Maryland Higher Education Commission

 MARYLAND INSTITUTIONAL APPROVAL INFORMATION 
FOR VETERANS' BENEFITS

Starting the Approval Process:

The Maryland Higher Education Commission State Approving Agency (SAA) is responsible for granting the necessary approvals needed for the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay veterans and other eligible persons their G. I. Bill education benefits.  The SAA is the approving authority for schools located in the State of Maryland.  To start the approval process a school or training institution official may send a letter on the school's letterhead requesting approval to certify veterans and other eligible persons to receive G. I. Bill education benefits while enrolled in their programs.  The letter of application constitutes an official request from the school.  To make application please write to:

Trish Gordon McCown, SAA Coordinator
Maryland Higher Education Commission
6 N. Liberty Street, 10th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201

Institutional Approval Updates:

For an eligible student to receive their G. I. Bill education benefits they must be matriculated in an SAA approved program, and attend during a term (of time) under which it has been approved.  It is the responsibility of the institution to maintain current approvals.  The SAA assists institutions with maintaining updated program information and approval.  Institutions are required to send the SAA four copies of the catalog every time a new edition is published, or at least once every 3 years.  Institutions are also expected to keep the SAA informed on a change of ownership, change in policy, new programs, program changes, and current or projected term dates.

• A list of other State Approving Agencies is available at:
  http://nasaa-vetseducation.com/contacts/default.aspx
  

Approval Process for Licensing or Testing Entities:

Each state has a State Approving Agency (SAA) responsible for granting the necessary approvals needed for the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay veterans and other eligible persons their G. I. Bill education benefits.  The Maryland Higher Education Commission's SAA is the approving authority for licensing and certification entities based in the State of Maryland.  To start the approval process an official of a testing entity may send a letter, on letterhead, requesting approval. The letter of application must be an official request of the entity.  To make application, please write and send the completed form to:  Trish Gordon McCown, SAA Coordinator, Maryland Higher Education Commission, 
6 N. Liberty Street, 10th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201.

For information on other State Approving Agencies go to:
http://nasaa-vetseducation.com/contacts/default.aspx

For more information on licensing and certification benefits go to:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/resources/education_resources/programs/licensing_and_certification.html and link to the Licensing and Certification page.