Active Duty

Contact an Education Service Officer or counselor within your military service branch prior to enrolling at NOVA to obtain Tuition Assistance (TA) benefits. Tuition Assistance course approval must be authorized before the first day of classes. However, some service branches require approval a week prior to the first day of classes.

Military Tuition Assistance Resources

• Army
• Navy
• Marine Corps
• Coast Guard
• Air Force

Military Leave Policies:

• Public Law 117 -328 section 3691A “Withdrawal or leave of absence from certain education.”

• • Public Law 117-328, which was signed on December 29, 2022, adds to Title 38 of the U.S. Code a

    Military Leave Policies:

    • Public Law 117 -328 section 3691A “Withdrawal or leave of absence from certain education.”
    • • Public Law 117-328, which was signed on December 29, 2022, adds to Title 38 of the U.S. Code a new section, section 3691A “Withdrawal or leave of absence from certain education.”
      • Specifically, 38 U.S.C. §3691A(a)(2)(B) provides that an educational institution may not take the following actions when a member receives orders for a period of service:
    • • • Assigning the member a failing grade,
        • Reducing the member’s grade point average,
        • Characterizing any member’s absence(s) as unexcused, or
        • Assessing a financial penalty on a member because of a withdrawal or leave of absence due to receiving orders for service.
    • • Additionally, 38 U.S.C. §3691A(b) provides that an educational institution must take the following actions when a member withdraws due to receiving orders for a period of service:
    • • • Refunding all tuition and fees paid for the academic term to the appropriate party. Please note that VA’s interpretation of academic term is the term as reported to your State Approving Agency and VA.
        • Refunding payments made by the student (or behalf of the student) to the institution for housing. Please note that in this instance the reference to housing is not the monthly housing allowance provided by the Post 9/11 GI Bill but rather housing costs such as dorm fees.
    • • Finally, 38 U.S.C. §3691A(c) provides that an educational institution must take the following actions when a member takes a leave of absence from a course(s) due to receiving orders for a period of service:
    • • • Assigning a grade of incomplete (or equivalent) for the course(s) during the term, and
        • Providing the opportunity to complete the term after the period of service.
    new section, section 3691A “Withdrawal or leave of absence from certain education.”
  • Specifically, 38 U.S.C. §3691A(a)(2)(B) provides that an educational institution may not take the following actions when a member receives orders for a period of service:

• • • Assigning the member a failing grade,
    • Reducing the member’s grade point average,
    • Characterizing any member’s absence(s) as unexcused, or
    • Assessing a financial penalty on a member because of a withdrawal or leave of absence due to receiving orders for service.

• • Additionally, 38 U.S.C. §3691A(b) provides that an educational institution must take the following actions when a member withdraws due to receiving orders for a period of service:

• • • Refunding all tuition and fees paid for the academic term to the appropriate party. Please note that VA’s interpretation of academic term is the term as reported to your State Approving Agency and VA.
    • Refunding payments made by the student (or behalf of the student) to the institution for housing. Please note that in this instance the reference to housing is not the monthly housing allowance provided by the Post 9/11 GI Bill but rather housing costs such as dorm fees.

• • Finally, 38 U.S.C. §3691A(c) provides that an educational institution must take the following actions when a member takes a leave of absence from a course(s) due to receiving orders for a period of service:

• • • Assigning a grade of incomplete (or equivalent) for the course(s) during the term, and
    • Providing the opportunity to complete the term after the period of service.

• Students utilizing Department of Defense Tuition Assistance benefits are required complete a Service Members Opportunity College (SOC) Agreement with NOVA. NOVA is required to submit a copy of a student's SOC agreement to the military. Login here to access the SOC form (form 125-347).
• A student must be enrolled in at least one NOVA course and complete the Military Credit Evaluation Request Form before joint service transcripts will be evaluated. Login here to access the 125-349 form.
• The Central Records Office will complete evaluations of transcripts such as CLEP/DANTES and transcripts from regionally accredited schools.
• The Office of Military Services will complete evaluations of all military transcripts via Joint Services Transcript. Contact militaryservices@nvcc.edu for more information. Community College of the Air Force transcripts will be evaluated by NOVA’s College Records Office (CRO).
  • Army Transcripts: Joint Services Transcript
  • Navy/Marine Corps Transcripts: Joint Services Transcript
  • Air Force Transcripts: CCAF
  • Coast Guard Transcripts: Joint Services Transcript

Learn more about what you need to do to prepare for your education at NOVA by visiting Military & Veterans Admissions.

Special provisions for active duty military, veterans, and their families allow them to pay in-state tuition without meeting normal domicile/Virginia residency requirements. Complete the Military-In-State Tuition Form and submit it (with the listed documents) to any NOVA Student Services Registrar’s office.