FAFSA Specialist Training
Being the go-to resource for students on financial aid can be an overwhelming, high-stakes task with momentous implications for each student's future. New changes to the financial aid process highlight the urgency and opportunity for high-quality training. uAspire and MCAN are excited to offer, for the third year, best in class training, support, and tools to better position practitioners to meet the unique needs of all Michigan students.
About the course
This certification opportunity is open to school counselors, college advisers, success coaches, community-based organization staff, and other college access and success providers. Seats in this training are reserved exclusively for people working in the state of Michigan.
There are seven virtual training sessions that must be attended to complete the certification, each being up to 1.5 hours long. These sessions will only be offered live once each, but the recordings will be made available to registrants through LearnWorlds, a learning management system, to watch and review for credit. All participants looking to earn the badge must complete the quizzes, even if they attend live. Topic and session information required to earn the Certified FAFSA Specialist badge is as follows:
There are seven virtual training sessions that must be attended to complete the certification, each being up to 1.5 hours long. These sessions will only be offered live once each, but the recordings will be made available to registrants through LearnWorlds, a learning management system, to watch and review for credit. All participants looking to earn the badge must complete the quizzes, even if they attend live. Topic and session information required to earn the Certified FAFSA Specialist badge is as follows:
- Introduction to Financial Aid: Monday, September 14, 2026, 10:30am-12pm (participants are automatically enrolled)
- FAFSA Completion A-Student Section: Monday, October 5, 2026, 10:30am-12pm (Link to register)
- FAFSA Completion B-Parent Section: Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 10:30am-12pm (Link to register)
- FAFSA Follow Up and Verification: Wednesday, December 9, 2027, 10:30am-12pm (Link to register)
- *FAFSA in Practice: Monday, January 11, 2027, 11am-12pm (Link to register)
- Financial Aid Offer Review: Monday, January 25, 2027, 10:30am-12pm (Link to register)
- Navigating Federal Student Loans: Monday, February 8, 2027, 10:30am-12pm (Link to register)
There is an additional session on Financial Aid Renewal for College Success, offered Monday, February 22, 2027, 10:30am-12pm, for practitioners working with current college students. This session is not required to earn the certification. Link to register.
Each individual training session will be available for 1.5 SCECHs in college preparation and selection.
Each individual training session will be available for 1.5 SCECHs in college preparation and selection.
*FAFSA in Practice will only be for 1 SCECH as it is only 1 hour long.
Logistics
To earn the certification and be recognized as a Certified FAFSA Specialist, registrants will participate in a series of 7 virtual training sessions, and complete quizzes about financial aid and the FAFSA completion process.
What does it mean to be a FAFSA Specialist?
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 if applicable. You will also be regarded as a FAFSA specialist to support the training of others, when needed.
Meetings
Virtual meeting information for each session will be provided to registrants via email and a LearnWorlds course. All sessions will be recorded and available to view at a later time if none of the live times work for your schedule. For each topic, whether the session is attended live or viewed via recording, participants must pass a quiz on the PD Hub to demonstrate content mastery.