Certified Veterans Advocate (CVA) Course

Certified Veterans Advocate (CVA) is an advanced training certification course designed for NACVSO-Accredited Veteran Service Officers. The CVA Program will provide a high-level skill set unique to a CVSO to assist a claimant beyond the point of filing claims and/or Supplemental Claims or Higher Level Reviews. The CVA training will also cover more complex and comprehensive claims. The goal of the CVA certification is to enable NACVSO-Accredited CVSOs to analyze VA Benefit Decisions and strategize the best course of action for the claimant.  In order to qualify as a Certified Veterans Advocate, CVSOs must pass a rigorous final exam and have a strong working knowledge of the subject matter in the NVLSP Veterans Benefits Manual.  Quite simply, CVA graduates are elite County Veteran Service Officers.  CVA courses are offered at the conference (in-person) and in December.

Cost - $200
June 3-4, 2023, in-person at the annual conference

DATE ALERT - This is the Saturday & Sunday before the conference

December 7-8, 2023 (virtual)

CVA OVERVIEW

Certified Veterans Advocate (CVA) is an advanced training certification course designed for NACVSO-Accredited Veteran Service Officers. The CVA Program will provide a high-level skill set unique to a CVSO to assist a claimant beyond the point of filing claims and/or Supplemental Claims or Higher Level Reviews. The CVA training will also cover more complex and comprehensive claims. The goal of the CVA certification is to enable NACVSO-Accredited CVSOs to analyze VA Benefit Decisions and strategize the best course of action for the claimant.

In order to qualify as a Certified Veterans Advocate, CVSOs must pass a rigorous final exam and have a strong working knowledge of the subject matter in the NVLSP Veterans Benefits Manual. Quite simply, CVA graduates are elite County Veteran Service Officers.

You will be notified of your CVA status once your application, references, and essay are reviewed. If accepted into the program, an invoice will be sent.

Returning CVA candidates and graduates - simply upload a document stating "returning CVA candidate or graduate" in all required upload fields. There is no course fee for your ongoing attendance in the CVA program. Registration IS REQUIRED to ensure you receive all communications.

PRE-REQUISITES

Must have 5 years experience in Veterans Benefits.
Must hold NACVSO accreditation for a minimum of three years.
Must have a PIV Card for VA Systems Access. To get your PIV card, please contact your local Regional Office. If you are having difficulty getting your PIV card, please email kshalloo@nacvso.org.
Complete NACVSO Advanced Appeals course prior to CVA examination.

CVA COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Complete a total of 27 hours of formal training which will be offered twice a year - at the NACVSO Annual Conference and virtually in December. 9 hours of CVA training will be offered at each CVA course. Attendees will be granted CEU credit. CVA candidates must attend 3 CVA courses within a 5-year period.

2. Exhibit thorough knowledge of VA claims representation in all entitlement areas by:
Completing an examination with a minimum score of 80%.

CVA candidates that are eligible to take the final exam need a copy of the NVLSP Veterans Benefits Manual, either print or electronic. A practice exam/study guide will be made available 2 weeks prior to the CVA session. It is highly recommended that candidates utilize that time to study for the exam.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW CANDIDATES:

Briefly explain in essay format your reasons for seeking the professional designation of “Certified Veterans Advocate (CVA)”. Please include how your completion of this program will benefit your claimants. The essay should be 500 to 750 words long; you may attach an additional page if this space is not sufficient to concisely express your thoughts. Please include your Essay with this application.

Please provide a minimum of two Letters of Recommendation describing why you are an ideal candidate for the advanced CVA program.

*** Application fee is a one-time charge. If you have already paid, you DO NOT need to pay again.

Applications will be accepted after July 1, 2023