---
kind: "range"
citation: "38 C.F.R. §§ 21.4270–21.4275"
title: "38"
from: "21.4270"
to: "21.4275"
count: 6
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/38/21.4270..21.4275"
---

# §21.4270. Measurement of courses.

- (a) **Measurement of trade, technical, and high school courses.** Trade, technical, high school, and high school preparatory courses shall be measured as stated in this paragraph.
  - (1) **Trade and technical courses.**
    - (i) Except as provided in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section, if shop practice is an integral part of a trade or technical course not leading to a standard college degree—
      - (A) A full-time enrollment is 22 clock hours per week (exclusive of supervised study) with not more than 2 1/2 hours rest period allowance;
      - (B) A three-quarter-time enrollment is 16 through 21 clock hours per week (exclusive of supervised study) with not more than 2 hours rest period allowance;
      - (C) A one-half-time enrollment is 11 through 15 clock hours per week (exclusive of supervised study) with not more than 1 1/4 hours rest period allowance;
      - (D) A less than one-half-time but more than one-quarter-time enrollment is 6 through 10 clock hours per week (exclusive of supervised study) with not more than 3/4 hour rest period allowance; and
      - (E) **A quarter-time enrollment is 1 through 5 clock hours per week (exclusive of supervised study).**
    - (ii) Except as provided in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section, if theory and class instruction constitute more than 50 percent of the required hours in a trade or technical course not leading to a standard college degree, enrollments will be measured as follows. In measuring net instruction there will be included customary intervals not to exceed 10 minutes between classes. Shop practice and rest periods are excluded. Supervised instruction periods in a school's shops and the time involved in field trips and group instruction may be included in computing the clock hour requirements.
      - (A) A full-time enrollment is 18 clock hours net instruction per week (exclusive of supervised study);
      - (B) A three-quarter-time enrollment is 13 through 17 clock hours net instruction per week (exclusive of supervised study);
      - (C) A one-half-time enrollment is 9 through 12 clock hours net instruction per week (exclusive of supervised study);
      - (D) A less than one-half-time but more than one-quarter-time enrollment is 5 through 8 clock hours net instruction per week (exclusive of supervised study); and
      - (E) A quarter-time enrollment is 1 through 4 clock hours net instruction per week (exclusive of supervised study).
  - (2) **High school courses.** If a student is pursuing high school courses at a rate which would result in an accredited high school diploma in four ordinary school years, VA considers him or her to be enrolled full time. Otherwise, for high school enrollments, training time will be determined as follows. (For the purpose of this paragraph, a unit is not less than one hundred and twenty 60-minute hours or the equivalent of study in any subject in one academic year.)
    - (i) A full-time enrollment is 18 clock hours net instruction per week or four units per year or the equivalent;
    - (ii) A three-quarter-time enrollment is 13 through 17 clock hours net instruction per week or three units per year or the equivalent;
    - (iii) A one-half-time enrollment is 9 through 12 clock hours net instruction per week or two units per year or the equivalent;
    - (iv) A less than one-half-time but more than one-quarter-time enrollment is 5 through 8 clock hours net instruction per week or one unit per year or the equivalent; and
    - (v) **A one-quarter-time enrollment is 1 through 4 clock hours net instruction per week.**
  - (3) **Elementary school.** For a high school preparatory course pursued at the elementary school level—
    - (i) A full-time enrollment is 18 clock hours net instruction per week;
    - (ii) A three-quarter-time enrollment is 13 through 17 clock hours net instruction per week;
    - (iii) A one-half-time enrollment is 9 through 12 clock hours net instruction per week;
    - (iv) A less than one-half-time but more than one-quarter-time enrollment is 5 through 8 clock hours net instruction per week; and
    - (v) **A one-quarter-time enrollment is 1 through 4 clock hours per week.**
- (b) **Measurement of non-college degree courses offered by institutions of higher learning.**
  - (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of [paragraph (a)(1)](#a-1) of this section, if a student is enrolled in a course which is not leading to a standard college degree and which is offered by an institution of higher learning, VA will measure his or her enrollment in the same manner as collegiate undergraduate courses are measured according to the provisions of [paragraph (c)](#c) of this section.
  - (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of [paragraph (a)(1)](#a-1) of this section, if a student is enrolled in a course not leading to a standard college degree which is offered on a standard quarter- or semester-hour basis by an educational institution which is not an institution of higher learning, VA shall measure his or her enrollment in the same manner as collegiate undergraduate courses are measured according to the provisions of [paragraph (c)](#c) of this section, provided that the educational institution requires at least the same minimum number of hours of weekly attendance as are required by [paragraph (a)(1)](#a-1) of this section for courses offered on a clock-hour basis. If the educational institution does not require at least the same minimum number of hours of weekly attendance as are required in [paragraph (a)(1)](#a-1) of this section, VA will not apply the provisions of [paragraph (c)](#c) of this section, but will measure the course according to the criteria in [paragraph (a)(1)](#a-1) of this section.
- (c) **Undergraduate, graduate, professional, and on-the-job training courses.** Collegiate graduate, professional and on-the-job training courses shall be measured as stated in this table. This shall be used for measurement of collegiate undergraduate courses subject to all the measurement criteria of [§ 21.4272](/cfr/38/21.4272.md). Clock hours and sessions mentioned in this table mean clock hours and class sessions per week.

# §21.4271. Reserved



# §21.4272. Collegiate course measurement.


VA will measure a college level course in an institution of higher learning on a credit-hour basis provided all the conditions under paragraph [(a)](#a) or [(b)](#b) of this section are met. See also [§ 21.4273](/cfr/38/21.4273.md).

- (a) **Degree courses—accredited or candidate.** VA will measure a degree course on a credit-hour basis when—
  - (1) An institution of higher learning offers the course; and
  - (2) **A nationally recognized accrediting association either—**
    - (i) Accredits the institution of higher learning, or
    - (ii) Recognizes the institution as a candidate for accreditation; and
  - (3) The credits earned in the course can be applied towards an associate, baccalaureate or higher degree which is—
    - (i) Appropriate to the level of the institution of higher learning's accreditation, or
    - (ii) Appropriate to the level of the institution of higher learning's candidacy for accreditation; and
  - (4) The course is offered on a semester-hour or quarter-hour basis, and
  - (5) **The degree to which the course credits are applicable either—**
    - (i) Is granted by the institution of higher learning offering the course,
    - (ii) Is a part of a concurrent enrollment as described in [§ 21.4233(b)](/cfr/38/21.4233.md?p=b), or
    - (iii) Is being pursued by a nonmatriculated student as provided in § [21.4252(l)(1)](/cfr/38/21.4252.md?p=l-1), [(2)](/cfr/38/21.4252.md?p=l-2) or [(3)](/cfr/38/21.4252.md?p=l-3).
- (b) **Degree courses—nonaccredited.** VA will measure on a credit-hour basis a degree course which does not meet the requirements of [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section when—
  - (1) The course is offered on a semester- or quarter-hour basis, and
  - (2) The course leads to an associate, baccalaureate, or higher degree, which is granted by the school offering the degree under authority specifically conferred by a State education agency, and
  - (3) The school will furnish a letter from a State university or letters from three schools that are full members of a nationally recognized accrediting association. In each letter the State university or accredited school must certify either:
    - (i) That credits have been accepted on transfer at full value without reservation, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a baccalaureate or higher degree for at least three students within the last 5 years, and that at least 40 percent of the subjects within each curriculum, for which credit-hour measurement is sought, has been accepted without reservation by the certifying State university or accredited school, or
    - (ii) That in the last 5 years at least three students, who have received a baccalaureate or higher degree as a result of having completed the nonaccredited course, have been admitted without reservation into a graduate or advanced professional program offered by the certifying State university or accredited school.
- (c) [Reserved]
- (d) **Course measurement general.** When an undergraduate course qualifies for credit-hour measurement, VA will measure it according to the table contained in [§ 21.4270(c)](/cfr/38/21.4270.md?p=c) of this part.
- (e) -(f) [Reserved]
- (g) **Course measurement; nonstandard terms.**
  - (1) When a term is not a standard semester or quarter as defined in [§ 21.4200(b)](/cfr/38/21.4200.md?p=b), the Department of Veterans Affairs will determine the equivalent for full-time training by:
    - (i) Multiplying the credits to be earned in the term by 18 if credit is granted in semester hours, or by 12 if credit is granted in quarter hours, and
    - (ii) **Dividing the product by the number of whole weeks in the term.**
  - (2) **In determining whole weeks for this formula VA will—**
    - (i) Determine the number of days from the beginning to the end of the term as certified by the educational institution, subtracting any vacation period of 7 days or more;
    - (ii) Divide the number of days in the term by 7;
    - (iii) Disregard a remainder of 3 days or less, and
    - (iv) **Consider 4 days or more to be a whole week.**
  - (3) **The quotient resulting from the use of the formula is called equivalent credit hours.** VA treats equivalent credit hours as credit hours for measurement purposes.
- (h) -(i) [Reserved]
- (j) **Course measurement; credit course taken under special circumstances.** If a course is acceptable for credit, but the educational institution does not award credit to the veteran or eligible person because he or she has not met college entrance requirements or for some other valid reason, the Department of Veterans Affairs will measure the course as though it were pursued for credit, provided the veteran or eligible person performs all of the work prescribed for other students who are enrolled for credit.
- (k) **Course measurement; noncredit courses.**
  - (1) Except for courses leading to a secondary school diploma or equivalent, the Department of Veterans Affairs will measure noncredit courses given by an institution of higher learning on a quarter- or semester-hour basis if the institution considers them to be the equivalent, for other administrative purposes, of undergraduate courses that lead to a standard college degree at the institution of higher learning.
  - (2) The Department of Veterans Affairs shall measure other noncredit courses under the appropriate criteria of [§ 21.4270](/cfr/38/21.4270.md).
  - (3) Where a school requires a veteran or eligible person to pursue noncredit deficiency, remedial or refresher courses in order to meet scholastic or entrance requirements, the school will certify the credit-hour equivalent of the noncredit deficiency, remedial or refresher courses in addition to the credit hours for which the veteran or eligible person is enrolled. The Department of Veterans Affairs will measure the course on the total of the credit hours and credit-hour equivalency.

# §21.4273. Collegiate graduate.

- (a) **In residence.**
  - (1) The Department of Veterans Affairs will measure a nonaccredited graduate or advanced professional course (other than a law course) as provided in [§ 21.4272](/cfr/38/21.4272.md). The Department of Veterans Affairs will measure a nonaccredited law course as stated in [§ 21.4274](/cfr/38/21.4274.md).
  - (2) An accredited graduate or advanced professional course, including law as specified in [§ 21.4274](/cfr/38/21.4274.md), pursued in residence at an institution of higher learning will be measured in accordance with [§ 21.4272](/cfr/38/21.4272.md) unless it is the established policy of the school to consider less than 14 semester hours or the equivalent as full-time enrollment, or the course includes research, thesis preparation, or a comparable prescribed activity beyond that normally required for the preparation of ordinary classroom assignments. In either case a responsible official of the school will certify that the veteran or eligible person is pursuing the course full, three-quarter, one-half, less than one-half but more than one-quarter, or one quarter or less time.
- (b) **In absentia.** A responsible official of the school will certify a program of research pursued by a veteran or eligible person in absentia as full, three-fourths, one-half, less than one-half but more than one-quarter, or one-quarter or less time, and the activity will be assessed by the Department of Veterans Affairs accordingly when:
  - (1) The research activity is defined and organized so as to enable the certifying official to evaluate the time required for its successful pursuit, and
  - (2) The time certified for the research activity is independent of the time devoted to any employment situation in which the veteran or eligible person might be engaged.
- (c) **Undergraduate or combination.** If a graduate student is enrolled in both graduate and undergraduate courses concurrently, or solely in undergraduate courses, VA will measure such an enrollment using the provisions of [§ 21.4272](/cfr/38/21.4272.md) or the graduate school's assessment of training time, whichever will result in a higher monthly rate for the veteran.

# §21.4274. Law courses.

- (a) **Accredited.** A law course in an accredited law school leading to a standard professional law degree will be assessed as provided in [§ 21.4273(a)](/cfr/38/21.4273.md?p=a).
- (b) **Nonaccredited.** A law course leading to a professional law degree, completion of which will satisfy State educational requirements for admission to legal practice, pursued in a nonaccredited law school which requires for admission to the course at least 60 standard semester units of credit or the equivalent in quarter units of credit, will be assessed on the basis of 12 class sessions per week for full-time attendance. If the course does not meet these requirements it will be assessed on the basis of clock hours of attendance per week.

# §21.4275. Practical training courses; measurement.

- (a) **Medical and dental residencies and osteopathic internships and residencies.** VA will measure medical and dental residencies, and osteopathic internships and residencies as provided in [§ 21.4270(c)](/cfr/38/21.4270.md?p=c) of this part if they are accredited and approved in accordance with [§ 21.4265(a)](/cfr/38/21.4265.md?p=a) of this part.
- (b) **Nursing courses.**
  - (1) Courses for the objective of registered nurse or registered professional nurse will be measured on the basis of credit hours or clock hours of attendance, whichever is appropriate. The clock hours of attendance may include academic class time, clinical training, and supervised study periods.
  - (2) Courses offered by schools which lead to the objective of practical nurse, practical trained nurse, or licensed practical nurse will be measured on credit hours or clock hours of attendance per week whichever is appropriate.
- (c) **Medical and dental specialty courses.**
  - (1) Medical and dental specialty courses offered by a school whether accredited or nonaccredited, shall be measured on the basis of credit hours or clock hours of attendance, whichever is appropriate.
  - (2) Medical and dental specialty courses offered in hospitals, clinics, laboratories or medical centers which are accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency shall be measured on the basis of clock hours of attendance per week.
- (d) **Medical and dental assistants courses for the Department of Veterans Affairs.** Programs approved in accordance with the provisions of [§ 21.4265(d)](/cfr/38/21.4265.md?p=d) will be measured on a clock-hour basis as appropriate in accordance with [§ 21.4270](/cfr/38/21.4270.md), however, the program will be regarded as full-time instructional training: Provided, The combined total of the classroom and other formal instruction portion of the program and on-job-training portion of the program requires 30 or more clock hours of attendance per week.
- (e) **Professional training courses.** Nonmedically related professional training courses, such as the clinical pastoral course, shall be measured in semester hours of attendance or clock hours of attendance per week, whichever is appropriate.
- (f) **Other practical training courses.** These courses will be measured in semester hours of credit or clock hours of attendance per week, whichever is appropriate, if approved under [§ 21.4265(f)](/cfr/38/21.4265.md?p=f). (See [§ 21.4265](/cfr/38/21.4265.md) for approval.)