2011-12 Financial Aid Certification Program (New)

Brought to You by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission

It is critical that professionals who interact with Illinois students during the financial aid and college application processes are knowledgeable about the FAFSA and financial aid. This year, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is integrating its professional development opportunities, highly acclaimed by new and seasoned counselors and mentors, into a formalized annual certification series that gives professionals a detailed understanding of financial aid programs and systems. For the first time, ISAC will be providing participants session-specific knowledge assessments to measure their comprehension of the financial aid content and trusted resources presented. Session participants that successfully pass each knowledge assessment will receive an official certificate of completion from ISAC via email.

ISAC also awards CEs and CPDUs to session participants at a rate of one per contact hour. In order to earn these units and/or credits, it is necessary to attend each session in its entirety and complete one Session-Specific Knowledge Assessment, an ISAC and ISBE Evaluation Form, and an ISBE Evidence of Completion at the end of each session.

Plan to participate in one or several of these opportunities brought to a location near your home or office by ISAC’s Division for College Access and Outreach.  All sessions are offered at NO COST to counselors, mentors, and members of the general public.  

FALL SESSIONS

All-day sessions were offered in October, November, and December at 19 locations.

Fall Morning Sessions:

Session 1:  Nuts and Bolts of Financial Aid
Session 2:  State and Federal Scholarship, Grant, and Loan Programs

Knowledge Assessments Sessions 1 and Session 2

Fall Afternoon Sessions:

Session 3: FAFSA Made Easier
Session 4: FAFSA on the Web

Knowledge Assessments Sessions 3 and Session 4

Online registration for the fall session is closed.

WINTER SESSIONS

Sessions will be offered in January and February at 10 locations. 

Winter sessions will run from 8:30 am to Noon.  Registration will begin promptly at 8:00 am.

Winter Sessions:

Session 1:  Expert Guide:  FASFA Relevant Documents
Session 2:  FAFSA Expert Training: Need Analysis and EFC Calculations

Knowledge Assessments Sessions 1 and Session 2

Click here to access online registration for the winter sessions.

Online registration becomes available on November 22, 2011.

SPRING SESSIONS

Sessions will be offered in March at 5 locations. 

Spring sessions will run from 8:30 am to Noon.  Registration will begin promptly at 8:00 am.

Spring Sessions:

Session 1:  Corrections, Verification and Special Circumstances
Session 2:  Financial Aid Packaging and University Billing Cycle

Knowledge Assessments Sessions 1 and Session 2

Click here to access online registration for the spring sessions.

Online registration becomes available on January 12, 2012.

Additional Questions

Send us an email at ISAC.OutreachTraining@isac.illinois.gov.