VA OGC accreditation search

The VA OGC accreditation search is the online database where VA's Office of General Counsel lists every attorney, claims agent, and VSO representative it has accredited to assist with claims for VA benefits. If someone offers to help you with a claim, especially for a fee, this search is how you confirm they are authorized to do it. The tool is free, public, and searchable at va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/. This page explains how to use it and how to interpret what you find.

Why this search exists

Federal law says that, with narrow exceptions, only accredited agents, attorneys, and VSO representatives may prepare, present, or prosecute VA benefits claims. Accredited representatives are vetted for good character and competence and are bound by VA's standards of professional conduct, which prohibit unlawful or unreasonable fees. Violators risk suspension or cancellation of accreditation. The search exists because veterans are regularly targeted by unaccredited operators, sometimes called claim sharks, who charge for help they are not authorized to give. VA itself urges veterans to check the accreditation search before signing anything. For anyone studying to become an agent, the search is also where your own name will eventually appear once OGC grants accreditation.

How to search it, step by step

1. Open the tool. Go to va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/. No account or login is needed.
2. Enter what you know. You can search all the criteria or just one: last name, first name, city, state, or zip code. Partial entries work, so searching just a last name like "Smith" or just a state returns every matching accredited representative.
3. Pick the right search. The accredited attorney, claims agent, and VSO representative search is separate from the recognized VSO search. If you are checking a person, use the individual search; if you are checking an organization, use the VSO search, where leaving all fields blank and hitting search returns every currently recognized VSO.
4. Read the listing. A listing confirms the person is currently accredited and shows their contact information. Listings also feed a downloadable complete list of accredited representatives, useful if you want to browse everyone in a state.
5. Interpret a no-result search. The tool shows only currently accredited individuals and currently recognized organizations. If nothing comes up, the person is not currently authorized to provide representation, though they may have an application pending with OGC. Do not sign a fee agreement or a power of attorney with someone who does not appear.

Use the checklist before you sign anything

Run through these five checks every time, whether you are a veteran choosing representation or an applicant confirming a future colleague. Tick each one off below.

Questions about a listing

VA directs questions about the accreditation of individuals, the recognition of organizations, or agents' and attorneys' fees to [email protected]. If a listing looks wrong, if a representative's status seems out of date, or if you are unsure whether someone needs accreditation for what they are doing, that mailbox is the authoritative place to ask. For applicants, the broader accreditation picture, including how to apply and what OGC reviews, is in the accreditation exam guide and the how to get VA accreditation guide.