OAR NTC FY26 Training Hour Requirements for VSRs, SVSRs, RVSRs, DROs, and QRTs

3. OAR NTC Requirements

Introduction

This topic contains information about

• OAR NTC FY26 Training Hour Requirements for VSRs, SVSRs, RVSRs, DROs, and QRTs
• Training Requirements for CAs
• Training Requirements for VSR and RVSR Trainees
• WARTAC VSR and RVSR New Hire Training Requirements
• Training Requirements for Newly Hired QRT
• Training Requirements for DRO Trainees
• Training Requirements for SVSR Trainees
• FY26 Mandated Training Curriculum
• Quality Calls

Change Date

October 1, 2025

2.3. a. OAR NTC FY26 Training Hour Requirements for VSRs, SVSRs, RVSRs, DROs, and QRTs

All VSRs, SVSRs, RVSRs, DROs, and QRT members in the target audience must complete a minimum of 40 OAR NTC hours and may complete up to 65 hours of OAR NTC hours during FY26.

Two segments of required training include:

• FY mandated training
• No less than 10 hours of FY mandated training determined by OAR, which includes any mandatory hour overage assigned by Compensation Service
• No less than 15 hours of FY mandated training determined by Compensation Service - or the requisite hours assigned by Compensation Service to the FY directed curriculum for positions subject to competency-based training (Pre VSRs and RVSRs), and
• Station-selected training
• No more than 16 hours of station-selected training determined by the DROCs, and
• No more than 24 hours of station-selected training allotted centrally by OAR to account for VA Central Office quality calls, quality practicums, mandatory hour overages and other centrally assigned items.

Notes:

• Employees may exceed 65 total annual hours of training only if OAR or Compensation Service centrally assign excess FY mandated or station-selected training hours, or if excess hours account for designated specialized processor training. However, station-selected training cannot exceed 40 hours (16 DROC-selected hours and 24 centrally-allotted hours).
• DROCs must allocate the 16 station-selected hours by assigning 4 hours per quarter, following OFO Local Quality Stand Down guidance.
• As noted in the VBA Availability Playbook and M21-5, Chapter 2, Topic 2.j, Directors may approve up to 10 hours of additional training, per person, per year. OAR must approved requests for training in excess of the Director's approval authority.
• Trainees do not fall under this requirement; while trainees receive the same mandated curricula assignments, they do not have station-selected training requirements and are not included in required NTC reporting.

References: For more information on

• The VBA Availability Playbook, see M21-5, Chapter 2, Topic 2.j
• Compensation Service training requirements, see M21-3, Part I, Section A
• OAR FY mandated training, see M21-5, Chapter 2, Topic 2.b
• OAR station-selected training, see M21-5, Chapter 2, Topic 2.c, and
• For a complete list of all curricula, sub-curricula, and assigned mandated training, see the OAR FY26 Mandated Courses Released spreadsheet available on the VBA Learning Catalog.

2.3. b. Training Requirements for CAs

CAs remain in trainee status for six months effective the date assigned to the position. Within this time, CAs must complete the Compensation Service mandated CA Year 1 Training Plan for Claims Assistants. Training Managers or designees must assign these training items locally in TMS.

Training Managers must add CAs to the appropriate OAR NTC cohort after completion of the initial six months and corresponding trainee curriculum.

CAs must complete a minimum of 16 hours of OAR NTC training during FY26, to include all mandated training as determined by OAR and Compensation Service. OAR will assign FY26 mandated items as the training requirement arises. In addition to the OAR FY26 mandated items, stations may assign items from the VBA Learning Catalog to achieve the annual 16 hours of training.

2.3. c. Training Requirements for VSR and RVSR Trainees

OAR requires VSR and RVSR trainees (entry-level employees who have not completed an initial VIP training program) to complete the appropriate VIP training, VAT curricula, as well as all fiscal year OAR and Compensation Service one-time and NTC mandatory/directed items. Training Managers should refer to the FY26 VSR and RVSR Training Schedule and VIP SharePoint site to project and prepare for next available training sessions and enrollment deadlines.

OAR requires that newly hired VSRs attend Pre-Determination (Pre) training first and if selected to process Post-Determination (Post) claims, subsequently attend Post as a follow-on training program. The VSR Pre training includes an additional two-week Classroom segment of DROC-specific training. DROCs can review the DROC VIP Training Curriculum on the OAR Intranet, under Program Resources and Training.

Training Managers must enter any new VSRs or RVSRs in the following OAR New Hire cohorts at the time of hire, or at the time of entry into a VIP cohort (if an experienced employee taking follow-on training):

Scroll sideways to see the full table.

Additionally, DROCs must enroll any VSRs responsible for processing non-rating claims in the VSR Post/Benefit Eligibility Support Teams (BEST) VIP training program as a follow-on training for designated specialized processors.

Office of Human Capital Services (HCS) will assign the following items in TMS to VSR and RVSR VIP graduates:

• VIP completion credit
• Compensation Service VAT mandated curricula
• OAR VAT mandated curricula
• FY26 Compensation Service mandated training items, and
• FY26 OAR mandated training items.

Training Managers are responsible for confirming that HCS correctly assigns the appropriate training to VIP graduates, for removing individuals from the OAR New Hire cohorts, and must report any discrepancies to VAVBAWAS/CO/VBATMSHELP.

Reference: For more information on specialized training assignments for non-rating processors, see M21-5, Chapter 2, Topic 4.h.

2.3. d. WARTAC VSR and RVSR New Hire Training Requirements

WARTAC brings VIP training to military installations and conducts VSR and RVSR VIP training with separating, active-duty, Service members in order to ultimately hire them into offices as VSRs or RVSRs upon separation from active duty.

Training Manager responsibilities begin when a WARTAC student is hired by a VBA office. Once the Training Manager is notified that a WARTAC student has been hired, the Training Manager should complete the following steps:

1. Request a TMS account domain transfer from the Enterprise Service Desk via YourIT or by calling 855-673-4357.
2. Review the employee data located within Profile Maintenance.
3. Ensure that the PAID database does not create a duplicate TMS account for the new employee. If a duplicate account is created, the Training Manager should merge the two accounts.
4. Assign the WARTAC student to the appropriate TMS cohort, based upon his or her job position.

• OAR WARTAC Pre VSR Graduate Hires (VBA-722): TMS will automatically assign the Compensation Service Pre & Pre/Post VSR VAT curriculum, OAR Pre & Pre/Post VSR VAT curriculum, the Compensation Service Pre VSR FY directed curriculum, and the OAR Pre VSR FY mandated curriculum to employees placed in this cohort.
• OAR WARTAC Post VSR Graduate Hires (VBA-793): TMS will automatically assign the Compensation Service Post VSR VAT curriculum, OAR Post VSR VAT curriculum, Compensation Service Post VSR FY mandated curriculum, and the OAR Post VSR FY mandated curriculum. Note: Only employees who attended a Pre/Post VSR WARTAC session should be added to this cohort.
• OAR WARTAC Pre/Post VSR Graduate Hires (VBA-647): TMS will automatically assign the Compensation Service Pre/Post VSR VAT curriculum, OAR Pre/Post VSR VAT curriculum, the Compensation Service Pre/Post VSR FY mandated curriculum, and the OAR Pre/Post VSR FY mandated curriculum to employees placed in this cohort. Note: Only employees who attended a Pre/Post VSR WARTAC session should be added to this cohort.
• OAR WARTAC RVSR Graduate Hires (VBA-648): TMS will automatically assign the Compensation Service RVSR VAT curriculum, OAR RVSR VAT curriculum, the Compensation Service RVSR FY directed curriculum, and the OAR RVSR FY mandated curriculum to employees placed in this cohort.

OAR responsibilities:

Upon hire, HCS will award WARTAC graduates TMS credit for completing the WARTAC training program and add those employees to the Pre VSR, Post VSR, Pre/Post VSR, or RVSR primary NTC cohorts when trainee status is complete (12 months after the hire date).

2.3.e. Training Requirements for Newly Hired QRT

Newly-hired QRT members must complete the appropriate Quality Review Specialist (QRS) Challenge training curriculum based on position within one year of hire. OAR will conduct OAR QRS Challenge training biannually or on an as needed basis and will assign the following curricula to individuals upon registration to a QRS Challenge session.

• VBA-972 for OAR AQRSs
• VBA-973 for OAR RQRSs

Prior to attending OAR QRS Challenge, Training Managers must ensure that AQRSs complete all training items within the OAR Pre/Post VSR VAT curriculum, and that RQRSs complete all training items within the OAR RVSR and DRO VAT curriculum and OAR DRO mandated curricula as prerequisite training.

OAR will email DROCs soliciting for nominations prior to each session.

All QRSs must complete the OAR QRS Challenge training or have previously completed a Compensation Service QRS Challenge session. Additionally, QRSs must attend at least 75% of the QRS Challenge session to complete this training requirement and obtain learning hours.

2.3. f. Training Requirements for DRO Trainees

OAR requires that DROCs provide onboarding training to new DROs within the first two weeks of hire. The onboarding training includes courses assigned within the DRO VAT curricula as well as activities and Checkpoint Discussions as outlined in the DRO Onboarding Program Interim Schedule noted on the OAR Training intranet.

DROCs should use local subject matter experts (e.g., RQRSs, DROs, and/or management) to provide instruction to DROs. Instructors can prepare for instruction by using the DRO Onboarding Program Instructor Guide (TMS course VA 4657084).

2.3.g. Training Requirements for SVSR Trainees

New SVSRs must receive all foundational training necessary to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to process and authorize claims at all stages (i.e., pre-determination, post-determination, non-rating, legacy appeals, higher-level reviews, etc.). As such, DROCs must provide SVSR VAT instruction to all new SVSRs and register those employees in any needed VIP sessions (e.g., Pre, Post, BEST) to ensure cross-training.

2.3.h. FY26 Mandated Training Curriculum

OAR requires all CAs, VSRs, SVSRs, AQRSs, RVSRs, DROs, and RQRSs to complete the FY26 OAR and Compensation Service mandated/directed items, as listed in the VBA Learning Catalog by the target completion date.

OAR will assign no less than 10 mandated training hours for FY26 to all target audiences except for CAs and DROC management, which includes any mandatory/directed hour overage assigned by Compensation Service. OAR will assign mandatory training to CAs and DROC management as the need arises.

Note: OAR and Compensation Service may add additional mandated items as the training requirement arises. If Compensation Service assigns more hours than listed in M21-3, OAR will assign credit towards the OAR 10 mandatory hours. If the FY26 OAR Mandated Training Curriculum exceeds 10 hours, and the FY26 Compensation Service Mandated/Directed Training Curriculum exceeds the hours listed in M21-3, employees will receive credit towards station-selected training.

References: For more information on

• the Compensation Service FY26 Mandated Training Curriculum, see M21-3, Part I, Section A.3.
• CA training requirements, see M21-5, Chapter 2, Topic 3.b, and
• for a complete list of all curricula, sub-curricula, and assigned mandated training, see the OAR FY26 Mandated Courses Released spreadsheet available on the VBA Learning Catalog.

2.3.i. Quality Calls

OAR and Compensation Service administer Quality Calls that count as mandated training for Quality Review Specialists (QRS) in the target audience, and toward the station-selected training hour requirement for all other audiences. OAR will centrally assign Quality Calls with a 30-day due date.

DROCs should submit any questions or comments on OAR quality calls to VBAWASOARQUALITYTRN@va.gov through the DROC corporate mailbox. DROCs should submit any questions or comments on Compensation Service quality calls to the Compensation Service Quality Assurance Quality Call Leads' mailbox at InternalQRS.VBAVACO@va.gov.