The U.S. Department of Education has announced its 2026–27 Federal Student Aid (FSA) training offerings, providing institutions with updated learning opportunities for the upcoming award year. The announcements include the required FSA Fundamentals Training Series for certain institutions, updated Learning Tracks for financial aid professionals, and the FSA Basic Training for New Staff course.
Whether your institution is onboarding new employees, preparing for a change in ownership, or looking to strengthen Title IV knowledge across your financial aid office, these resources can help your team stay current on federal student aid requirements.
FSA Fundamentals Training Series
The FSA Fundamentals Training Series is required for certain institutions participating in the Title IV federal student aid programs.
Who Must Complete the Training?
The training is required for both the institution’s Owner, President, or CEO (or designated senior official) and the Financial Aid Administrator if the institution:
- Is applying to participate in the Title IV federal student aid programs for the first time.
- Is undergoing a qualifying change of ownership.
Both individuals must successfully complete:
- FSA Fundamentals Online, a self paced online prerequisite.
- FSA Fundamentals Virtual Workshop, a live instructor led training conducted via Zoom.
Participants may attend different workshop sessions, but both training components must be completed to satisfy the requirement.
The training is also available as an optional refresher for experienced financial aid professionals.
2026–27 Virtual Workshop Schedule
Clock Hour and Nonterm Credit Hour Schools
- October 19 through 23, 2026
- January 25 through 29, 2027
- March 15 through 19, 2027
Credit Hour Schools
- November 16 through 20, 2026
- February 22 through 26, 2027
- April 12 through 16, 2027
Workshops are held virtually from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time Monday through Thursday and 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, with additional activities required outside scheduled class time.
Topics Covered
The Fundamentals Training Series provides a comprehensive overview of Title IV administration, including:
- Institutional eligibility
- Requesting and managing federal funds
- Institutional policies and procedures
- Student eligibility
- Financial aid packaging
- Disbursement requirements
- Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4)
- Institutional reporting requirements
Registration Information
Participants must complete the FSA Fundamentals Online course before registering for a virtual workshop. Registration for each workshop closes 12 days before the session begins, so institutions should plan ahead.
Updated Learning Tracks for 2026–27
FSA has also updated its Learning Tracks within the FSA Training Center for the 2026–27 award year.
Learning Tracks provide curated collections of self paced courses organized by topic, making it easier for financial aid professionals to build knowledge in specific areas of Title IV administration. Tracks cover subjects such as:
- Application Processing
- Campus Based Programs
- Consumer Information
- Cost of Attendance
- Direct Loans
- Federal Pell Grant
- Professional Judgment
- Return of Title IV Funds
- Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Verification
These courses are an excellent resource for experienced staff looking to refresh their knowledge or stay current on regulatory and operational changes.
FSA Basic Training for New Staff
For professionals who are new to financial aid, the Department has updated the FSA Basic Training for New Staff curriculum for the 2026–27 award year.
This self paced program introduces participants to the fundamentals of administering the Title IV programs and is designed for employees with little or no prior financial aid experience.
The curriculum includes approximately 30 to 40 hours of online instruction and covers topics including:
- Title IV program basics
- Student eligibility
- FAFSA processing
- Professional judgment
- Cost of attendance
- Packaging and awarding aid
- Verification
- Return of Title IV Funds
- Consumer informationDirect Loan administration
While the Basic Training for New Staff is not required, it serves as an excellent onboarding resource for new financial aid administrators.
Why These Training Opportunities Matter
The annual updates to the FSA Training Center provide institutions with valuable resources to strengthen compliance and improve staff knowledge. Whether your institution is training new employees, preparing for Title IV participation, or keeping experienced staff current on federal requirements, these programs offer practical guidance directly from Federal Student Aid.
Institutions should review the available courses early and register for required workshops well in advance, as enrollment closes before each session begins.
How College Aid Services Can Help
Keeping up with evolving Title IV requirements takes time and expertise. College Aid Services provides institutions with Title IV compliance consulting, customized financial aid training, interim staffing, and operational support to help colleges and universities remain compliant and prepared for federal requirements. Contact us to learn how our experienced team can support your institution.
RESOURCES:
(ANN-26-13) Training Workshops – 2026–27 FSA Fundamentals Training Series