What is 38 CFR 14.629?

38 CFR 14.629 is the VA regulation titled Requirements for accreditation of service organization representatives, agents, and attorneys. It sets the qualifications, application process, examination, and character and fitness standards for anyone seeking VA accreditation, including claims agents.

What score do you need to pass the VA claims agent exam under 14.629?

You must score 75 percent or higher, per 38 CFR 14.629(b)(6). You may not sit for the exam more than twice in any 6-month period.

Does 38 CFR 14.629 require a law degree to become a claims agent?

No. The regulation sets no law degree requirement for agents. It requires good character and reputation, qualifications to render valuable assistance, and passing the written examination, among other requirements.

Where can I read the full text of 38 CFR 14.629?

The current text is on the eCFR at ecfr.gov, title 38, section 14.629. Always check the current version before relying on it, because regulations are amended.

38 CFR 14.629 explained: the VA accreditation rule in plain English

Quick answer: 38 CFR 14.629 is the VA accreditation rule: the qualifications, the application, the character-and-fitness review, and the written exam. It is the most important regulation for anyone becoming a claims agent, and the exam tests it directly.

TL;DR

14.629 covers qualifications, application, fitness review, and exam.
75 percent exam score required.
Full official text at ecfr.gov, title 38, section 14.629.

Sources checked October 5, 2026. Independent guide, not affiliated with VA. Not legal advice.

If you are becoming a VA accredited claims agent, 38 CFR 14.629 is the most important regulation you will ever read. It is the rule that decides whether you get accredited at all: the qualifications, the application, the exam, and the character review. The exam tests it directly. Here it is, paragraph by paragraph, in plain English.

The full official text is at ecfr.gov, title 38, section 14.629. What follows is a study summary, not a substitute. Always verify against the current regulation.

What 14.629 covers

The section is titled "Requirements for accreditation of service organization representatives, agents, and attorneys." It applies to all three categories, with some paragraphs specific to agents. The key pieces for a prospective claims agent:

Paragraph (a): Who needs accreditation

This paragraph establishes that no individual may act as an agent in the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of claims before VA without accreditation. In plain terms: you cannot do this work legally until VA says you can. Helping a veteran with a claim before you are accredited is not a gray area. It can disqualify you. See our guide on what counts as practice before VA.

Paragraph (b): The requirements for agents

This is the heart of it. To be accredited as an agent, you must:

Apply on the prescribed form. That is VA Form 21a. The application itself is a test of thoroughness; incomplete applications slow everything down.
Be of good character and reputation. VA investigates this. Criminal history, financial irresponsibility, and dishonesty on the application are the classic problems. See our character and fitness guide.
Be qualified to render valuable service. You must demonstrate the knowledge to actually help claimants. For agents, this is proven by the written examination.
Pass the written examination with 75 percent or higher. This is 14.629(b)(6), the single most-tested sentence in the accreditation rules. Memorize it: 75 percent to pass, no more than two attempts in any 6-month period.
Not be employed by the federal government in a conflicting capacity in ways the regulation specifies, with exceptions the text details.

The exam paragraph: 14.629(b)(6)

Worth quoting in substance because the exam loves it: the examination covers the laws and regulations in title 38 U.S. Code and title 38 CFR that govern veterans benefits, and a score of 75 percent or higher is required to pass. An applicant may not take the examination more than twice in any 6-month period. Three numbers to memorize: 75 percent, twice, 6 months.

How 14.629 connects to the neighboring sections

14.629 does not stand alone. The exam tests it alongside:

14.630: Authorization for a particular claim. How a claimant appoints you for one specific matter.
14.631: Standards for accreditation of service organization representatives.
14.632: Standards of conduct. The ethics rules you live under once accredited. See our plain English guide.
14.633: Suspension and cancellation of accreditation. How VA takes it away. See our guide.
14.636: Fee agreements and direct payment. What you can charge and how. See our fees guide and the 20 percent rule.

How to study 14.629 for the exam

Read the actual regulation first. It is short. There is no reason to study a summary of something you can read in full in twenty minutes.
Memorize the numbers. 75 percent passing score. Two attempts per 6 months. These appear on the exam constantly, sometimes disguised inside scenario questions.
Learn it with its neighbors. Exam questions rarely test 14.629 in isolation. A question about fees will pull in 14.636; a question about misconduct will pull in 14.632 and 14.633. Study the whole 14.629 through 14.636 block as one unit.
Watch for the agent/attorney/VSO distinctions. Some 14.629 requirements apply differently across the three categories. The exam tests whether you know which rule applies to whom.

Bottom line

14.629 is short, heavily tested, and entirely memorizable. There is no reason to lose points on it. Read it, memorize the numbers, learn it alongside 14.630 through 14.636, and bank the easiest points on the exam.