Applying for / Continuing Benefits

If you have never attended college, follow these steps so you can start using your VA education benefits.

This applies if you are a veteran benefit recipient (VBR) under Chapters 30, 31, 33, 35 and 1606.

1. Apply for VA Education Benefits.
2. Apply to PCC.
3. Set up your MyPima account and access the Veterans tab. This will allow you to monitor the status of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE), transcripts, Veteran Benefit Recipient (VBR) orientation, satisfactory academic progress, certification.
4. Request official transcripts

• from high schools you’ve attended, including AP/IB, DSST and CLEP information.
• your Joint Services/Military Transcripts.
• if applicable, a Community College of the Air Force transcript.

5. Attend a VBR orientation session, which is required to be certified for classes. Register in the MyPima Veterans tab.
6. Meet with a veterans advisor as soon as you receive your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to discuss how your academic goals can be supported with your veterans education benefits.  
7. Register for classes.
8. Submit a veteran certification worksheet. The worksheet is in the Veterans tab in MyPima.

Your veterans advisor will complete your MyDegreePlan document for all approved classes once you have submitted the certification worksheet.

If you received benefits at PCC during the last semester, follow these steps to continue your benefits.

1. Meet with a Veteran Advisor to review your Veterans Benefit Recipient (VBR) certification and discuss how your academic goals can be supported with your VA education benefits.  
2. Register for the courses that meet the objectives stated in your MyDegreePlan report.
3. Complete a new VA certification worksheet. It is available through your MyPima Veterans tab. You must submit a VA certification worksheet every semester.

Your Veteran Advisor will complete your MyDegreePlan for all approved classes once you have submitted the certification worksheet.

You are a returning student if you

• previously received benefits from Pima, but have not attended Pima for 3 consecutive semesters or more.
• have attended another institution since you last attended Pima.

Follow these steps to reactivate your benefits.

1. If you’ve used your VA benefits at another institution since you were last here, you will need to notify the VA that you are now at PCC.  VA Education Benefits.
2. Re-Apply to PCC.
3. Re-activate your MyPima account and access the Veterans tab. This will allow you to monitor status of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE), transcripts, Veteran Benefit Recipient (VBR) orientation, satisfactory academic progress, and certification.
4. Request any new or updated official transcripts that you haven't previously submitted:

• transcripts from high schools and colleges you’ve attended, including AP/IB, DSST and CLEP information.
• if applicable, a Joint Services/Military Transcripts.
• if applicable, a Community College of the Air Force transcript.

5. Attend a VBR orientation session if there is no Pima record that you have completed it. It is required to be certified for classes. Register in the MyPima Veterans tab.
6. Meet with a Veteran Advisor as soon as you receive your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to discuss how your academic goals can be supported with your VA education benefits.  
7. Register for classes.
8. Submit a veteran certification worksheet. The worksheet is in the Veterans tab in MyPima.

Your Veteran Advisor will complete your MyDegreePlan document for all approved classes once you have submitted the certification worksheet.