Veteran Certification

Veteran Certification for MD, PA and Academic Nursing Students

The Office of Student Records is responsible for certifying to the Department of Veterans Affairs the enrollment of MD, PA and Academic Nursing Students at Wake Forest School of Medicine who are using Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits.

Documentation

The Office of Student Records requests a copy of a Certificate of Eligibility.

Eligibility for Certification

Students must be enrolled in a degree program and maintain satisfactory academic progress to continue to use their benefits.

Post 9/11 GI Bill®

Wake Forest School of Medicine complies with the requirements of section 3679 of Title 38, U.S. Code.   A student who has been admitted to a Wake Forest School of Medicine program and who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31, Veteran's Readiness and Employment, or chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits, is permitted to attend or participate in the course of education without making payment for tuition and fee amounts to be covered by the VA education benefits.  Such attendance or participation may begin on the date on which the student provides a VA
Certificate of Eligibility and end on the earlier of the following dates:

  1. The date on which payment from the VA is made to the School of Medicine.
  2. Ninety (90) days after the date the School of Medicine certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.

Students receiving VA educational benefits will be required to pay the difference between the amount owed on their student account and the amount of the VA education benefit disbursement within 10 days of the start of the term.

Wake Forest School of Medicine will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a student receiving Chapter 31 or 33 benefits borrow additional funds due to the delayed disbursement of funding from the VA.

Using VA Education Benefits

Questions about eligibility for benefits should be directed to the VA. 

Apply for benefits: 
While the application for VA benefits may begin while the student is in the process of applying to a School of Medicine program, students should be admitted to the program before submitting documents to the Office of Student Records.

  • Admitted students must receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA outlining the benefits and eligibility period and submit the COE to the Office of Student Records.  A screenshot of the eBenefits webpage or a VAF 28-1905 form for chapter 31 authorization purposes will also be accepted.
  • The COE can be submitted via email to: studentrecords@wakehealth.edu or delivered in-person to: 475 Vine Street, Winston Salem, NC 27101 or by U.S. Mail to PO Box 573183, Winston Salem, NC 27157

Shortly after receiving the COE, the Office of Student Records will conduct a review of documents needed for the student's VA file. Students will be notified by the Office of Student Records if they are responsible for providing any further documentation.

Important Links for Additional Information

Yellow Ribbon Program

The School of Medicine MD, Nurse Anesthesia, and PA programs have participated in the Yellow Ribbon Program since the 2016-2017 academic year.

To be considered for the Yellow Ribbon Program, student veterans must submit an application for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® to the VA and must be eligible at the 100% benefit level. The VA will issue you a Certificate of Eligibility advising that you are potentially eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Email your Certificate of Eligibility to the financial aid office at finaid@wakehealth.edu.

Once the Certificate of Eligibility is received, the financial aid office will determine if there are slots available for the Yellow Ribbon Program and will notify you whether you have been approved for the program.

If you are accepted into the Yellow Ribbon Program, the School of Medicine will provide contributions during your current academic year and all subsequent academic years in which:

  • The School of Medicine participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program.
  • You maintain satisfactory progress, conduct and attendance, and have eligibility remaining.

Yellow Ribbon recipients must remain continuously enrolled at the School of Medicine or they will need to reapply for the Yellow Ribbon program.

Students must be enrolled by the first day of classes. If a student has been accepted for participation in the Yellow Ribbon program and is not enrolled by the first day of classes, then participation will be considered void and the student will not be allowed to participate for that semester. The student will be required to reapply to the program for subsequent semesters.

Please note:

  • Only tuition and required fees are eligible for payment under the Yellow Ribbon Program.
  • Charges related to any other expense are not eligible.
  • The number of recipients is limited, and participants are awarded on a first come, first served basis. When the number of available slots has been filled, a wait list will be initiated.
  • Reimbursement under the Yellow Ribbon Program cannot exceed the total cost of assessed tuition and required fees.

Repayment of Yellow Ribbon Program funds: The School of Medicine may require repayment of some or all of Yellow Ribbon Program funds (depending on the applicable refund period) if a student drops any classes or withdraws from the School of Medicine. We will require repayment based on the Department of Veterans Affairs policies. If the VA requires repayment, then the School of Medicine will also require repayment. If the VA waives the repayment requirement, the student must provide documentation from the VA establishing repayment to the VA is not required.

VA Certification Contacts for School of Medicine Programs

Doctor of Medicine Program: Susan Pierce
Academic Nursing Program: Susan Pierce
Physician Assistant Program: Amy Simpson
Graduate School Programs: Susan Pierce