FAQs

  1. What is the HR Academy?

    The HR Academy is a resource for VA’s HR professionals to obtain training, education and certification in the practice and to share information with peers. HR Academy is also a resource for VA employees who are interested in moving into the HR field.

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  2. What is the mission of the HR Academy?

    The HR Academy’s mission is to cultivate a community of high-performing HR professionals who enable VA’s workforce to serve our Veterans with excellence.

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  3. Why was the HR Academy established?

    The HR Academy was formed to help VA’s HR professionals improve and expand their skills, plan their careers and advance in our profession. Our HR professionals are crucial to helping VA meet its important mission: to serve those who served.

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  4. Is the HR Academy related to VA’s ADVANCE initiative?

    The HR Academy is an important component of VA’s ADVANCE initiative, which is an HR&A initiative to invest in people development, workforce engagement and talent management for the delivery of high-quality health care, benefits and other services to Veterans and their families. ADVANCE was developed to provide all VA employees, including HR professionals, with the tools, training and support necessary to learn new skills, explore career advancement opportunities and improve services to Veterans and their families.

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  5. How is the HR Academy different from previous VA HR training efforts?

    HR Academy offers a wider range of learning opportunities to support HR professionals in their careers, foster collaboration, and encourage a spirit of community and pride in the HR profession. Available resources include career development tools, certifications and other programs tailored to the needs and goals of VA staff at every level of HR practice.

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  6. How does the HR Academy help VA?

    The HR Academy trains, educates and supports HR professionals so they can recruit and retain the best possible workforce and help all VA employees to serve our nation’s Veterans with excellence. A highly skilled and engaged HR team benefits all VA staff while increasing employee and customer satisfaction.

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  7. What types of learning opportunities are offered through the HR Academy?

    The HR Academy selects course offerings based on your learning needs and preferences. Courses focus on addressing a variety of HR competencies at various practice levels, from Basic to Expert. Along with basic business skills and leadership capabilities, these courses are important tools for personal and professional growth.

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  8. How does the HR Academy select its course offerings?

    Using competency models, test results, focus groups and the input of managers across VA’s HR practice, the HR Academy team chooses courses tied to the core, technical and strategic competencies required of HR professionals at all practice levels.

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  9. Will HR Academy replace or otherwise affect VA administration or organizational-level training?

    HR Academy’s learning opportunities complement other skill training offered through VA’s administrations, staff offices and staff organizations.

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  10. How will utilizing HR Academy resources, including training and learning opportunities, affect my career?

    Satisfactory completion of HR Academy courses shows your dedication to your work and improving your skills, and it adds to your own job satisfaction. The training can enhance your work performance and problem solving abilities, which helps you provide better service to Veterans. Also, completed courses will be entered into your learning plan in the VA TMS.

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  11. If an HR Academy course I want to attend requires me to travel, how do I make travel arrangements?

    After you obtain your supervisor’s approval to register for a course, contact your facility’s travel logistics coordinator for more information. If the class you want to attend is more than 50 miles from your office, you will need to provide the following information:

    • Supervisor’s name, email address, and phone number
    • Facility travel authority or travel coordinator’s name, email address, and phone number
    • Training dates and locations
    • Course names
    • Your office location

    Please visit the Course Travel page for more information on hotels, food, transportation and other logistics.

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  12. Will I be reimbursed for local travel time and/or parking?

    Local travel for training will be paid by your local facility or office in accordance with your local standard travel policy and procedures. For additional guidance, please contact your supervisor.

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  13. Will my supervisor support my ADVANCE and HR Academy plans?

    Secretary Eric K. Shinseki has stated that it is the responsibility all of VA’s executives and managers to take care of our employees. VA is committed, through ADVANCE and the HR Academy, to providing employees with opportunities to develop and grow in their careers. Ask your supervisor or manager to work with you to develop a training plan that will help you progress in your career. If you have any questions or need assistance, please email us at vacohracademy@va.gov.

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  14. Is participation in VA HR Academy learning and development opportunities mandatory?

    It is not mandatory, but taking advantage of HR Academy learning, development, and collaborative opportunities can help you improve your skills, develop new ones, pursue career goals and connect with your peers across the organization – all of which enhances your and VA’s ability to serve our nation’s Veterans.

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  15. Does the HR Academy provide special accommodations for persons with disabilities?

    The HR Academy is committed to providing equal access to all participants. If your require any alternative formats or services due to a disability, please talk with your supervisor, and feel free to contact us via email at vacohracademy@va.gov, so that we can accommodate your needs.

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  16. Will I get a certificate of completion if I take a course?

    Yes. Approximately two weeks after successfully completing a course and submitting a completed evaluation form, you will receive, via email, a certificate of completion for your records. You will not be able to download or print certificates of completion from TMS.

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  17. Does the HR Academy have waitlists for courses?

    Yes. Once a course reaches the enrollment limit of 30 seats, it will be closed and additional registrations will be waitlisted in the order in which they were received. If there are any cancellations, those on the waitlist will be admitted, based on the availability of seats, in the order in which they registered. Waitlisted individuals will be notified only if they are moved off of the waitlist and are offered the opportunity to register for the class.

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  18. What if I have enrolled in a course but am unable to attend?

    It is important for you to cancel your course enrollment in TMS as soon as you learn you cannot attend. This will allow those on the waitlist to register to maximize attendance.

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  19. How can I get involved with the HR Academy?

    The HR Academy welcomes your input and ideas. We invite you to recommend new courses, participate in working groups, or provide suggestions on how we can better support you and your colleagues. Please submit your input via email to vacohracademy@va.gov.

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TMS FAQ

Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions about how to access and use the VA Talent Management System (TMS).

TMS is your gateway to all the learning and professional opportunities available throughout VA. You can identify and sign up for training in all professional areas, including courses offered by HR Academy.

It is also an excellent resource for managing your career development. Through TMS, you can stay on track with your personal To-Do lists, keep a record of your training, manage your talent profile and much more.

If you have any questions about how to use TMS, simply go to the InsideTMS link on the TMS Sign In page or User Home page. InsideTMS is a source for instructional toolkits, videos, online tutorials and other TMS information.

If you can't find answers to your questions on InsideTMS, click on the Help Desk tab on the TMS Home page.

1. How can I access TMS?
See page 1 of Accessing the VA TMS
(Adobe PDF PDF - 324KB *)

2. How can I sign in to TMS as a new user?
See pages 1 and 2 of Accessing the VA TMS
(Adobe PDF PDF - 324KB *)

3. How do I sign in as an established user?
See page 7 of the TMS Common Tasks Quick Reference Guide
(Adobe PDF PDF - 3.6MB *)

4. How do I create a new password?
See page 5 of the TMS Common Tasks Quick Reference Guide
(Adobe PDF PDF - 3.6MB *)

5. I forgot my password – how do I retrieve it?
See page 5 of the Accessing the VA TMS user job aid
(Adobe PDF (PDF - 324KB *)

6. What if my computer is not able to access TMS?
See page 6 of the Accessing the VA TMS user job aid
(Adobe PDF PDF - 324KB *)

7. How do I update my TMS profile?
See page 8 of the TMS Common Tasks Quick Reference Guide
(Adobe PDF PDF - 3.6MB *)

8. How do I search the TMS catalog?
See page 9 of the TMS Common Tasks Quick Reference Guide
(Adobe PDF PDF - 3.6MB *)

9. How do I view my Learning Plan?
See page 10 of the TMS Common Tasks Quick Reference Guide
(Adobe PDF PDF - 3.6MB *)

10. How do I access my To-Do List and Learning Content?
See page 15 of the TMS Common Tasks Quick Reference Guide
(Adobe PDF PDF - 3.6MB *)

11. How do I add or remove items from my To-Do List?
See pages 11 and 12 of the TMS Common Tasks Quick Reference Guide (Adobe PDF PDF - 3.6MB *)

12. How do I view and print my Learning History?
See pages 13 and 14 of the TMS Common Tasks Quick Reference Guide (Adobe PDF PDF - 3.6MB *)

13. How do I register for a course?
After getting permission from your supervisor to attend, log in to the TMS and click on the catalog box. Choose the course you want, then select the "Register" button**.

**Remarks: Some people might experience issues locating the "Register" button. Visit this link for a brief description of the issue and the work around Adobe PDF (PDF - 102KB *) suggested by the VA TMS helpdesk.

14. How do I view the schedule?
Go to the Catalog Calendar of Offerings page on TMS.

15. How do I withdraw from a course?
See the Withdraw from a Scheduled Offering user job aid
(Adobe PDF PDF - 97KB *)

16. What are the most common tasks in TMS?
See the TMS Common Tasks Quick Reference Guide
(Adobe PDF PDF - 3.6MB *)

17. How can I view my TMS User Record?
See page 1 of the View User Records user job aid
(Adobe PDF PDF - 235KB *)

18. How can I see my completed work?
See page 2 of the View User Records user job aid
(Adobe PDF PDF - 235KB *)

19. Where can I find my curriculum status?
See page 3 of the View User Records user job aid
(Adobe PDF PDF - 235KB *)

20. How can I access the TMS Help Page?
See page 18 of the TMS Common Tasks Quick Reference Guide
(Adobe PDF PDF - 3.6MB *)


* Plugins required [ Adobe® Reader® ]

Virtual Learning FAQs


1.    How is virtual training conducted? What tools do I need?
The HR Academy uses Blackboard Collaborate™ to deliver its virtual courses. Blackboard Collaborate™ is a virtual learning application that offers audio and video tools through a web conferencing platform to help instructors and participants interact in a virtual learning environment. View the Blackboard Collaborate™ demonstration video.

After you’ve watched the demonstration video, we recommend you do the following:

2.    What courses are currently available?
We recently updated the Course Calendar for Winter 2013. In January, we are offering the following courses:
    • Consulting Skills for HRM Professionals
    • Federal Staffing and Placement
    • Hiring and Retention Overview

To see the descriptions for these courses or to see the full list of offerings for January, February and March, visit the HR Academy Course Calendar.

3.    How do I register for a course?
To register for one of our courses, follow these steps:
    • Contact your supervisor for permission to participate in the course
    • Go to our Course Calendar page, choose the course that you want to take and select the “Register Now” button.
    • The “Register Now” button will take you to the TMS site to complete the registration process.
**If you experience issues locating the “Register Now” button, the VA TMS helpdesk has created a brief description of the issue and a work around that should fix the problem.

4.    How do I access Blackboard Collaborate™ and how do I login?
  • If you are a first time Blackboard Collaborate™ user, you will receive your account information via email when you successfully register for your first virtual course. If you have questions, or never received the email with your account information, please contact the training administrator at training_administrator@sra.com.

5.    Am I guaranteed a spot in a virtual course?
No. Class registration is completed on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure you are able to take the courses you want, work with your supervisor to plan the courses you will attend and register as early as you can once registration opens. After you’ve registered for the course, and received your confirmation, your seat in the class is guaranteed.

6.    Does the HR Academy have wait lists for virtual courses?
Yes. Once enrollment reaches the 30 seat limit, the course is closed. Additional registrations will be added to a wait list in the order they are received. If there are any cancellations, individuals on the waitlist will be admitted, based on seat availability, in the order in which they registered. Individuals placed on a wait list will be notified only if a space becomes available that they have the opportunity to register for the course.

7.    I’ve enrolled in a virtual course, but there’s a chance that I won’t be able to attend. What do I do?
It is important for you to cancel your course enrollment in TMS as soon as you learn you cannot attend. This will give individuals on the waitlist the opportunity to register for the course and maximize participation.  

8.    How does the HR Academy select its virtual course offerings?
The HR Academy selects each course using competency models, questionnaire results, focus groups and the input of managers and subject matter experts (SMEs) across VA’s practice. The HR Academy team chooses courses tied to the core, technical and strategic competencies required of HR professionals at all practice levels.

9.    Will I get a certificate of completion once I’ve taken a course?
Yes. Approximately two weeks after successfully completing a course and submitting a completed course evaluation, you will be able to print your Certificate of Completion through the Talent Management System.

10.    How do I learn more about virtual learning and Blackboard Collaborate™?
The Virtual Learning page provides you with instructions on the virtual learning capabilities including how to configure your computer to use Blackboard Collaborate ™. The site also contains a video that provides an overview of the virtual learning tool and links to two quick reference guides to help you participate in this online learning opportunity.