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TY2025 LMS Courses are now ready -->

TY2025 LMS Courses READY

November 13, 2025

To: AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Volunteers

From: The LMS Working Group, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide

Subject: LMS Courses Ready Today!

Dear Volunteer,

Each year we take online courses to meet both AARP Foundation standards and requirements set by the IRS as a condition for the grant money they provide to fund the Tax-Aide program. These courses are in the Learning Management System (LMS), found in the training tab on the Volunteer Portal.

To be a Tax-Aide volunteer you must take the following two courses for certification:

Technology and Security
Policies and Procedures

Local Coordinators and Shift Coordinators must also take:

Local Coordinator/Shift Coordinator Training

In response to your feedback and program changes, these LMS courses are updated each year and thoroughly tested. They are ready for you to launch today!

We have some excellent news for returning volunteers. If you had an active assignment in Tax-Aide for the TY2024, you are eligible for a test-out option for Technology & Security and Policies & Procedures!! Each of these required courses has a 10-question test in Part 1. If you score 80% or higher, you will have met your certification requirement for that course. If you do not pass the test, or if you prefer to review the course content, go to Part 2 of that course, and certify by completing the slides. No re-test is required.

If you are a new volunteer or did not volunteer last year, you should go straight to Part 2, the full course content, as shown in the training tab instructions. The test-out option does not apply to you this year.

Each course takes about 20 - 35 minutes to complete if you do not use the test-out option. You can adjust the speed of narration using a button at the bottom of the screen. Closed captioning is also available, with or without muting the narration.

The National Operations Committee (NOC) maintains Tip Sheets to assist you in accessing and navigating your LMS courses, including the test-out option. They can be found in the Learning Management System (LMS) folder in the library tab of the Portal.

If you use a personal device to access the training tab, and not your AARP Foundation issued Chromebook, you may receive the following message: “Litmos/Find your Litmos URL.” If this happens, refer to Tip Sheet, Troubleshoot Basic Access Issues for LMS for guidance.

Below are frequently asked questions and answers with additional information to help improve your LMS experience.

Thank you for your commitment to the Tax-Aide program and for all the effort you put into preparing for a successful tax season.

The LMS Working Group

(A collaborative group of Tax-Aide staff and volunteer leaders working for you.)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I access the Volunteer Portal?

Go to https://volunteers.aarp.org and then click on “Login to the Volunteer Portal.” Your login is your personal email address. If you have forgotten your password, use the password-reset feature; never login without a password. If you have never logged onto the Portal, ask your volunteer leader for a “Send Access Invitation.”

I cannot launch the courses.

Some browsers are not compatible with LMS; try using your Chromebook or Chrome browser on your device; also, review instructions in the Tip Sheet Troubleshoot Basic Access Issues for LMS if you get a “find your Litmos URL” message.

I would like to take a course that is recommended but not assigned to me.

Look in the Learning Library and search for Tax-Aide courses by using the key word “TY2025”. For more information refer to the Tip Sheet, Access Learning Content.

I completed the courses or the test out option, but only got an email confirmation for one course.

Check your My Training on the training tab in the Portal. It will show the courses you completed.

I completed the required courses, but they do not all show as complete.

Do NOT retake courses; send an explanation to your local coordinator who will verify your completion with the volunteer in your district or state who records certification information.

I do not have access to the Portal and/or the internet.

Ask your volunteer leader to give you the appropriate pdf documents for the courses you need. These are found in the Learning Management System (LMS) library; read these documents thoroughly and verify your completion with your local coordinator. In this case, the local coordinator will also verify your completion with the volunteer in your district or state who records certification information.

Are there other Tip Sheets that might be helpful?

LMS Course Navigation Tips and LMS Test Out Option

What about prospective volunteers?

Prospective volunteers who are under consideration in candidate status will have the two required LMS courses assigned to them in the Volunteer Portal, however, it is quite possible that they may not have previously logged into the Portal. Leaders should make certain that the newcomer has received the “Send Access Invitation” email with instructions for their initial logon.

Although volunteers in my district report completing the LMS courses through the Portal, they are not showing up in the bulk certification recording.

If this happens, completion status will need to be manually recorded. Volunteers should confirm they completed the course with their district coordinator. (Completion should also be shown in the volunteer’s My Training sections or on the contact record user learning path results)

What if my question isn’t answered?

First, check with your local leader. But you may also submit a request for assistance electronically. Here’s how: Go to the Portal home page and look for the blue buttons. Click on “Submit a Request.” At the next screen, select Operations; then, under Operations Topics, select “Volunteer Portal,” and “LMS Online Courses.” Provide a description of your problem, and hit the submit button.

As part of the Tax-Aide program, information including the latest updates and program guidance is regularly sent via email to all volunteers. If you are a Tax-Aide volunteer with a question, please first contact your volunteer supervisor or members of your volunteer leadership team.

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