Newsroom

Training for new employees in the financial aid office

By Catherine Mueller

January 18, 2024

With the start of the new year, a new job may be among the list of goals for many people.

For those who choose financial aid and are new to the industry will have a lot to learn but, fortunately, there are a lot of resources.

The Department of Education reminds financial aid professionals that there are sessions in the Federal Student Aid (FSA) Training Center

FSA recommends the following courses for new employees:

• FSA Basic Training for New Staff Course
  This comprehensive course is designed for newly hired, entry-level financial aid staff to gain a basic understanding of all the parts and pieces of Title IV aid administration from the student aid application process to Return of Title IV funds. The course is self-paced, takes 30-40 hours to complete, and contains over 40 lessons and nearly 20 hands-on checkpoint activities.
• Financial Aid Orientation Learning Track
  This learning track covers basic financial aid concepts, roles and responsibilities, and an overview of the Title IV aid programs and process. In addition, the track contains a how-to video series which will teach you how to find and use important resources on the Knowledge Center.
• Basic Steps of the Financial Aid Process Video
  This instructional video breaks down the federal financial aid process into a several key steps within the operational functions of Application, Awarding & Disbursing, and Reporting. Each step is carefully explained with the goal of demonstrating the entire financial aid process from start to finish.

New employees will need to set up an account to access the courses in the FSA Training Center.