Enrolling at Hudson Valley Using VA Education Benefits

If you are looking to utilize VA benefits at Hudson Valley Community College, please review and follow the appropriate steps below.
NOTE: If you used VA Benefits at Hudson Valley Community College last semester, some steps might not apply to you.

Apply for Admission

If you have not done so already, you should complete an application for admission at the college.

NOTES:

• Only students that are admitted into a degree program or certificate program at Hudson Valley and are considered "degree-seeking" by the VA will be considered for certification of enrollment with the VA.
• Under certain circumstances, a student can be considered for certification with the VA as a non-matriculated student. Please contact a School Certifying Official (SCO) in the Registrar’s Office if you are considering this option.

Complete an Application for Admission

Receive Hudson Valley Username & Password

After acceptance to the college, you will receive your username and password needed to access the various student computer systems (HVCC Email, WIReD, etc.) If you need assistance in obtaining your username and password, please contact the Registrar’s Office.

Apply for VA Benefits

Chapter 30, 33, 1606 & 35

If you have never utilized a VA benefit, haven’t attended HVCC and utilized a VA benefit in the last year, or attended another institution in the last year, you will need to Apply for education benefits with the VA to utilize your VA benefits at Hudson Valley for the upcoming semester.

NOTE: When you are completing the VA benefits application, be sure to you are completing the appropriate form based on your entitlement. We have provided a list of forms that will populate in the VA application for reference below.

A student that has never utilized a VA benefit should be completing one of the following in the VA application:

• Chapter 30, 33, and 1606 Benefits – VA Form 22-1990
• Chapter 33 (Fry Scholarship) and Chapter 35 – VA Form 22-5490
• Chapter 33 – Post-9/11 Transferred to student – VA Form 22-1990e

A student that hasn’t utilized a VA benefit at HVCC in more than one year or attended another institution in the last year should complete a “Request for Change of Program or Place of Training” form indicated below with the VA

• Chapter 30, 33, and 1606 Benefits – VA Form 22-1995
• Chapter 33 (Fry Scholarship) and Chapter 35 – VA Form 22-1995
• Chapter 33 - Post-9/11 Transferred to Student – VA Form 22-1995

Once your electronic VA application is completed, you will be provided with a confirmation number that you will need to submit to the college via a screenshot/image. Please submit the screenshot/image to the SCO by uploading it via the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) & Statement of Benefits Submission form or in-person with a photo ID.

Once the VA application is completed, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility from the VA in approximately 30 days and a copy of this form should be provided to an SCO via the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) & Statement of Benefits Submission form or in-person with a photo ID.

Apply for Benefits with the VA

Chapter 31 - Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)

To utilize Chapter 31 benefits at Hudson Valley, you will need to apply for education benefits with the VA and complete VA Form 28-1990.

After the application is submitted to the VA, the VA will contact you to determine your eligibility with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC). If you are eligible, an educational plan will be discussed, and the VRC will provide Hudson Valley with a Purchase Order authorizing the student to attend a training program, and the SCO at HVCC to certify courses compliant with it.

NOTE: Your Purchase Order from the VRC will act in place of a VA Tuition Deferral. VA Tuition Deferrals aren’t offered to Chapter 31 recipients.

Apply for Veteran Readiness and Employment

Registering for Course(s)

Students admitted into a degree program or certificate program at HVCC will need to contact their academic advisement office to register for courses.

Please remember that under most circumstances, only courses that are degree applicable and needed for a student’s program will be certified with the VA. If you or your advisor have any questions regarding course registration and the certification process with the VA, please reach out to a School Certifying Official in the Registrar’s Office.

Apply for Aid and Scholarships

Depending on your VA benefits, you may be eligible for additional assistance through Federal and State Aid.

Additionally, the Recruitment Incentive & Retention Program (RIRP) is a New York State program designed to recruit and retain members for the State Military Forces (Army, Air National Guard and Naval Militia). This competitive program will pay the cost of tuition up to SUNY tuition rates per semester. 

Learn more about aid and scholarships

Confirm Registration/Tuition Bill

Once you have scheduled you classes and the college posts charges to your account, you will receive a tuition bill. To secure your classes for the upcoming semester and defer your bill payment until benefits are paid by the VA, you will need to complete a VA Tuition Deferral form.

VA Tuition Deferral Form - coming soon!

About the Certificate of Residence

In order to qualify for in-state tuition rates, students generally must have a valid Certificate of Residence on file with the college's Cashier's Office.

The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (VACAA) mandates that public colleges and universities charge qualifying veterans and their dependents in-state tuition rates.

This means that you may not be obligated to submit a Certificate of Residence (COR) in order to be charged in-state tuition. However, we would like to kindly request your consideration in doing so. Please note that this is a request and not a requirement. Your decision to submit a COR will not impact your tuition status or your educational experience at Hudson Valley. 

We deeply appreciate your service and your contribution to our college community. If you have any questions or need assistance with the COR, please contact a SCO in the Registrar's Office or the Veterans Resource & Outreach Center (VETROC) to discuss.

Submit a COR

About the Certification Process

The college makes every attempt to certify all VA benefits approximately 30 days before classes begin.

For students receiving Chapter 33 benefits to be compliant with the VA regulation of "zero tuition and fees” certification, your first certification will include hours certified and tuition and fees reported as $0.00. A second certification will be submitted to the VA after the add/drop period for the enrollment period, which will include associated tuition and fees.