2023–24 CPS Test System User Guide

Subject
2023–24 CPS Test System User Guide

We are pleased to announce the posting of the 2023–2024 CPS Test System User Guide on the Federal Student Aid (FSA) Knowledge Center website, located at https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center.

This guide provides instructions for using the Central Processing System (CPS) Test System, which includes two testing environments: a mainframe test environment and a Web Demonstration (demo) site, located at https://fafsademo.test.ed.gov.   

Mainframe Test System

The mainframe portion of the CPS Test System is designed to test application and correction data processing between your system and the CPS outside the production environment. You can use CPS test files of application records and matching Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs), or you can create and submit your own application records.

To submit only test correction records you have created, you must contact CPS/SAIG Technical Support to request record IDs that will process successfully in the CPS Test System.

The mainframe portion of the CPS Test System will be available on Sept. 25, 2022. Test data submissions for 2023–24 will not be processed until after the CPS begins processing data on Oct. 1, 2022.

Note: If changes to the CPS occur between the date the 2023–24 CPS Test System becomes available and Oct. 1, 2022 (the date the CPS begins processing 2023–24 data), the changes will be incorporated into the mainframe test system as they are identified and resolved. We will post an Issues Log to the Knowledge Center website listing issues or changes to the mainframe test system. Each entry in the log will include the date the item was identified, resolved, or resulted in a change, and will include the status of resolved and unresolved issues so that you can easily determine if and when previously identified issues were resolved. It will also indicate whether the specifications or test cases have been updated for 2023–24.

Web Demo Site

The web portion of the CPS Test System contains demo versions of both the fafsa.gov and FAA Access to CPS Online websites. These demo sites offer most of the features of the production versions of fafsa.gov and FAA Access to CPS Online and can be used as a training tool for students, parents, and financial aid office staff.

The CPS Web Demo System (https://fafsademo.test.ed.gov) will be available on Sept. 25, 2022. FSA will post an electronic announcement confirming the site is available for 2023–24.

Attachments

Last Modified: 09/02/2022