- Apply for Admissions at California Community Colleges Online Application Center ^ (CCC Apply).
- Guided Self-Placement
- Register and complete an Orientation Session:Orientation Options
- Complete and submit the following Veteran’s Educational Benefits Packet to any of the school certifying officials below. You may also request information about additional financial aid and scholarships. VA Benefits are determined and awarded through the Department of Veteran Affairs. Apply for benefits at .
- Meet with a VA counselor for a 30 minute guidance appointment at (408) 741-2009 and then register for classes.
- Continuing students must complete and submit the VA Educational Benefits Request Form every semester and submit to your Certifying Official in the Financial Aid Office located in the Student Service Center.
- Be sure your new classes match your educational plan! To update your educational plan, schedule an appointment with a Veterans Counselor.
- VRC Drop-In Counseling appointments are available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM through the fall semester.
- Call the VRC Welcome Desk: (408) 741-2158
- Continuing students who have received VA Educational Benefits at a previous college must complete the Change of School Form 22-1995 through the and submit with your official transcripts to any of the school certifying officials below.
For additional information please contact:
![Melissa Ceresa](/faculty/_files/ceresa-melissa/539143_10200848471722239_646513364_n.jpg)
Melissa Ceresa
Veterans Resource Center
Program Specialist & VA School Certifying Official
(408) 741-4694
[email protected]
Campus Center VRC
The ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼VRC takes 2-3 weeks to process VA Certification. After West Valley submits the certification, the VA Office takes approximately 3-6 weeks to process claims.
Educational Benefits
for eligible veterans includes a monthly educational allowance and a tutorial allowance.
The provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website:
Monthly Rates and Equivalency
Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill®)
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website:
Other Chapters
Chapter 30, Chapter 35 (Survivors & Dependents) and Chapter 1606 (Reserves), please visit the VA website to see your specificEquivalency Chart
Use the chart below to determine semester equivalency in regards to payment.
Units ? |
15+ wk |
14 wk |
13 wk |
12 wk |
11 wk |
10 wk |
9 wk |
8 wk |
7 wk |
6 wk |
5 wk |
4 wk |
3 wk |
2 wk |
1 wk |
12+ | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT |
11 | ¾ | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT |
10 | ¾ | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT |
9 | ¾ | ¾ | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT |
8 | ½ | ¾ | ¾ | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT |
7 | ½ | ¾ | ¾ | ¾ | ¾ | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT |
6 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ¾ | ¾ | ¾ | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT |
5 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ¾ | ¾ | ¾ | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT |
4 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ¾ | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT | FT |
3 | ¼ | ¼ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ¾ | ¾ | FT | FT | FT | FT |
2 | ¼ | ¼ | ¼ | ¼ | ¼ | ¼ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ¾ | FT | FT | FT |
1 | ¼ | ¼ | ¼ | ¼ | ¼ | ¼ | ¼ | ¼ | ¼ | ¼ | ¼ | ½ | ½ | ¾ | FT |
FT | = Full-time |
¾ | = ¾ time |
½ | = ½ time |
¼ | = ¼ time |
Priority Registration
¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼Student Veterans currently receiving GI Bill® benefits under any of the following chapters do not need to self-report and will automatically receive priority registration: Chapter 30, 31, 33, 1606, 1607 and VRAP.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website:
¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼Students Veterans not receiving GI Bill® benefits must self-report to be considered for priority registration.
Requirements:
- Have a current Application for Admission on file at West Valley College
- Completed Assessment Test
- Attended Orientation
- Veterans: must submit a copy of their DD Form 214 (Member-4 copy, with an honorable, a general, or other than honorable discharge) to the Office of Veterans Services and request priority registration
- Active duty or state reservist: must show their military ID to the Office of Veterans Services
*NOTE: You must request priority registration with your Certifying Official in the Financial Aid Office located in the Student Service Center at least one month prior to registration for the next academic term.
New GI Bill® Overview
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website:
The new GI Bill® (Chapter 33) or so-called 'Post 9/11 GI Bill®,' boasts the most comprehensive education benefits package since the original GI Bill® was signed into law in 1944. This new benefit does not go into effect until August 1, 2009.
Many post 9/11 veterans and service members will soon see a new package of education benefits. This new Post 9/11 GI Bill®, or so-called GI Bill® for the 21st Century, boasts the most comprehensive education benefits package since the original GI Bill® was signed into law in 1944.
The new bill goes well beyond helping to pay for tuition; many veterans who served after Sept. 11, 2001, will get full tuition and fees, a new monthly housing stipend, and a $1,000 a year stipend for books and supplies. The new bill also gives Reserve and Guard members who have been activated for more than 90 days since 9/11 access to the same GI Bill® benefits.
The following links to the New GI Bill® Overview on provides a quick reference to answer the following questions you may have about Senator Webb's Post 9/11 GI Bill®.
- When will these new benefits go into effect?
- How do I apply for the new benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®?
- Am I Eligible?
- How much will I get for Tuition?
- What is the Monthly Stipend for Housing?
- How much is the book stipend?
- Do the benefits expire?
- Does it cover Licensing and Certification?
- Does it cover tutorial assistance?
- Can I transfer this benefit to my dependents?
- How does it compare to the Montgomery GI Bill®?
- Is there an enrollment fee?
- How does it affect my current GI Bill® eligibility?
- How do the two GI Bill® programs compare and what should I consider when choosing the right program for me?
- Additional FAQs