My personal experience...

I took the test on July 27, 2021. I received notice by email I passed on August 5, 2021.

If you are unfamiliar with the acronyms used by the VA and in this website, this link may help:

https://www.howvadisabilityratingswork.com/resources/acronyms-terms

I initially applied on January 15, 2020 by fax. That is 18 months after I applied and that seems to be the current standard time wait. From that point I contacted the OCG in March 2020 to ensure the application was received as complete.  Response was that it was received. Next as an inquiry as to the status in September 2020. No response. In March 2021 I was informed by

email that the background investigation had started. I answered a few questions regarding affiliation with the VFW. Remember that this process was right in the middle of the COVID pandemic. My point is the length of wait may vary. NOTE: If waiting for an email from the OGC about the test, make sure you watch your ‘junk’ email as the notifications may be going to there.

On July 1, 2021 I was informed that I could sit the test on July 27, 2021. If I chose to not do an online test I could wait for in-person testing to resume. I got the feeling that would be a long wait and had no issues with an online test scenario. We now have indications that there will no longer be in-person testing for Agents.

Previous to 2020, the test was administered at the local Regional Office (RO) as a closed book 27 question, paper test. With the advent of COVID-19 and the ROs being closed to the public and employees working from home, the OGC developed an online version of the test. Still closed book, the test is now 40 questions. You must get 75% correct. That means you must answer 30 of the 40 questions correctly. Once you select the answer and go to the next question you cannot go back to review.

You will be asked to show your workspace on video prior to the start. No phones, study materials, or other electronic devices. You cannot have others in the room with you. You have

60 minutes to complete the exam. You will need to turn down your speaker volume so others won’t disturb you. The proctor will need to listen to your side so don’t turn off your microphone or video. You cannot have a background effect on. I kept a blank writing pad available in case I needed to do any calculations for rating percentages.

You will be using MS Teams for the test. This can be done using the link supplied so you do not need to install prior to the test. The link will be in the email explaining the rules and the test situation. This can be a free download or web based. You will see others logged in and they will see you.  Have your ID ready but I did not need to use it. You will be able to speak to the proctor or text the proctor. I found it easier to text on screen so as to not disturb others or have people talking over each other. Have the 5 digit Applicant ID from the email ready and the state you are working from. The session will be recorded.

You will be asked to copy a link to be placed into a browser. The link is ‘Live Assessments (VBA Training.org). and will be presented by the proctor on screen in the Teams chat box. Follow the on-screen instructions. Click the ‘Begin Here’ green button.  And, now you are off to the races.

 The actual test is a selection of a multitude of questions available for testing. Subsequent tests show that the test questions will be rotated at random so what questions you get may not be the same questions others will get in subsequent test cycles.

Question subjects as I remember. Certainly not complete and in no particular order. By reading this you can see the test is very comprehensive. In addition, while the questions are not really

‘tricky’ you must read the question and not ‘read into it’. Go with your first instinct. Do not over think and trust that you did study and your brain knows what it is doing.

This is not secret as many sample tests are out there. Again, as best as I can remember, these are the subjects of my test on July 2021.

• Reasonable fees

• VA Secretary duties

• Adjustments to a rating based on change in law

• Deadlines and times of evidence submission for filing

• Benefit of the doubt

• Types of service connection

• When can you charge fees as an agent

• Rules on favorable findings

• Evidence submitted to the AOJ on legacy appeals

• Time frames on HLRs and supplemental claims

• CAVC jurisdiction

• 5, 10, 20 year rules

• CAVC time frames after VBA decision

• Pension effective dates

• Effective date of dependent education benefits

• Effective dates

• Apportionment

• Pension versus compensation

• Order of receipt of death benefits

• Qualifier for dependent child

• Pre-existing condition prior to entry.

• CLE requirements

• Clothing allowance

• Withdrawal as representative

• Presumption of soundness

• Time limits on legacy appeals

• Nehmer rules

• Definition of disability impairments with regard to earning capacity

• Date of reductions

• FTCA/1151 claims

• Who can be accredited

 When I studied for the Agent test, I found the study instructions a bit overwhelming.

From the VA website  Accreditation, Discipline, & Fees Program - Office of General Counsel (va.gov) The topics which may be covered on the examination include compensation and pension programs, claim procedures, appeals, agents’ fees, and waiver of indebtedness. We recommend studying title 38, United States Code, chapters 1, 11, 13, 15, 51, 53, 59, 71, and 72, and title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, parts 1, 3, 4, 14, 19, and 20. The questions on the claims agent examination are primarily based on information which can be found in these statutes and regulations.

LINK for the above:  https://www.va.gov/ogc/accreditation.asp

In order to study for the test, you can read all those USC and CFR chapters. I found that by using the available questions and answers, I could get those questions but there is a lot of ground to cover with VA claims and appeals. By going through the questions, I found that actually looking for the answer to that specific question was more effective simply because in order to find the answer, I had to skim or read the adjacent entries.

For myself, the effectiveness of this style of study has held me in good stead from high school, college and the military. I hope this will help you in your quest to become an accredited VA Claims Agent!

Instructions: Read the question. If you know the answer, great and move on. Or…what I did was even if I knew the answer, I wanted to see what else was in that entry in the USC or CFR.

That is why you will see one or two links accompanying the questions. The link goes to the entry with the answer. As you read, you will pick up on other aspects of the information.

Online Training, Responsibility, Involvement and Preparation of Claims (T.R.I.P.) training.

Anyone can do this. You do not need to be a VSO or an agent.

I did this prior to the Agent test, and I found the training to be kind of generic. But this will give an inkling of online testing. This also gives a very good overview of the VA and the three administrations.

These have training modules (18) with quizzes after each.

At the end you will take the overall test to get your certificate.

There is a printable PDF version here . 

This is where to register for the exam.

Once started you will have 3 months to complete if you choose to.

https://trip.learnupon.com/