Certified FAFSA Specialist Training

Significant changes to financial aid — including updates to the FAFSA, adjustments to the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, and the new Community College Guarantee — highlight the urgency and opportunity to provide high quality FAFSA professional development training.

In response to ongoing demand and the success of last year's training, MCAN continues to offer Certified FAFSA Specialist training, presented in partnership with uAspire. The course is accepting applicants who wish to receive FAFSA Specialist certification by watching recordings of the virtual training sessions. If you registered after Sept. 20, you will be added to the next monthly group of recording certification participants. Registrants will receive an email from Kiersten Nolan, strategy assistant for high school innovation, with details. 

This badging opportunity is open to those who have not previously earned a Certified FAFSA Specialist badge and who are school counselors, college advisers, success coaches, and other college access and success professionals. If you earned a certification last year, please do not register. You will still have access to the recordings when they are made available on our website.
 

Logistics

To earn a badge and be recognized as a Certified FAFSA Specialist, registrants must participate in a series of six recorded training sessions and complete quizzes about financial aid and the FAFSA completion process.

What does it mean to earn a badge? Upon successful completion of all training components, participants will receive a certificate of completion, social media assets, and other elements of recognition, in addition to earning SCECHs. They will be regarded as a Certified FAFSA Specialist to support the training of others, when needed.
 

SCECH

The six recorded training sessions are each 1.5 hours long. All participants seeking to earn certification must complete the quizzes. Each individual training session will be eligible for 1.5 SCECHs in college preparation and selection.

Training Session Recordings and Dates

All live, virtual meetings will be held 10:30 a.m.-noon ET.

Register to complete Certified FAFSA Specialist Training via recordings →

Introduction to Financial Aid
Recorded: Sept. 30, 2024
This training provides a robust overview of the vocabulary, concepts, processes, and timelines associated with applying for and securing financial aid for college. Participants will understand how financial aid can be accessed, as well how to facilitate meaningful and student centered college planning conversations with their students that appreciate the nuances and challenges of paying for college.
Recording
SCECH Quiz

FAFSA Completion (Part A)
Dec. 2
This training workshop is a deep dive into the FAFSA in which participants will learn how to complete the student section of the form, identify and manage the many potential pitfalls for students, and practice with a variety of complex student case studies to ensure the content is applicable in their work with students.
Recording 
SCECH Quiz

FAFSA Completion (Part B)
Dec. 4
This training workshop is a deep dive into the FAFSA in which participants will learn how to complete the parent/guardian section of the form, identify and manage the many potential pitfalls for students, and practice with a variety of complex student case studies to ensure the content is applicable in their work with students.
Recording
SCECH Quiz

FAFSA Follow Up and Verification
Jan. 23
This workshop will identify and address common challenges and best practices of FAFSA follow-up, including the importance of reviewing the FAFSA Submission Summary (previously called the Student Aid Report).  Additionally, the training will include an overview and guidance on federal verification requirements and strategies for helping students navigate the verification process, given the changes to the FAFSA and the launch of Direct Data Exchange.  
 

FAFSA Updates and Q+A
Feb. 4
A participant-driven space to share FAFSA updates and take questions on FAFSA/financial aid challenges and inform action plans.

Financial Aid Offer Review
March 6
This training workshop highlights the power of analyzing financial aid offers and gives participants the tools, knowledge, and language to support students with this critical step in the financial aid process.  The session will review key financial aid offer terminology, sample offer letters, and common formatting practices. The facilitator will then introduce the uAspire College Cost Calculator and walk through a case study to demonstrate the tool and practices reviewed in order to support a student and their family in interpreting their financial aid offer.

OPTIONAL - Financial Aid Renewal for College Success
March 13
This optional session is intended for practitioners working with current college students. This session is not required to earn the certification. 

Connect with a Certified FAFSA Specialist

Certified FAFSA Specialists who can be contacted by students and parents →

Counselors and educators: MCAN has a full list of Certified FAFSA Specialists to provide regional and/or multilingual support to people who work with students. Please contact Jeneen Hatoum, director of high school innovation, for more information.