Under 38 C.F.R. § 14.629(b)(1), accredited claims agents and attorneys must complete 3 hours of qualifying continuing legal education within the first 12 months after VA first accredits them, then 3 more hours on veterans benefits law and procedure no later than 3 years after initial accreditation and every 2 years after that. Each course must be approved for at least 3 hours of credit by a state bar, and you certify completion to VA's Office of the General Counsel.
The same rule applies to agents and attorneys. VSO representatives are accredited through their organization under a different paragraph, covered at the end.
The initial requirement: 3 hours in the first 12 months
38 C.F.R. § 14.629(b)(1)(iii) makes the first CLE a further condition of initial accreditation. The course must:
- Be approved for a minimum of 3 hours of CLE credit by any state bar association.
- At a minimum, cover representation before VA, claims procedures, basic eligibility for VA benefits, the right to appeal, disability compensation (38 U.S.C. chapter 11), dependency and indemnity compensation (chapter 13), and pension (chapter 15).
- Be completed during the first 12-month period after the date of initial accreditation.
Agents are not lawyers, but the course still has to be state-bar approved; the regulation does not offer a separate approval track for agents.
The ongoing requirement: every 2 years after year 3
To keep accreditation, § 14.629(b)(1)(iv) requires an additional 3 hours of qualifying CLE on veterans benefits law and procedure:
- No later than 3 years from the date of initial accreditation, and
- Every 2 years after that.
The course must be approved for at least 3 hours by any state bar association. Unlike the initial course, the ongoing requirement does not list required topics beyond veterans benefits law and procedure.
| Requirement | Deadline, counted from initial accreditation | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Initial CLE | Within the first 12 months | 3 state-bar-approved hours covering the listed topics |
| First ongoing CLE | No later than 3 years | 3 state-bar-approved hours on veterans benefits law and procedure |
| Each later CLE | Every 2 years after that | Same as above |
Keep the date of your accreditation notice. Every deadline in the table runs from it.
How to certify completion
After completing the initial CLE, you certify to the Office of the General Counsel in writing. The certification must include the title of the course, its date and time, and the provider, and it is submitted as part of the annual certification under § 14.629(b)(4). The ongoing CLE is certified the same way (§ 14.629(b)(1)(iv)).
That annual certification is a separate, standing obligation: each year, agents and attorneys report every court, bar, or federal or state agency where they are admitted to practice, with identification numbers, and certify they are in good standing in each. After accreditation, you must notify VA within 30 days of any change in that status (§ 14.629(b)(4)).
Keep the course certificate with a copy of what you submitted. The regulation says what the certification must contain but not what proof to keep, and a certificate answers any later question quickly.
What happens if you miss it
The CLE is written as a condition of accreditation. Under 38 C.F.R. § 14.633(b), accreditation shall be canceled when the General Counsel determines that any requirement of § 14.629 is no longer met. The regulation does not describe a grace period. If you expect to miss a deadline, raise it with the Office of the General Counsel before the date passes.
Losing accreditation also affects fees, since only accredited agents and attorneys may charge claimants. See VA fee agreements.
A proposed change to watch
On October 11, 2024, VA published a proposed rule, "Improving Accreditation Process and Strengthening Legal Education Requirements for Accredited Agents and Attorneys" (RIN 2900-AR94). It would move the initial CLE to the 6 months before an application and make the ongoing requirement annual. As of this guide's update, the Federal Register shows only the proposed rule, with no final rule, so the timing above is still the regulation's. Check the eCFR text of § 14.629 before you rely on any date.
VSO representatives
Representatives accredited through a recognized veterans service organization fall under § 14.629(a), not (b). That paragraph has no CLE hours requirement. Instead, the organization certifies the representative's character and ability, and recertifies on VA Form 21 no later than five years after initial accreditation or the last recertification. County and tribal veterans service officers recommended by a state organization must have completed approved training and an examination and receive regular supervision or annual training. An individual who is also accredited as an agent or attorney meets the § 14.629(b) CLE rules in that capacity.
Frequently asked questions
How many CLE hours does a VA-accredited claims agent need?
Three hours in the first 12 months after initial accreditation, then 3 hours on veterans benefits law and procedure no later than 3 years after initial accreditation and every 2 years after that (38 C.F.R. § 14.629(b)(1)(iii) and (iv)).
Do VA-accredited attorneys have the same CLE requirement as agents?
They do. Section 14.629(b)(1)(iii) and (iv) apply to agents and attorneys alike. An attorney's state bar CLE counts toward VA's requirement only if the course meets VA's rule: approved for at least 3 hours by a state bar and, for the initial course, covering the listed VA topics.
What must the initial VA CLE course cover?
At a minimum: representation before VA, claims procedures, basic eligibility for VA benefits, the right to appeal, disability compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, and pension. It must be approved for at least 3 hours of credit by any state bar association.
How do I report VA CLE completion?
In writing to VA's Office of the General Counsel, giving the course title, its date and time, and the provider. The certification goes in with your annual certification under 38 C.F.R. § 14.629(b)(4).
Is VA changing the CLE requirements?
VA proposed changes in October 2024 that would require CLE before applying and every year after accreditation. The Federal Register shows no final rule as of October 4, 2026, so the current rule still applies. Check the eCFR for the current text.
VA forms mentioned in this guide
Written for accredited representatives
This guide is for VA-accredited claims agents, attorneys, and VSO representatives. Commander for Advocates is case management software built around this work: reading the C-file, choosing the lane, and assembling the packet. See how it works →
This guide is educational information about the VA claims system — it is not legal or medical advice, and it does not predict or promise any claim outcome. Regulations and procedures change; always verify current requirements at VA.gov. VA Claim Commander is a self-service documentation tool, not a VSO, law firm, or VA-accredited representative.