VA ACCREDITATION EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026 |
VETERANS AFFAIRS CLAIMS AGENT
CERTIFICATION PREP | COMPLETE PRACTICE
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
VA ACCREDITATION EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026
Veterans Affairs Claims Agent Certification Prep — Complete Practice
Questions & Answers
• This guide contains 300 fully worked multiple-choice questions spanning every
topic tested on the VA Accreditation Exam — each question features five options
(A–E), a clearly marked correct answer with bold highlighting, and a concise EXPERT
RATIONALE to reinforce your understanding.
• Work through each section systematically, use the EXPERT RATIONALE to fill
knowledge gaps, and revisit questions you missed to build confidence before exam
day.
1. Who has the authority to accredit claims agents and attorneys to practice
before the Department of Veterans Affairs?
A. The Secretary of Defense
B. The United States District Court
C. The American Bar Association
D. The Office of General Counsel (OGC)
E. The Veterans Benefits Administration
Correct Answer: D. The Office of General Counsel (OGC)
EXPERT RATIONALE: The VA's Office of General Counsel is solely responsible for
accrediting claims agents, attorneys, and Veterans Service Organization representatives
to practice before the VA under 38 C.F.R. § 14.629.
,2. Under 38 C.F.R. § 14.636, what is the maximum fee a claims agent may
charge a veteran for services rendered?
A. Any fee agreed upon in writing by both parties
B. A fee that is reasonable and not contingent on the outcome
C. A fee that is reasonable, not unconscionable, and not contingent except as
allowed by law
D. No fee whatsoever under any circumstance
E. A flat fee of $500 per claim regardless of complexity
Correct Answer: C. A fee that is reasonable, not unconscionable, and not
contingent except as allowed by law
EXPERT RATIONALE: 38 C.F.R. § 14.636 permits accredited claims agents to charge fees
only after a Notice of Disagreement has been filed, and the fee must be reasonable, not
unconscionable, and may only be contingent on past-due benefits as permitted by
statute.
3. A claims agent who has been suspended from practice before the VA may
apply for reinstatement after a minimum of how many years?
A. One year
B. Two years
C. Three years
D. Five years
E. Ten years
Correct Answer: C. Three years
EXPERT RATIONALE: Under VA regulations, a suspended claims agent must wait a
minimum of three years before petitioning for reinstatement, demonstrating
rehabilitation and fitness to resume practice.
,4. Which of the following actions constitutes a violation of VA accreditation
standards?
A. Filing a claim on behalf of a veteran after receiving written authorization
B. Charging a contingency fee after a Notice of Disagreement is filed
C. Soliciting a veteran at a VA medical facility
D. Assisting a surviving spouse with a DIC claim
E. Maintaining a power of attorney on file with the VA
Correct Answer: C. Soliciting a veteran at a VA medical facility
EXPERT RATIONALE: Soliciting clients at VA medical facilities is expressly prohibited
under VA accreditation rules and constitutes misconduct that can result in suspension or
revocation of accreditation.
5. Which form is used to appoint a claims agent or attorney as a claimant's
representative before the VA?
A. VA Form 21-0781
B. VA Form 21-22
C. VA Form 21-22a
D. VA Form 21-4142
E. VA Form 10-10EZ
Correct Answer: C. VA Form 21-22a
EXPERT RATIONALE: VA Form 21-22a is the Appointment of Individual as Claimant's
Representative and is specifically used to appoint an accredited claims agent or
attorney, as opposed to VA Form 21-22 which appoints a Veterans Service Organization.
6. How often must an accredited claims agent complete continuing legal
education (CLE) to maintain accreditation?
, A. Every year — 10 hours of CLE
B. Every two years — 3 hours of CLE
C. Every three years — 15 hours of CLE
D. Every five years — 50 hours of CLE
E. CLE is not required for claims agents, only attorneys
Correct Answer: B. Every two years — 3 hours of CLE
EXPERT RATIONALE: VA-accredited claims agents must complete a minimum of 3 hours
of continuing legal education every two years focused on VA benefits law and procedure
to maintain active accreditation status.
7. A claims agent discovers that a colleague has charged a veteran an
unconscionable fee. What is the claims agent's ethical obligation?
A. Ignore it as it is not their responsibility
B. Advise the veteran to seek a refund privately
C. Report the misconduct to the VA Office of General Counsel
D. Contact the veteran's congressional representative
E. File a complaint with the American Bar Association
Correct Answer: C. Report the misconduct to the VA Office of General
Counsel
EXPERT RATIONALE: Accredited practitioners have an ethical duty to report known
misconduct to the VA's Office of General Counsel, which has jurisdiction over disciplinary
matters involving VA-accredited representatives.
8. What is the purpose of 38 C.F.R. Part 14?
A. To establish service-connected disability ratings
B. To govern the fiduciary program for incompetent veterans
VETERANS AFFAIRS CLAIMS AGENT
CERTIFICATION PREP | COMPLETE PRACTICE
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
VA ACCREDITATION EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026
Veterans Affairs Claims Agent Certification Prep — Complete Practice
Questions & Answers
• This guide contains 300 fully worked multiple-choice questions spanning every
topic tested on the VA Accreditation Exam — each question features five options
(A–E), a clearly marked correct answer with bold highlighting, and a concise EXPERT
RATIONALE to reinforce your understanding.
• Work through each section systematically, use the EXPERT RATIONALE to fill
knowledge gaps, and revisit questions you missed to build confidence before exam
day.
1. Who has the authority to accredit claims agents and attorneys to practice
before the Department of Veterans Affairs?
A. The Secretary of Defense
B. The United States District Court
C. The American Bar Association
D. The Office of General Counsel (OGC)
E. The Veterans Benefits Administration
Correct Answer: D. The Office of General Counsel (OGC)
EXPERT RATIONALE: The VA's Office of General Counsel is solely responsible for
accrediting claims agents, attorneys, and Veterans Service Organization representatives
to practice before the VA under 38 C.F.R. § 14.629.
,2. Under 38 C.F.R. § 14.636, what is the maximum fee a claims agent may
charge a veteran for services rendered?
A. Any fee agreed upon in writing by both parties
B. A fee that is reasonable and not contingent on the outcome
C. A fee that is reasonable, not unconscionable, and not contingent except as
allowed by law
D. No fee whatsoever under any circumstance
E. A flat fee of $500 per claim regardless of complexity
Correct Answer: C. A fee that is reasonable, not unconscionable, and not
contingent except as allowed by law
EXPERT RATIONALE: 38 C.F.R. § 14.636 permits accredited claims agents to charge fees
only after a Notice of Disagreement has been filed, and the fee must be reasonable, not
unconscionable, and may only be contingent on past-due benefits as permitted by
statute.
3. A claims agent who has been suspended from practice before the VA may
apply for reinstatement after a minimum of how many years?
A. One year
B. Two years
C. Three years
D. Five years
E. Ten years
Correct Answer: C. Three years
EXPERT RATIONALE: Under VA regulations, a suspended claims agent must wait a
minimum of three years before petitioning for reinstatement, demonstrating
rehabilitation and fitness to resume practice.
,4. Which of the following actions constitutes a violation of VA accreditation
standards?
A. Filing a claim on behalf of a veteran after receiving written authorization
B. Charging a contingency fee after a Notice of Disagreement is filed
C. Soliciting a veteran at a VA medical facility
D. Assisting a surviving spouse with a DIC claim
E. Maintaining a power of attorney on file with the VA
Correct Answer: C. Soliciting a veteran at a VA medical facility
EXPERT RATIONALE: Soliciting clients at VA medical facilities is expressly prohibited
under VA accreditation rules and constitutes misconduct that can result in suspension or
revocation of accreditation.
5. Which form is used to appoint a claims agent or attorney as a claimant's
representative before the VA?
A. VA Form 21-0781
B. VA Form 21-22
C. VA Form 21-22a
D. VA Form 21-4142
E. VA Form 10-10EZ
Correct Answer: C. VA Form 21-22a
EXPERT RATIONALE: VA Form 21-22a is the Appointment of Individual as Claimant's
Representative and is specifically used to appoint an accredited claims agent or
attorney, as opposed to VA Form 21-22 which appoints a Veterans Service Organization.
6. How often must an accredited claims agent complete continuing legal
education (CLE) to maintain accreditation?
, A. Every year — 10 hours of CLE
B. Every two years — 3 hours of CLE
C. Every three years — 15 hours of CLE
D. Every five years — 50 hours of CLE
E. CLE is not required for claims agents, only attorneys
Correct Answer: B. Every two years — 3 hours of CLE
EXPERT RATIONALE: VA-accredited claims agents must complete a minimum of 3 hours
of continuing legal education every two years focused on VA benefits law and procedure
to maintain active accreditation status.
7. A claims agent discovers that a colleague has charged a veteran an
unconscionable fee. What is the claims agent's ethical obligation?
A. Ignore it as it is not their responsibility
B. Advise the veteran to seek a refund privately
C. Report the misconduct to the VA Office of General Counsel
D. Contact the veteran's congressional representative
E. File a complaint with the American Bar Association
Correct Answer: C. Report the misconduct to the VA Office of General
Counsel
EXPERT RATIONALE: Accredited practitioners have an ethical duty to report known
misconduct to the VA's Office of General Counsel, which has jurisdiction over disciplinary
matters involving VA-accredited representatives.
8. What is the purpose of 38 C.F.R. Part 14?
A. To establish service-connected disability ratings
B. To govern the fiduciary program for incompetent veterans
