Graduation Information
Students are required to submit a petition for graduation the semester before they plan on graduating. This form used to be a paper based form but is now online. Even if you submitted the paper form you must resubmit it using the online form.
VTNE Documentation
It is your responsibility to find out what is required for your state. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO DO THIS.
Some states require that your transcript shows a degree conferred. If your state requires this then you need to request a transcript and put on the form to hold for degree posting. Once the degree shows posted to your econnect account go ahead and request an additional copy sent to be safe. The time between graduation and the degree posting is usually 6-8 weeks, after the end of the regular semester, not your courses, then allow an additional 2 weeks or so for it to get to the state/AAVSB. This cannot be rushed so do not wait until the last minute. Request at least FOUR copies:
Put on each hold for degree. If you do not they will send it out without the degree and you will have to start over.
Conferring of the degree
This takes a minimum of 6-8 weeks after the last day of class for the entire college, not your course. For example, in fall coop ends in November but the last official day of the campus is usually the start of the second week of December so they will not start conferring degrees until this date so count off 6-8 weeks from then, not the last day of class. For spring it is usually the second week of May and for summer it is the second week of August.
Some states will allow you to sit for the exam if you are in your last semester. It is up to you to know what documentation is required and provide it to the school. Again this is not something that can be rushed as it usually requires several signatures so plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time. Do not plan on taking the exam at the first exam window upon graduation as you will likely not have everything done in time (degree conferred, transcripts received, etc).
Some states require that your transcript shows a degree conferred. If your state requires this then you need to request a transcript and put on the form to hold for degree posting. Once the degree shows posted to your econnect account go ahead and request an additional copy sent to be safe. The time between graduation and the degree posting is usually 6-8 weeks, after the end of the regular semester, not your courses, then allow an additional 2 weeks or so for it to get to the state/AAVSB. This cannot be rushed so do not wait until the last minute. Request at least FOUR copies:
- One sent to you (DO NOT OPEN so it is kept official, you will be surprised how often you will need this) and the other to the AAVSB this way when you receive yours you know they received theirs. DO NOT OPEN IT.
- One sent to you for the state license (DO NOT OPEN)
- One sent to AAVSB
- One sent to you that you can open!
Put on each hold for degree. If you do not they will send it out without the degree and you will have to start over.
Conferring of the degree
This takes a minimum of 6-8 weeks after the last day of class for the entire college, not your course. For example, in fall coop ends in November but the last official day of the campus is usually the start of the second week of December so they will not start conferring degrees until this date so count off 6-8 weeks from then, not the last day of class. For spring it is usually the second week of May and for summer it is the second week of August.
Some states will allow you to sit for the exam if you are in your last semester. It is up to you to know what documentation is required and provide it to the school. Again this is not something that can be rushed as it usually requires several signatures so plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time. Do not plan on taking the exam at the first exam window upon graduation as you will likely not have everything done in time (degree conferred, transcripts received, etc).
AAVSB and the VTNE
To schedule your VTNE you will need to go through the AAVSB.
Website: https://www.aavsb.org/vtne/
Please check this site during your last year (several times) as laws change as well as check your states information so you are aware of what is required of you.
Website: https://www.aavsb.org/vtne/
Please check this site during your last year (several times) as laws change as well as check your states information so you are aware of what is required of you.
Getting everything together
During your last semester go ahead and find out what your state requires for the license for the state. Some of these documents take a long time to receive so start early. Most require a marriage license, fingerprinting, passport photo, background check, long form birth certificate (from the state, not the county), etc.
- Download the application for the state and fill it out.
- Get an envelope and address it and as you are working on items it gives you a place to keep everything. Paperclip completed items together so it is organized. As documents arrive, verify them and then put them in the packet. It is helpful to put a sticky note on the packet with a list of required items and then put a check mark on it as you complete each and put it in the packet.
- Once you pass the VTNE mail the packet. You can also put a note to return originals to you and include a self addressed envelope inside. Most states allow this. Make sure you put both tracking and signature confirmation on the envelope. This lets you know where it is and who signed for it if issues arise.
- Again start this the first day of class! With COVID there are extensive delays for most states so plan ahead.
