February 2014

In order for attorneys to represent veterans with claims for benefits before the Veterans' Administration, attorneys must be accredited by the VA. To get accredited, you must submit Form 21a (http://www.va.gov/vaforms/va/pdf/VA21a.pdf) to the US Department of Veterans Affairs. You will receive written notification from the VA if you have been accredited. Within 12 months of your VA accreditation, you must take a qualifying 3-hr CLE course.

This program meets the VA's initial 3-hour training requirement - whether you take this program live, webcast, video replay, or via homestudy. Because VA's regulations require completion of qualifying CLE “during the first 12-month period following the date of initial accreditation by VA,” CLE courses taken before accreditation do not satisfy the requirements of 38 C.F.R. § 14.629(b). If you do not receive your VA accreditation notification prior to this Live Seminar on February 13, but wish to attend the Live or Live Webcast, you may still do so and we will provide you with a copy of the seminar for homestudy so that you may still meet VA accreditation requirements. To clarify, if you do not receive your written notification from the VA prior to the live program, but wish to attend the live program, you would still need to 'retake' the course via homestudy to satisfy VA requirements. In addition to the initial CLE requirement prescribed in section 14.629(b)(1)(iii), VA requires the completion of follow-up CLE not later than 3 years from the date of the initial accreditation and every 2 years thereafter. In complying with section 14.629(b)(1)(iv), follow-up CLE may be dedicated to any topic within the broad “veterans benefits law and procedure” category.

For General information about VA Accreditation, visit http:/www.va.gov/ogc/accreditation.asp

 

For more information about CLE requirements with the VA, visit http:/www.va.gov/ogc/accred_faqs.asp