How long VA claims agent accreditation takes

Sources checked October 4, 2026. Independent guide, not affiliated with VA. Not legal advice.

VA's OGC says claims agent applications "take, on average, 1 year to process" because more steps are involved. Attorney applications generally take 60 to 120 days (OGC fact sheet, Q1).

Why agent applications take longer

1. Application review of Form 21a and attachments (14.629(b)(2)).
2. Character and fitness must be affirmatively decided before the exam (14.629(b)(6)).
3. Exam scheduling: the online exam is given several times a year on set dates (VA OGC). As of October 4, 2026, the next listed date is January 26, 2027, marked tentative.
4. Final review after you pass, including outstanding character references, which OGC now requests after the exam (VA OGC).

Backlog

OGC states that it "has accumulated a backlog in processing claims agent applications" and changed how it collects references to speed things up (VA OGC).

How to avoid delays

• Answer every Form 21a item. Incomplete applications are not processed (VA Form 21a).
• Attach detailed explanations for any "yes" background answers, plus certificates of good standing (OGC fact sheet).
• Collect responses from 3 professional references yourself and send them with your application, as OGC encourages (VA OGC).
• Study while you wait so you are ready for the first exam date you are offered (study plan).

Different figures for attorneys

The fact sheet says 60 to 120 days for attorneys. The older OGC FAQ page (last updated October 10, 2023) says 60 to 90 days (OGC FAQ). The fact sheet does not show a date, so we cannot tell which figure is newer.