VA Certifying Specialist

Are you someone who strives for excellence, values accountability, provides the best service, all while reflecting unwavering integrity? Our talented team members across the state follow the behaviors, beliefs and outcomes of these core values to ensure that our vision is met.   If you're ready to join the TSTC family and make great memories please complete our application process.

Job DescriptionThe Veterans (VA) Certifying Specialist advises veterans, their dependents, and active-duty military personnel on the procedures for attaining and certifying Title 38 and state educational benefits. This role is responsible for certifying the enrollment status of veteran students, maintaining compliance with veteran program requirements, and serving as a liaison between the VA Programs Department and other departments. The Veterans Certifying Specialist ensures the accuracy and confidentiality of student records and provides on-site support to students.

Essential Functions: • Core Values Demonstration: Consistently embody TSTC Core Values (Excellence, Accountability, Service, and Integrity) when interacting with internal and external • Benefit Advising: Advise veterans, their dependents, and active-duty military on the procedures for attaining and certifying Title 38 and state educational benefits, ensuring they understand the enrollment processes and program eligibility requirements. • Certification and Compliance: 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. • Student Advising: Advise students on various topics, including enrollment processes, assessment of program eligibility, and review and correction of veteran forms or data to ensure compliance with state, federal, or local policies and procedures. • Knowledge Maintenance: Maintain current knowledge of all veterans’ educational programs, including laws and regulations impacting benefits or reporting requirements. Complete annual training requirements to remain eligible as a school certifying official. • Status Monitoring: Review and monitor the status of VA students for payments, enrollment, degree plans, or transfer credit eligibility to ensure accurate reporting to the Veteran Administration. • Collaboration and Liaison: Serve as an education benefits liaison statewide, collaborating with other departments to provide on-site or remote benefit advising. • Record Maintenance: Maintain student records, ensuring accuracy, integrity, and confidentiality to comply with federal, state, and institutional policies. • Reporting: 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, including federal audits. Competencies: • Benefit Advising: Proficiency in advising veterans and their dependents on educational benefits • Certification and Compliance: Skills in certifying enrollment status and ensuring compliance with veteran program requirements • Student Advising: Ability to advise students on enrollment processes and program eligibility • Regulatory Knowledge: Understanding of veterans’ educational programs, laws, and regulations • Status Monitoring: Skills in reviewing and monitoring student status for accurate reporting • Collaboration: Ability to collaborate with other departments to provide benefit advising • Record Maintenance: Proficiency in maintaining accurate and confidential student records • Reporting: Ability to compile data and prepare reports for compliance and auditing purposes

Education/Experience/Knowledge/Skills • Associate's Degree • 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 and additional 2 years military benefits/certification experience

Equal Opportunity Employer

Texas State Technical College (TSTC), as an equal opportunity employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination. TSTC is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Employment Eligibility Verification

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at TSTC.

Background Checks

A criminal history background check will be required for the finalist(s) under consideration for this position.