VA Accreditation Verification for Attorneys: How to Check, Onboard, and Stay Compliant

What the OGC Accreditation Search Actually Shows

The only authoritative source for confirming active VA accreditation is the OGC accreditation search tool. VA OGC Accreditation Search^[1] It lists every individual currently accredited by VA and every organization currently recognized by VA. No result means the person is not currently accredited. A pending application does not appear.

The database refreshes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evening. That cadence matters for timing. If you run a search on Tuesday afternoon, you are looking at data from Monday evening. For most firm workflows this lag is not a problem, but if a new hire claims they just received accreditation, verify on the next refresh day before they file anything.

The search returns the person's name, accreditation type (attorney, agent, or VSO representative), and accreditation status. It does not show application history, disciplinary notes, or CLE completion records. Those details sit with OGC directly.

One thing the tool does not do: confirm that the attorney is eligible to charge fees on a particular claim. Accreditation is a threshold requirement, not a fee-eligibility determination. Fee authority under 38 CFR 14.636 is a separate analysis.

Related guides

38 CFR 14.636 Attorney Fees in VA Disability CasesHow 38 CFR 14.636 governs when VA attorneys and agents can charge fees, how direct pay works, and what makes a fee agreement reasonable.

Why Unaccredited Representation Breaks the Case

When VA receives a VA Form 21-22a naming an unaccredited attorney, it will not recognize that attorney as the representative of record. VA OGC Accreditation FAQs^[2] VA contacts the claimant directly and advises them that the attorney must be accredited before recognition is granted.

That contact creates real problems. The claimant receives official correspondence saying their chosen attorney cannot represent them. In some cases, claimants read that as the firm having done something wrong. At minimum it introduces confusion and delay at exactly the moment when the claimant relationship is being established.

There is no grace period. VA does not provisionally recognize the attorney while an application is pending. Until OGC grants accreditation and the search reflects it, the 21-22a is ineffective. 38 CFR Part 14^[3]

This is also a compliance exposure point for the firm. Filing a 21-22a for an unaccredited attorney is not a paperwork error that gets quietly corrected. It triggers a claimant notification from VA, which means there is now a record of the problem.

How Attorneys Apply for VA Accreditation

An attorney seeking VA accreditation files a completed VA Form 21a with OGC. 38 CFR § 14.629^[4] The application requires:

• Identification and membership numbers for every jurisdiction in which the applicant is admitted
• A certification of good standing in each of those jurisdictions
• Personal identification information

Attorneys are not required to pass a VA-administered examination. VA Form 21a^[5] VA presumes good character and fitness based on state licensure. VBA Accredited Representatives^[6] The bar membership and good-standing certifications carry the weight that an exam would in other licensing contexts.

Applications can be submitted three ways: mailed to OGC (022D), faxed to (202) 495-5457, or emailed to ogcaccreditationmailbox@va.gov. VA OGC Accreditation Program^[7] Email is the fastest submission method for practical purposes, but OGC does not publish a processing time guarantee.

Failure to disclose required information on the application can result in denial. If the attorney is already accredited and the omission is discovered later, it can trigger disciplinary proceedings under 38 CFR 14.633. VA Form 21a^[5]

Ongoing Compliance Obligations After Accreditation

Accreditation does not expire on a fixed date, but holding it creates affirmative obligations.

The most immediate is the 30-day bar status reporting rule. After accreditation, attorneys must notify VA within 30 days of any change in their bar status in any jurisdiction where they are admitted. 38 CFR § 14.629^[4] That includes suspensions, administrative inactivation, name changes tied to bar records, and reinstatements. Firms that track attorney bar status for malpractice purposes should fold VA notification into the same workflow.

CLE certification is the other ongoing obligation. VA does not require a specific form of proof. Accredited attorneys and agents certify in writing to OGC that they have completed qualifying CLE. VA OGC Accreditation FAQs^[2] That self-certification model places the compliance burden entirely on the attorney. OGC is not auditing certificates of attendance in real time.

What can cancel accreditation: violation of or refusal to comply with VA laws or regulations governing practice before VA is grounds for cancellation under 38 CFR 14.633. VA OGC Accreditation Program^[7] Failure to report a bar status change within 30 days falls under 38 CFR 14.629 and can support a disciplinary proceeding. 38 CFR § 14.629^[4]

One scope limitation worth tracking in firm documents: VA accreditation authorizes representation before VA only. It does not imply that the holder is qualified to provide financial planning services and does not constitute VA endorsement of the attorney. VA OGC Accreditation Program^[7] This matters for firms that market broadly to veterans. The accreditation status should not appear in advertising in a way that suggests a wider VA endorsement.

The Proposed CLE Rule and What It Changes

In October 2024, VA published a proposed rule that would add pre-application and annual CLE requirements for agents and attorneys. Federal Register, 89 FR 82XXX (Oct. 11, 2024)^[8]

Under the proposed rule:

• Applicants must complete 3 hours of qualifying CLE within 6 months before submitting their accreditation application
• Accredited attorneys and agents must complete 3 additional hours of qualifying CLE on veterans benefits law and procedure within 1 year of initial accreditation, then annually after that

The proposed rule would amend 38 CFR 14.629(b)(1)(iii) and add a new 38 CFR 14.629(b)(1)(iv). Federal Register, 89 FR (Oct. 11, 2024)^[9]

This is a proposed rule, not a final rule. It has not taken effect. Firms should track the Federal Register for the final rule publication and effective date. If finalized, it will require firms to add pre-hire CLE verification to onboarding and to build a recurring annual CLE tracking process for every accredited attorney and agent on staff.

The self-certification model from the existing FAQs would presumably carry over. The practical shift is that the certification obligation becomes annual and documented, rather than loosely ongoing.

Firm Onboarding Checklist for New Attorneys and Agents

Before a new hire files a VA Form 21-22a on any claimant, the firm should complete the following steps.

Run the OGC search. Search by name at va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation. VA OGC Accreditation Search^[1] Confirm the result shows active accreditation. If no result appears, do not assume it is a database lag. Treat it as unaccredited until confirmed otherwise.

Confirm bar status independently. VA accreditation and bar membership are separate. A person can be accredited but suspended from a state bar. The 30-day reporting rule means VA may not yet know about a recent change. Run bar status through the relevant state bar's online records before the first filing.

Collect the accreditation details. Note the accreditation date, the type (attorney versus agent), and any jurisdictions listed. Keep this in the attorney's HR or compliance file alongside bar admission records.

Schedule a re-verification cadence. OGC accreditation does not expire on a fixed date, but circumstances change. Bar suspensions, disciplinary actions, or a failure to complete required CLE can affect status. Set a calendar reminder to re-run the OGC search quarterly or at minimum annually for every accredited staff member.

Document the check. Screenshot or log the search result with a timestamp. If VA ever questions whether the firm verified accreditation before filing, the firm needs a record. A mental note is not a record.

Track the 30-day notification obligation. Build bar status monitoring into your firm's compliance calendar. When any change occurs in a state bar record for an accredited attorney, the clock on VA notification starts immediately. 38 CFR § 14.629^[4] Missing that window is a compliance failure that VA can use as grounds for discipline.

Firms that handle high volumes of intake are most exposed here. When onboarding moves fast and multiple staff are filing 21-22as, accreditation verification can slip from a process step into an assumption. The assumption is wrong often enough to matter.