Guiding students and families through the college financial aid process is complicated, and counselors and college advisors are looked to as the expert. To build confidence and skills in the financial aid process, MOCAN is offering advisors the chance to earn a Financial Aid Specialist credential.
Through a series of workshops, the Financial Aid Specialist Credential will prepare practitioners who are supporting students through the financial aid process. In partnership with national financial aid expert uAspire, the workshops will cover financial aid basics, how to complete the FAFSA form and required follow up steps, how to review financial aid offer letters, and how to navigate federal student loans. Participants will build their technical skills, as well as explore advising strategies and learn about resources that can be shared with students and families.
Click through the questions below to learn more and register for the credential.
This credential is for anyone who supports students through the financial aid process. This includes high school counselors, college advisors, staff at non-profit organizations, scholarship providers, and advisors at higher education institutions. The credential will be particularly helpful for people working with students from low-income backgrounds.
The financial aid process is multi-faceted and cannot be learned in a single workshop. Completing a credential demonstrates that the participants have validated expertise in a specific area.
To receive the credential, participants must first register with MOCAN. They will then attend six virtual workshops and one in-person workshop.
After each required workshop, participants will complete a short assessment to demonstrate their mastery of the information presented.
You can register for the credential here.
| Workshop Title | Date | Time | Notes |
| MASFAP High School Counselor Workshop | September – October | Varies, most locations are 8-11 | Required to attend 1 of the 12 |
| Introduction to Financial Aid | September 18 | 9-10:30 am | Required |
| FAFSA Completion, Part I | September 25 | 9-10:30 am | Required |
| FAFSA Completion, Part II | October 2 | 9-10:30 am | Required |
| FAFSA Follow Up & Verification | January 22 | 9-10:30 am | Required |
| Financial Aid Offer Review | February 12 | 9-10:30 am | Required |
| Navigating Federal Student Loans | March 5 | 9-10:30 am | Required |
YOu can see the schedule of the MASFAP workshops and register here.
PDI sessions on Missouri state aid programs, Workforce Pell grants, and navigating the scholarship application process will also be offered this year. Credential participants are encouraged to attend these workshops, but they are not required for the credential.
The virtual workshops will be held on Zoom. Participants are encouraged to attend the workshops live if possible, but recordings will also be available. MOCAN will use Canvas as its learning management system for this certificate program. Participants will be able to access workshop materials, assignments, and communication in one place. To earn the credential, participants will need to score an 80% or higher on all required post-workshop quizzes (10 question quizzes)
There is no cost to earn a Financial Aid Specialist credential.
Complete the registration form here. Registrations will be accepted through October 23, 2026
Kaitlyn Venta – [email protected]
| MASFAP Fall Workshop 3 hours, in-person Registration coming soon | MASFAP’s Early Awareness Committee offers free high school counselor workshops across Missouri (12 geographic locations) hosted on college campuses. The goal of these workshops is to educate practitioners on the FAFSA, what happens after filing the FAFSA, and covering the costs of college. |
| Introduction to Financial Aid 90 minutes, virtual Register here | This training will provide practitioners with an overview of the main types of financial aid and the senior-year financial aid timeline while incorporating a student-centered approach to the terminology and requirements. Participants will be able to: ● Explain the key steps in the financial aid process in student-friendly terms ● Describe the main types of federal financial aid ● Identify strategies to increase completion of key financial aid action steps |
| FAFSA Completion, Part I + II 90 minutes, virtual Register here Part 1 Register here Part 2 | This training workshop will walk participants through the online form, provide opportunities to practice with complex scenarios, and highlight the potential pitfalls all practitioners and students should be aware of. Participants will be able to: ● Recognize the importance of timely FSA ID creation + strategies for troubleshooting ● Determine whether a student is considered dependent or independent on the FAFSA ● Complete the financial sections for different family financial situations ● Identify key resources for supporting accurate FAFSA completion |
| FAFSA Follow Up & Verification 90 minutes, virtual Register here | This training will address common challenges and best practices of FAFSA follow-up, including the importance of reviewing the FAFSA Submission Summary (previously known as the Student Aid Report). Participants will also learn about federal verification requirements and strategies for helping students navigate the verification process. Participants will be able to: ● Differentiate between FAFSA submission and FAFSA completion ● Identify and discuss the information provided in the FAFSA Submission Summary ● Explain the purpose and process of verification in student-friendly terms ● Identify the federal verification procedure, requirements, and process |
| Financial Aid Offer Review 90 minutes, virtual Register here | This training workshop highlights the power of analyzing financial aid offers and gives participants the tools, knowledge, and language to support students with this critical step in the financial aid process. The session will review key financial aid offer terminology, sample offer letters, and common formatting practices. The facilitator will then introduce the uAspire College Cost Calculator and walk through a case study to demonstrate the tool and practices reviewed in order to support a student and their family in interpreting their financial aid offer. Participants will be able to: ● Explain financial aid jargon in student-friendly terms ● Identify aid offer best practices, as well as common pitfalls ● Use uAspire’s College Cost Calculator to accurately compare college costs ● Respond to difficult scenarios that may arise for students during aid offer review |
| Summer Steps for Financial Aid 90 minutes, virtual Register here | This training will provide an overview of best practices for advising students on critical summer financial aid activities, including paying the fall bill and planning for indirect expenses. Participants will be able to: ● Identify and describe the key financial aid tasks students must complete over the summer to successfully matriculate ● Help students understand the college bill and prepare for indirect expenses ● Identify payment options and strategies to minimize the cost of attendance ● Find opportunities for students to build self-advocacy skills |
