Bringing nationally-recognized training for financial aid administrators across the country.

June 24, 2019—The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) today officially launched its new Certified Financial Aid Administrator™ (CFAA) Program, a first-in-the-industry effort that validates the skills and knowledge of financial aid professionals at postsecondary institutions across state, regional, and national levels.

Financial aid administrators have always worked diligently to protect the integrity of student aid programs. The CFAA Program, created in response to increasing demand from NASFAA members, recognizes the integral role financial aid administrators play in an institution of higher education's overall success.

“NASFAA used a careful, deliberate, and practitioner-based approach to create an accreditation-ready certification program that will set the standard for what it means to be qualified to administer student aid programs,” said NASFAA President Justin Draeger. “As the program grows, it will set clear standards for institutions about the appropriate resource levels to ensure there are qualified individuals in the financial aid office to meet an institution’s federally mandated administrative capability requirements.”

Designed to complement practitioners’ on-the-job expertise, this voluntary certification is designed especially for financial aid administrators at colleges and universities across the country. The CFAA Program is currently accepting applications, and the $50 application fee will be waived in the CFAA Program’s inaugural year. Administrators can find out whether they are eligible to sit for the CFAA Exam during an upcoming testing window by reviewing the eligibility requirements, and can apply online if eligible.

To arrange a time to speak with a NASFAA spokesperson about this important benchmark for the profession, please contact Director of Marketing and Communications Erin Powers.

About NASFAA

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) is a nonprofit membership organization that represents more than 28,000 financial aid professionals at nearly 3,000 colleges, universities, and career schools across the country. NASFAA member institutions serve nine out of every ten undergraduates in the United States. Based in Washington, D.C., NASFAA is the only national association with a primary focus on student aid legislation, regulatory analysis, and training for financial aid administrators. For more information, visit www.nasfaa.org.