---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 C.F.R. § 21.7220"
title: "38"
number: "21.7220"
heading: "Course approval."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/38/21.7220"
---

# §21.7220. Course approval.

- (a) **Courses must be approved.**
  - (1) A course of education, including the class schedules of a resident course not leading to a standard college degree, offered by an educational institution must be approved by—
    - (i) The State approving agency for the State in which the educational institution is located, or
    - (ii) The State approving agency which has appropriate approval authority, or
    - (iii) **VA, where appropriate.** In determining when it is appropriate for VA to approve a course, VA will apply the provisions of § [21.4250(b)(3)](/cfr/38/21.4250.md?p=b-3) and [(c)](/cfr/38/21.4250.md?p=b-c) of this part.
  - (2) A course approved under 38 U.S.C. chapter 36 is approved for the purposes of 38 U.S.C. chapter 30 unless it is one of the types of courses listed in [§ 21.7222](/cfr/38/21.7222.md) of this part.
- (b) **Course approval criteria.** In administering benefits payable under 38 U.S.C. chapter 30, VA and, where appropriate, the State approving agencies, shall apply the following sections.
  - (1) [Section 21.4250](/cfr/38/21.4250.md) (except paragraph (c)(1))—Jurisdiction for course and licensing and certification test approval and approval notices;
  - (2) [Section 21.4251](/cfr/38/21.4251.md)—Minimum period of operation requirement for educational institutions;
  - (3) [Section 21.4253](/cfr/38/21.4253.md) (except that portion of paragraph (f)(3) which permits approval of a course leading to a high school diploma)—Accredited courses;
  - (4) [Section 21.4254](/cfr/38/21.4254.md)—Nonaccredited courses;
  - (5) [Section 21.4255](/cfr/38/21.4255.md)—Refund policy—nonaccredited courses;
  - (6) [Section 21.4258](/cfr/38/21.4258.md)—Notice of approval;
  - (7) [Section 21.4259](/cfr/38/21.4259.md)—Suspension or disapproval;
  - (8) [Section 21.4260](/cfr/38/21.4260.md)—Courses in foreign countries;
  - (9) [Section 21.4265](/cfr/38/21.4265.md)—Practical training approved as institutional training or on-job training;
  - (10) [Section 21.4266](/cfr/38/21.4266.md)—Courses offered at subsidiary branches or extensions;
  - (11) [Section 21.4267](/cfr/38/21.4267.md)—Approval of independent study; and
  - (12) [Section 21.4268](/cfr/38/21.4268.md)—Approval of licensing and certification tests.
- (c) **Flight training.** VA and the State approving agencies shall apply the provisions of [§ 21.4263](/cfr/38/21.4263.md) when approving flight training under 38 U.S.C. ch. 30.

## Notes

### Amendments

[53 FR 1757, Jan. 22, 1988, as amended at 55 FR 28392, July 11, 1990; 56 FR 20136, May 2, 1991; 57 FR 15026, Apr. 24, 1992; 61 FR 6790, Feb. 22, 1996; 63 FR 34131, June 23, 1998; 72 FR 16983, Apr. 5, 2007]

### Authority

Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a), chs. 30, 36, and as noted in specific sections.

### Source

Source: 53 FR 1757, Jan. 22, 1988, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[53 FR 1757, Jan. 22, 1988, as amended at 55 FR 28392, July 11, 1990; 56 FR 20136, May 2, 1991; 57 FR 15026, Apr. 24, 1992; 61 FR 6790, Feb. 22, 1996; 63 FR 34131, June 23, 1998; 72 FR 16983, Apr. 5, 2007]