USC Veterans Certification Office
Essential Forms
Related Departments

The Veterans Certification Office is unavailable for in-person contact at this time, however, we continue to offer email and virtual meeting support for any of your VA benefit related questions and needs. Please email us at vets@usc.edu.

How to File

Requirements

Applicants must be admitted and enrolled at USC. However, if they are not admitted to USC, they must be admitted to another institution and be registered for a course or courses at USC. In such cases, joint (concurrent) certification is processed with the other school. Graduate students are allowed one year of enrollment before they are required to be fully admitted. Undergraduates must be fully admitted before filing.

Filing Procedures

All VA forms for first-time applicants, continuing students, and transfer students can be obtained online.

Students who wish to receive educational assistance must complete the online Application for Semester Entitlement (ASE) form each semester after class registration. The USC Veterans Certification Office will not certify students without a recent request on file.

Processing applications takes the Veterans Administration approximately six (6) to eight (8) weeks. After the USC Veterans Certification Office submits your paperwork to the Veterans Administration, you can expect a check for the current enrollment to arrive at the location designated in the address section of the ASE form six (6) to eight (8) weeks later. Thereafter, checks will arrive at the beginning of each month for the previous month. After you have been certified, questions concerning payment should be directed to the Veterans Administration at 1-888-GIBILL-1.

Required Forms For First-Time Applicants

  • VA APPLICATION FORM (VA 22-1990). For new applicants under VA programs: Chapter 30, 32, 33, 1606 and 1607 (eligible veterans).
  • VA APPLICATION FORM (VA 22-5490). For new applicants under VA program: Chapter 35 (eligible dependents of veterans).
  • VA APPLICATION FORM (VA 22-1990E). For transfer of entitlement under VA program: Chapter 33 (eligible dependents of veterans).
  • VA AUTHORIZATION FORM (VA 28-1905). For Vocational Rehabilitation under VA program: Chapter 31 (form must be submitted by VA Case Manager).

After class registration, first-time applicants must submit the following items:  

  1. Completed online ASE form (each semester).
  2. Copy of the VA Online Application submission or Statement of Benefits (Non – Ch. 31 recipients):
    • Questions? Please call 888-GIBILL-1.
    • Upload your PDF document here.
  3. Copy of the VA certificate of eligibility (Non – Ch. 31 recipients):
    • Required for Yellow Ribbon applicants, military service end date and 100% Post 9/11 eligibility rate needed for award consideration (children of active service members may qualify).
    • The certificate will be mailed by the VA directly to the student in response to the VA Online Application.
    • Upload your PDF document here.

      *Please do not email VA documents.

Please note:
The Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Ch. 33) is capped annually at private institutions such as USC, therefore, various programs of study participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. The items listed above are all needed from Yellow Ribbon applicants should the award be available in your program of study.

Vocational Rehabilitation recipients (Ch. 31), items 2 and 3 are not required. Benefit eligibility questions? Please call 800-827-1000. Need benefit approval advocates? Click here.

ASE Forms Required for All Continuing Students

Each semester, continuing students who wish to claim VA education benefits must complete the online Application for Semester Entitlement. The USC Veterans Certification Office certifies enrollment for past semesters, up to one year. Certification for future semesters is not available.

Adding or Changing Major or Degree Objective

If you are new to USC and have received VA educational benefits at another school or are attending USC, under the GI Bill, and are adding or changing a major or degree objective, you must complete and sign the appropriate form below through the VA Online Application system and upload a PDF copy of the submission confirmation here.

Required Forms

  • VA REQUEST FOR CHANGE OF PROGRAM OR PLACE OF TRAINING (VA 22-1995). For applicants under VA programs: Chapter 30, 32, 33, 1606 and 1607 (eligible veterans).
  • VA REQUEST FOR CHANGE OF PROGRAM OR PLACE OF TRAINING (VA 22-5495). For applicants under VA program: Chapter 35 (eligible dependents of veterans).

Questions or comments? askUSC.