependents, and active-duty military on the procedures for attaining and certifying Title 38 and state educational benefits.
• Certify the enrollment status of veteran students, spouses, and dependents to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
• Submit any changes in program, enrollment, or status within 30 days to comply with veteran program requirements.
• Advise students on various topics, including enrollment processes, assessment of program eligibility, and review and correction of veteran forms or data.
• Maintain current knowledge of all veterans' educational programs, including laws and regulations impacting benefits or reporting requirements.
• Review and monitor the status of VA students for payments, enrollment, degree plans, or transfer credit eligibility.
• Serve as an education benefits liaison statewide, collaborating with other departments to provide on-site or remote benefit advising.
• Maintain student records, ensuring accuracy, integrity, and confidentiality to comply with federal, state, and institutional policies.
• Assist in maintaining student records and files for reporting purposes; compile data and prepare special or recurring reports for supervisors or other departments as requested.

Requirements

• Associate's Degree or exceptional experience may be considered in lieu of educational requirements.
• 1-3 years in VA certification or a related field.
• 2 years military experience or an additional 2 years military benefits/certification experience.

Nice-to-haves

• Proficiency in advising veterans and their dependents on educational benefits.
• Skills in certifying enrollment status and ensuring compliance with veteran program requirements.
• Ability to advise students on enrollment processes and program eligibility.
• Understanding of veterans' educational programs, laws, and regulations.
• Skills in reviewing and monitoring student status for accurate reporting.
• Ability to collaborate with other departments to provide benefit advising.
• Proficiency in maintaining accurate and confidential student records.
• Ability to compile data and prepare reports for compliance and auditing purposes.