A School Certifying Official (SCO) is a school employee who is authorized to certify enrollment information for students using VA education benefits. The SCO serves as the school's official point of contact with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for education benefit certifications.
The SCO's role is to ensure that your enrollment information is accurately reported to the VA so your education benefits can be processed.
Responsibilities of a School Certifying Official
An SCO typically:
- Certifies student enrollments for VA education benefits.
- Reports enrollment changes to the VA.
- Reports tuition and fees when required.
- Maintains required certification records.
- Communicates with the VA regarding certifications.
- Assists students with questions about the certification process.
- Ensures enrollment certifications are accurate and submitted in a timely manner.
What an SCO does not do
An SCO does not determine your eligibility for VA education benefits and cannot approve or deny benefit claims. The SCO's responsibility is to report your enrollment information to the VA.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is solely responsible for:
- Determining eligibility for VA education benefits.
- Processing education benefit claims.
- Calculating benefit amounts.
- Approving or denying education benefits.
- Issuing benefit payments.
If you have questions about your eligibility or benefit decisions, contact the VA directly, as only the VA can make those determinations.
