Certification News
Keep up-to-date on all Certified Financial Aid Administrator® Program news here.
Recent Certification News
NASFAA Congratulates the Newest Cohort of FAACs
July 29, 2022 - The most recent certification testing window has closed and the registry continues to grow! The Certified Financial Aid Administrator® Commission — an independent certifying body of NASFAA — has now certified a total of 322 financial aid professionals across the country who have earned the FAAC® designation. These individuals now qualify to receive a multitude of benefits. If you’re interested in becoming certified, verify your eligibility using our free, interactive tool. The next testing window opens on July 13, 2022.
July 20, 2022 - There are still seats available during the current testing window, which is open through July 27, 2022. Exam dates and times fill up quickly, so be sure to schedule your exam session soon. If you haven't applied yet, complete your application online today. Learn more about the testing process and make sure you meet all of the technical requirements.
July 13, 2022 - Ready to add the FAAC® designation to your name? The first testing window of 2022-23 is open today through July 27, 2022. If your application has already been approved, purchase the certification knowledge exam and schedule your session online. If you haven't applied yet, complete your application online now. Learn more about the testing process and make sure you meet all of the technical requirements. Utilize the Candidate Handbook and Exam Preparation Guide to aid your studies.
July 12, 2022 - Looking for resources to help you prepare to take the certification knowledge exam? Minimize the time you spend preparing by focusing your review where it’s most needed. Download NASFAA’s new Self-Assessment Worksheet to evaluate which parts of the Content Outline in the Candidate Handbook you might want to prioritize. Then begin reviewing resources including the FSA Handbook and NASFAA’s Exam Preparation Guide, which is updated and more comprehensive than the beta version previously available. Gain even greater confidence through strategic preparation and you’ll be ready on Exam Day!
July 8, 2022 - The FAAC® designation is something to be celebrated! At the National Conference, we asked current FAACs to share why they became certified. Check out what they had to say. Are you already certified? Add your own #whycertify. Not certified yet? Check your eligibility using our free interactive tool, and then apply online.
July 6, 2022 - Does increased credibility, more opportunities to lead, and being a part of a community of distinguished peers entice you? Then it's time to get certified! The first testing window of 2022-23 will be open from July 13-27, 2022. If your application has already been approved, purchase the knowledge exam and schedule your session online. If you haven't applied yet, complete your application online today. Utilize the Candidate Handbook and Exam Preparation Guide to aid your studies.
July 5, 2022 - As of July 1, 2022 the CFAA Program Commission will be led by Commission Chair Christina Tangalakis, Ed.D. Shannon Crossland will continue to serve on the Commission as past chair, and Craig Slaughter will serve as chair-elect. During the past year, the CFAA Program added new accomplishments, including the inaugural FAAC® Forum, introduction of the FAAC Slack Community, and recertification of the first FAAC cohort. NASFAA is excited to support the incoming commissioners as they continue to advance the program over the next year. Meet all of the 2022-23 commissioners.
June 22, 2022 - To remain certified, an FAAC® must accumulate at least 60 recertification points (RPs) every three years through financial aid-related training and other activities. FAACs who recertify with 100 RPs or more qualify to join the exclusive 100+ Club, which acknowledges the significant investment of time and effort required to recertify at this level. More than 30 FAACs have achieved this milestone. Benefits include a discounted recertification fee, a special badge and lapel pin, and inclusion on the 100+ Club Registry. Make the 100+ Club your new goal! Learn more about recognition and benefits for all FAACs.
June 17, 2022 - The most recent certification testing window has closed and the registry continues to grow! The Certified Financial Aid Administrator® Commission — an independent certifying body of NASFAA — has now certified a total of 322 financial aid professionals across the country who have earned the FAAC® designation. These individuals now qualify to receive a multitude of benefits. If you’re interested in becoming certified, verify your eligibility using our free, interactive tool. The next testing window opens on July 13, 2022.
June 3, 2022 - Earlier this week, those with the FAAC® designation tackled a tough conversation about NASFAA's recently released survey on staffing shortages in the financial aid office. Read on for more from practicing aid administrators about how staffing challenges have intensified in recent years, and how it's impacting office operations.
June 2, 2022 - What's the best way to prepare to take the Certified Financial Aid Administrator® (CFAA) Program Knowledge Exam? We recommend starting with the Candidate Handbook. View this on-demand webinar to explore how you can use the Candidate Handbook to your advantage. Hear from a panel of FAACs® who shared insights into why they pursued certification, how they prepared for the knowledge exam, what the testing experience was like, and how they have benefited from the designation. Begin your journey toward certification by tuning in for this complimentary webinar to learn more about the CFAA Program. Register now.
May 27, 2022 - The most recent certification testing window has closed and the registry continues to grow! The Certified Financial Aid Administrator® Commission — an independent certifying body of NASFAA — has now certified a total of 316 financial aid professionals across the country who have earned the FAAC® designation. These individuals now qualify to receive a multitude of benefits. If you’re interested in becoming certified, verify your eligibility using our free, interactive tool. The next testing window opens on June 1, 2022.
May 18, 2022 - There is still time to get certified during the current testing window, which is open through May 25, 2022. Exam dates and times fill up quickly, so be sure to schedule your exam session soon. If you haven't applied yet, complete your application online today. Learn more about the testing process and make sure you meet all of the technical requirements.
May 11, 2022 - Ready to earn the FAAC® designation? You'll accomplish an important professional goal and you would qualify to receive the multitude of benefits that come with certification. The current two-week testing window is now open through May 25, 2022. If your application has already been approved, purchase the certification knowledge exam and schedule your session online. If you haven't applied yet, complete your application online today. Learn more about the testing process and make sure you meet all of the technical requirements. Utilize the Exam Preparation Guide to aid your studies.
May 10, 2022 - What's the best way to prepare to take the Certified Financial Aid Administrator® (CFAA) Program Knowledge Exam? We recommend starting with the Candidate Handbook. Join Margot O'Meara, NASFAA's certification and credentialing program analyst, on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. ET to explore how you can use the handbook to your advantage. She will be joined by a panel of FAACs® who will share insights into why they pursued certification, how they prepared for the knowledge exam, what the testing experience was like, and how they have benefited from the designation. Begin your journey toward certification by tuning in for this complimentary webinar to learn more about the CFAA Program. Register now.
May 5, 2022 - Join Margot O'Meara, NASFAA's certification and credentialing program analyst, next Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. ET to explore how you can use the Candidate Handbook to your advantage. She will be joined by a panel of FAACs® who will share insights into why they pursued certification, how they prepared for the knowledge exam, what the testing experience was like, and how they have benefited from the designation. Begin your journey towards certification by tuning in for this complimentary webinar to learn more about the Certified Financial Aid Administrator® (CFAA) Program. Register now.
May 4, 2022 - Interested in joining the FAAC® community? The next testing window will be open from Wednesday, May 11 to May 26, 2022. Exam dates and times can fill up quickly, so be sure to schedule your exam session soon. Learn more about the testing process and make sure you meet all of the technical requirements. Check your eligibility and then complete your certification application online. Utilize the Exam Preparation Guide to aid your studies.
April 29, 2022 - The most recent certification testing window has closed and the registry continues to grow! The Certified Financial Aid Administrator® Commission — an independent certifying body of NASFAA — has now certified a total of 313 financial aid professionals across the country who have earned the FAAC® designation. These individuals now qualify to receive a multitude of benefits. If you’re interested in becoming certified, verify your eligibility using our free, interactive tool. The next testing window opens on May 11, 2020, followed by another testing window beginning June 1, 2022.
April 20, 2022 - There is still time to get certified during the current testing window, which is open through April 27, 2022. Exam dates and times fill up quickly, so be sure to schedule your exam session soon. If you haven't applied yet, complete your application online today. Learn more about the testing process and make sure you meet all of the technical requirements.
April 18, 2022 - What's the best way to prepare to take the Certified Financial Aid Administrator® (CFAA) Program Knowledge Exam? We recommend starting with the Candidate Handbook. Join Margot O'Meara, NASFAA's certification and credentialing program analyst, on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. ET to explore how you can use the Candidate Handbook to your advantage. She will be joined by a panel of FAACs® who will share insights into why they pursued certification, how they prepared for the knowledge exam, what the testing experience was like, and how they have benefited from the designation. Begin your journey toward certification by tuning in for this complimentary webinar to learn more about the CFAA Program. Register now.
April 14, 2022 - Ready to earn the FAAC® designation? You'll accomplish an important professional goal and you would qualify to receive the multitude of benefits that come with certification. The current two-week testing window is now open through April 27, 2022. If your application has already been approved, purchase the certification knowledge exam and schedule your session online. If you haven't applied yet, complete your application online today. Learn more about the testing process and make sure you meet all of the technical requirements. Utilize the Exam Preparation Guide to aid your studies.
April 7, 2022 - Your window of opportunity just expanded! Now the April testing window will be open from Thursday, April 14 through Wednesday April 27, 2022. NASFAA also added a two-week testing window into the schedule, beginning on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. If you're already approved to participate, book your session now during the testing window that's most convenient for you. Learn more about the testing process and check the technical requirements. Use the complimentary Exam Preparation Guide to help get ready for your exam. If you haven't applied yet, complete your application online today.
March 31, 2022 - Interested in joining the FAAC® community? The next testing window will be open from Wednesday, April 6 through April 20, 2022. Exam dates and times can fill up quickly, so be sure to schedule your exam session soon. Learn more about the testing process and make sure you meet all of the technical requirements. Check your eligibility and then complete your certification application online. Utilize the Exam Preparation Guide to aid your studies.
March 21, 2022 - From applying to recertifying, the certification dashboard guides each FAAC® through the entire certification process. Recent enhancements make it even easier to check your current status, review your activities, and track your progress toward recertification. Mia Mwango, director of financial aid at Santa Fe Colleges in Florida says, "The new layout is intuitive and streamlined yet very robust. The navigation is natural and seamless." Already an FAAC? Consider the recertification strategy that’s right for you. Not certified yet? Complete your application online today.
March 11, 2022 - The most recent certification testing window has closed and the registry continues to grow! The Certified Financial Aid Administrator® Commission — an independent certifying body of NASFAA — has now certified a total of 305 financial aid professionals across the country who have earned the FAAC® designation. These individuals now qualify to attend the FAAC® Forum, among other benefits. If you're interested in becoming certified, verify your eligibility using our free, interactive tool. The next testing window opens on April 6, 2022.
February 23, 2022 - Ready to earn the FAAC® designation? You'll accomplish an important professional goal and you would qualify to receive the multitude of benefits that come with certification. The current two-week testing window is now open through March 9, 2022. If your application has already been approved, purchase the certification knowledge exam and schedule your session online. If you haven't applied yet, complete your application online today. Learn more about the testing process and make sure you meet all of the technical requirements. Utilize the Exam Preparation Guide to aid your studies.
February 22, 2022 - The best way for FAACs® to claim all possible recertification points (RPs) is to record each activity in your certification dashboard soon after the event or activity takes place. Even if you don't update your dashboard right away, be sure to save the documentation you'll need. For example, if you attended the 2021 Virtual FSA Training Conference (FSATC), access to your certificate of attendance expires — forever — after March 1, 2022. With only one week left, make sure you've already downloaded your certificate (see these FAQs). Need a recertification strategy? Feel free to contact us. Not certified yet? Explore your eligibility using our free, interactive tool and apply online.
February 18, 2022 - After nearly 25 years in financial aid, Evelyn Disla-Hernandez found herself at her first in-person NASFAA conference this week for NASFAA's Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo — specifically, for the first ever FAAC® Forum held exclusively for certified aid professionals. There, in a room underneath the main conference floor, Disla-Hernandez gathered with other FAACs from across the country to talk about developing a sense of community among financial aid colleagues, how to be leaders in their offices, and building on their foundation of financial aid knowledge.
February 17, 2022 - Interested in attending the FAAC® Forum next year? Get certified! The next testing window will be open from Wednesday, February 23 through March 9, 2022. Exam dates and times can fill up quickly, so be sure to schedule your exam session soon. Learn more about the testing process and make sure you meet all of the technical requirements. Check your eligibility and then complete your certification application online.
February 16, 2022 - To remain certified, each FAAC® needs to accumulate at least 60 recertification points every three years through financial aid-related training and other activities. For those who recertify with 100 points or more, NASFAA created the 100+ Club to acknowledge the significant investment of time and effort required to recertify at this level. Conferred at recertification, this special designation remains valid for the next recertification period and will renew for everyone who qualifies the next time they recertify. Make the 100+ Club your new goal! Learn more about recognition and benefits for all FAACs.
February 10, 2022 - After nearly 20 years working in financial aid, Loretta Jones was looking for ways to continue learning and diving deeper into the profession she called a vocation. As quality control specialist at East Coast Polytechnic Institute (ECPI) University in Virginia, Jones had significant responsibilities in the aid office and also found herself training and passing down her knowledge to younger financial aid colleagues. She began pursuing the FAAC® designation through NASFAA's Certified Financial Aid Administrator® Program in 2019, shortly after the program's inception, and was in the inaugural group of aid administrators to complete the certification program.
February 10, 2022 - NASFAA is pleased to announce that Craig Slaughter, FAAC®, director of financial aid at Kenyon College in Ohio, has been selected by the commissioners as the next chair-elect, effective July 1, 2022. Craig will continue to represent the Midwest region for the next three years as one of the elected officers of the commission. As the service terms for several positions end in June, new commissioners are being appointed this spring to contribute to the work of the commission on behalf of the financial aid community.
February 9, 2022 - Ready to get certified? The next testing window will be open from Wednesday, February 23 through March 9, 2022. Exam dates and times can fill up quickly, so be sure to schedule your exam session soon. Learn more about the testing process and make sure you meet all of the technical requirements. Check your eligibility and then complete your certification application online.
February 8, 2022 - The first cohort of financial aid administrators certified by NASFAA earned the FAAC® designation nearly three years ago and will soon be able to recertify for another three years. Recertification demonstrates ongoing commitment to continued learning and growth through engagement in professional activities, such as the approved activities outlined online. Once you have enough recertification points, the certification dashboard will make it easy to recertify as early as six months before your current certification expires. Whether you became an FAAC several years ago or last month, let us know if we can help as you consider the recertification strategy that's right for you. Not certified yet? Learn more about recognition and benefits for FAACs and complete your application online today.
February 1, 2022 - The January certification testing window has closed and the registry continues to grow! The Certified Financial Aid Administrator® Commission — an independent certifying body of NASFAA — has now certified a total of 301 financial aid professionals across the country who have earned the FAAC® designation. These individuals now qualify to attend the FAAC® Forum, among other benefits. If you're interested in becoming certified, verify your eligibility using our free, interactive tool. The next testing window opens on Feb. 23, 2022.
January 27, 2022 - NASFAA provides a wide variety of programs for beginning, intermediate, and experienced financial aid administrators delivered in a multitude of ways to support different learning styles. Explore the options available to you, which range from attending NASFAA U online courses, to earning professional credentials, to becoming certified as an FAAC®. Decide what's right for you by viewing this webinar today.
Publication Date: 7/29/2022
