Training for New Financial Aid Professionals
FSA COACH Web-based Training
A comprehensive, introductory course on school requirements for administering the Federal Student Aid programs. The 37 lessons can be completed individually, allowing you to tailor the training to your specific needs.
Strongly recommended as a pre-requisite for the "Fundamentals of Title IV" training below.
FSA COACH for Foreign Schools Web-based Training
This edition of FSA COACH contains 23 lessons describing requirements for administering FFEL loans used by U.S. students at participating foreign schools.
Financial Aid Basics
Intended for the new financial aid administrator, Financial Aid Basics is a four-day workshop that provides an introduction to:
- Title IV programs, policies, and procedures
- Important resources available to help you administer the programs and find answers for your questions
- Title IV administrative and financial systems
In order to get the most benefit from "Basics," we recommend that before attending, you review FSA COACH (above), our on-line tutorial for new aid administrators.
Important Note: This training does not satisfy the financial aid training requirement for schools seeking initial certification to participate in the Title IV Programs. To satisfy that requirement, staff at such schools must register for Fundamentals of Title IV.
Fundamentals of Title IV Administration [4.5 days]
Required for all CEO/President and financial aid administrators of schools seeking or awaiting initial certification. All postsecondary schools that are new to the Title IV programs or are awaiting certification must send the CEO/President or designee to the training for the first two days and at least one financial aid administrator (FAA) for the entire four and one-half days.
PLEASE NOTE: You will need your OPE-ID number in order to register. If you do not know your OPE-ID number or need to obtain one, please call the school participation team for your state.
A basic but comprehensive course that touches on all aspects of administering the Federal Student Aid programs, including: laws and regulations, administrative and financial systems, application processing, verification, disbursing funds, and reporting requirements.
Related resource: The Federal Student Aid Handbook is used as the basis for Fundamentals training.
Web Demo: FAFSA on the Web and FAA Access to CPS Online
The CPS Web Applications Demo System offers demonstration versions of FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) and FAA Access to CPS Online. The demo site contains all of the features of the production versions of the websites.
Financial aid staff can learn about FOTW and FAA Access to CPS Online, including the new Return of Title IV Funds on the Web, and they can also show students and parents how to use FAFSA on the Web.
Test student IDs and PINs are available for preloaded renewal application and correction records. These test records can be accessed in both the FOTW and FAA Access demos. FAA IDs and PINs are available for FAA Access. The data you enter is saved for the day you enter it and is cleared from the database each evening.
The CPS Web Applications Demo site is located at fafsademo.test.ed.gov. It is password protected, so when you click on the link, a login box will appear. Enter the following:
User name: eddemo (case-sensitive).
Password: fafsatest (case-sensitive).