Getting Started Checklist - VA Benefits
The Getting Started Checklist includes all of the important information you need for your first semester at CCA. Get started early, though - some of these steps can take a significant amount of time to process!
Download of copy of the Basic Training Handbook to get started!
Getting Started Checklist
Find your passion. Earn your degree. Start your career. Use our Guided Pathways Quiz to discover the program and career that best fits your interests. Still unsure what to study? Contact Career Services at 303-340-7231.
If you are new to CCA or have been away from CCA for a year or more, you need to complete the online application for admission. There is no deadline or fee to apply.
CCA has an exciting tool that will help you manage your account and your progress towards graduation. Please login to your CCA Navigate account using the username and password you use to access your MyCCA account.
Have you previously completed college-level English or math courses? CCA will accept prior college transcripts showing successful completion of English and math courses.
VA requires that CCA review all prior college-level training. Students who have previously attended another college or who have military/ACE, AP, CLEP, DANTES, IB, or other college-level learning must submit official transcripts from all prior colleges and the military, as well as transcripts from test sources.
The College Opportunity Fund (COF) is a state stipend that reduces your tuition charges.
If you are a Colorado resident for tuition purposes and did not sign-up for COF through your admissions application, you can sign-up online. The COF application is free and can save you hundreds of dollars each semester on your tuition. This is a onetime application but you need to authorize COF each semester.
Honorably discharged veterans and their dependents who have lived in Colorado for less than one (1) year may qualify for COF under Colorado House Bill 1039 by submitting valid discharge papers. You may need to complete a paper application for benefits if you do not have a Colorado driver’s license.
Your college email account is the official method of communication at CCA, so it is extremely important that you activate your account and check it frequently. You will activate your email by logging in to your MyCCA account and clicking the “Student Email” link in the top right of the page. Instructions will be included in your Welcome letter from CCA.
Colorado law allows for many military-affiliated students (active duty, drilling Guard & Reserves, honorably discharged veterans, and qualifying dependents) to receive the in-state tuition rate. Submit the necessary documentation/paperwork to Admissions, Registration, & Records.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see if you are eligible for any kind of aid (grants, loans, work-study and scholarships). Financial Aid can take 4 – 6 weeks to process, so don’t delay!
If you’re using VA benefits, apply on the GI Bill® website. Choose from the following forms:
22-1990 if you have served in the military and are applying for education benefits for the first time.
22-1990e if a parent or spouse transferred their Post-9/11 GI Bill to you.
22-1990e if a parent or spouse transferred their Post-9/11 GI Bill to you.
22-1995 if you applied for benefits at another school and are transferring to CCA.
22-5490 if you are a dependent of a deceased or 100% disabled Veteran (spouse or child) applying for education benefits for the first time.
22-5495 if you are a dependent who applied for benefits at another school and are transferring to CCA.
22-5495 if you are a dependent who applied for benefits at another school and are transferring to CCA.
If you paid an additional $600 for a kicker you will need to provide proof of the kicker payment to VA to ensure payment.
Submit your Certificate of Eligibility (or other recent proof of benefits) and DD-214 (if applicable) and the Military & Veteran Services Intake Form for CCA’s records. If you are Selective Reserves or National Guard you need to supply a NOBE (Notice of Basic Eligibility), which you can get from your unit. Post-9/11 GI Bill recipients must have recent proof of benefits on record with CCA; you can get a Statement of Benefits from VA.
Before meeting with a Pathways Advisor, students must meet assessment requirements in the areas of math, reading and English. CCA can accept previous assessment tests scores or you can test on campus. CCA will accept ACT, SAT, CCPT, and Accuplacer scores as long as they are less than five years old. Students who graduated from High School within 18 months of enrollment can also complete the Pre-Assessment Questionnaire to find out if they qualify for testing exemptions.
Per VA regulations, VA will only pay toward pre-college math or English classes (below the 100-level) if the student does not assess into college-level classes.
After meeting assessment requirements, you are ready to meet with a Pathways Advisor. Your Advisor is here to help you select the right courses to complete your pathway of choice.
Login to your MyCCA account and register for courses from the Add/Drop courses link on the Dashboard or from CCA Navigate. Remember to print a copy of your schedule a few days before the semester begins to get updated room information.
The Request for VA Certification must be submitted each semester you want to use benefits. The Request serves as the notification to CCA that you want to use your benefits and authorizes CCA to release your information to VA. Early submission of the request is important so that CCA and the VA have plenty of time to process your information so that your payments will not be delayed.
Stop by the Welcome Center at the CentreTech Campus or Lowry Student Services to get your CCA Student ID card and your parking pass. Photo ID is required to get your Student ID.
Don’t lose your spot in your classes! Each semester, CCA publishes a tuition due-date in the Information Guide and Schedule of Classes. You must have your payment arrangements FINALIZED by this deadline to hold your spot in classes. CCA recommends that you complete a payment plan as soon as you register. Early signup allows you a small (or zero) down payment and spreads out your payments over several months. Financial Aid will only hold your spot in classes if you have received an award letter.
If you are receiving education benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill® or Veteran Readiness & Employment and have submitted a Request for VA Certification and have proof of benefits on record with CCA you do not need to make payment arrangements.
All other benefit chapters MUST have other arrangements to be held in classes, either a payment plan or approved financial aid. This includes the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty, Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserves, and Dependents' Educational Assistance.
Your next step to begin at CCA is to sign up for and attend a New Student Orientation. Orientation is a key step in setting you up for success. At orientation you will learn about what it is like to be a student at CCA, your path to your career, how to pay for college, and much more. First-time college students are required to attend orientation, but all students can benefit from attending!
Take your schedule to the bookstore to purchase your books. Buy your books before classes begin to be prepared.
A little more than a week after you register for classes, you can select your refund preference with BankMobile. For more information about BankMobile, visit the BankMobile Refund Choices page.
Required Documents
The Montgomery GI Bill® covers enlisted members of the U.S. Armed Services and can cover up to 36 months of education benefits, payable through a monthly stipend to the student. All Associate degree and certificate programs offered at CCA are approved under Chapter 30. Current pay rates are available on the GI Bill® website and more information is available at the Veterans Affairs Department website.
- Intake Form
- Official military transcripts
- Certification Request in MyCCA; you must be signed in to MyCCA before this link will work
- If you're classified as a non-resident for tuition purposes: Certificate of Eligibility OR DD-214, member copy 4
- Intake Form
- Submit Request for Change of Program or Place of Training if you previously used benefits at another college
- Official transcripts from all previous colleges and military transcripts
- Certification Request in MyCCA; you must be signed in to MyCCA before this link will work
- Certification Request in MyCCA; you must be signed in to MyCCA before this link will work
- Submit Degree or Certificate Change Form on Forms tab of MyCCA, under Registration & Records
- Certification Request in MyCCA; you must be signed in to MyCCA before this link will work
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® is effective beginning August 2009 and all Associate degree and certificate programs at CCA are approved under the GI Bill®. The benefit is available to servicemembers and veterans who served on active duty for at least 90 days after September 10, 2001 as well as certain spouses and children.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® expands upon previous GI Bills® by directly paying tuition and fees to schools, providing a books and supplies stipend, monthly housing allowance, and helps to pay for one-on-one tutorial assistance, among other benefits. For more information, visit the GI Bill® website.
Active duty servicemembers who are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® may elect to transfer their eligibility to their dependent spouses and/or children. For more information, visit the GI Bill® website.
In lieu of a Certificate of Eligibility, students using the Post-9/11 GI Bill can submit a Statement of Benefits.
- Intake Form
- Certificate of Eligibility
- If you have not yet received approval from VA, submit your DD-214 (member copy 4, showing Honorable Character of Service)
- Official military transcripts
- Certification Request in MyCCA; you must be signed in to MyCCA before this link will work
- Intake Form
- Certificate of Eligibility
- Submit Request for Change of Program or Place of Training if you previously used benefits at another college
- If you're classified as a non-resident for tuition purposes or have not : Certificate of Eligibility OR DD-214, member copy 4
- Official transcripts from all previous colleges and military transcripts
- Certification Request in MyCCA; you must be signed in to MyCCA before this link will work
- Certification Request through Military Benefits tab in MyCCA
- Submit Degree or Certificate Change Form on Forms tab of MyCCA, under Registration & Records
- Certification Request in MyCCA; you must be signed in to MyCCA before this link will work
Chapter 35: Dependents’ Educational Assistance
Dependents' Education Assistance is provided to spouses and children of veterans who have died or been totally and permanently disabled as a result of their service or who are declared missing in action, captured, forcibly detained, or interned in the line of duty. Dependents receive a monthly stipend, paid to the student. All Associate degree and certificate programs offered at CCA are approved under Chapter 35. Current pay rates are available on the GI Bill® website and more information is available on the Veterans Affairs Department Website.
- Intake Form
- Certification Request in MyCCA; you must be signed in to MyCCA before this link will work
- Intake Form
- Submit Request for Change of Program or Place of Training if you previously used benefits at another college.
- Official transcripts from all previous colleges
- Certification Request in MyCCA; you must be signed in to MyCCA before this link will work
- Certification Request in MyCCA; you must be signed in to MyCCA before this link will work
- Submit Degree or Certificate Change Form on Forms tab of MyCCA, under Registration & Records
- Certification Request in MyCCA; you must be signed in to MyCCA before this link will work
Veteran Readiness and Employment was created to help veterans with service-connected disabilities find and keep employment. Visit the Veteran Readiness & Employment website for more information. Eligibility is determined by a Veteran Readiness Counselor.
- Intake Form
- Veteran Readiness & Employment counselor must submit authorization to CCA
- Official military transcripts
- Certification Request in MyCCA; you must be signed in to MyCCA before this link will work
- Intake Form
- Veteran Readiness & Employment counselor must submit authorization to CCA
- Official transcripts from all previous colleges and military transcripts
- Certification Request in MyCCA; you must be signed in to MyCCA before this link will work
- Veteran Readiness & Employment counselor must submit authorization to CCA
- Certification Request in MyCCA; you must be signed in to MyCCA before this link will work
- Veteran Readiness & Employment counselor must submit authorization to CCA with the new program
- Submit Degree or Certificate Change Form on Forms tab of MyCCA, under Registration & Records
- Certification Request in MyCCA; you must be signed in to MyCCA before this link will work
Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserves
The Montgomery GI Bill® - Selected Reserve covers members of the Reserves for Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, as well as the Army National Guard and Air National Guard. Eligible members can receive up to 36 months of education benefits, payable through a monthly stipend to the student. All Associate degree and certificate programs offered at CCA are approved under Chapter 1606. Current pay rates are available on the GI Bill® website and more information is available at the Veterans Affairs Department Website.
- Intake Form
- If you're classified as a non-resident for tuition purposes or have not : Certificate of Eligibility OR DD-214, member copy 4
- Official military transcripts
- Certification Request in MyCCA; you must be signed in to MyCCA before this link will work
- Intake Form
- If you're classified as a non-resident for tuition purposes or have not : Certificate of Eligibility OR DD-214, member copy 4
- Submit Request for Change of Program or Place of Training if you previously used benefits at another college.
- Official transcripts from all previous colleges and military transcripts
- Certification Request in MyCCA; you must be signed in to MyCCA before this link will work
- Certification Request in MyCCA; you must be signed in to MyCCA before this link will work
- Submit Degree or Certificate Change Form on Forms tab of MyCCA, under Registration & Records
- Certification Request in MyCCA; you must be signed in to MyCCA before this link will work
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 Web site.
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