By Cathy Mueller
Now might be a good time to consider a password manager if you are accessing any of the Department of Education’s systems to manage federal financial aid.
In a July 1 Electronic Announcement, the Department said it is implementing new password requirements for its systems accessed by many of its industry partners.
Anyone with an existing FSA User ID and password or anyone setting up a new account will need to create a new password that meets the following criteria:
- Minimum of 15 characters
- One uppercase and one lowercase letter
- At least one number (0–9)
- At least one special character (! @ # $ & *)
- Passwords may not match or resemble the user’s first name, last name, log-in name, or any Federal Student Aid system name.
The Department said it is giving users the option to create a passphrase instead of a password. According to the Department, a passphrase is easier to remember, and it is considered more secure.
A passphrase must meet the following criteria:
- Minimum of 16 characters
- No more than 128 characters
- Can’t include your first name, last name, or log-in name
- Can’t include words that are system names
- The passphrase and confirmed passphrase must match.
Anyone with questions about the new password requirements should contact the customer service center for the specific system or website to be accessed.
