Contents

• Overview 
• Testing Tips 
• Step 1: Access the Test Cycle
• Step 2: Create a Test Applicant Account
• Step 3: Complete Your Profile 
  • Individual Applicants Only
  • Organization Applicants Only
• Step 4: Complete the Eligibility Check (if applicable) 
• Step 5: Complete the Intake Form(s) 
  • Complete an Intake Form Without Sections 
  • Complete an Intake Form With Sections 
• Step 6: Repeat Steps 1-5 to Submit More Test Applications
• Related Articles
   

Overview

This guide explains how to submit test applications when testing an Award Cycle in Next.

👤Note for Admin: To submit test applications, your award cycle must be in Test Mode. If you still need to activate Test Mode, see ➡️ How to Activate Test Mode.
 

Testing Tips 

• Test in Incognito/Private Mode 
  • To test the applicant experience, we recommend using Incognito mode (Chrome), InPrivate mode (Edge) or Private Browsing (Safari) mode. This is especially important for Admins to prevent your Admin login from interfering with your test account.
• Think Like an Applicant 
  • As you test, ask yourself: 
    • Is this step or question confusing? 
    • Are all the instructions clear?
    • What changes would make this easier to understand?
• Look for the Test Mode Banner
  • A blue “Test Mode Active” banner will be displayed at the top of most screens once you're logged in and completing the application, which simply verifies the cycle is in Test Mode. 
    
    

• Track Your Suggestions/Edits
  • Note your suggestions, typos, or confusing questions as you go. 

👤Note for Admin: You must log back into your Admin account to make any edits.
 

Step 1: Access the Test Cycle 

1. Open the Test Cycle URL in Incognito mode (Chrome), InPrivate mode (Edge), or Private Browsing (Safari). 

2. On the Program Page, click Apply to begin. 

📌Note: Avoid clicking into the left-hand menu, as it can interfere with Test Mode. Use on-screen buttons instead (e.g., the green “Apply” button). 

3.   The sign-up/log-in page opens in a new tab.
 

Step 2: Create a Test Applicant Account 

To create an account:

1. On the sign-up/log-in page, select the I’m a new user tab. 

2. Fill out the requested details. For help, see➡️ How to Create Your Account (Applicants). 

👤 Tip for Admin: When creating an applicant account, use a clear naming pattern so you can easily tell it apart from your Admin account.

- First Name: Your real first name (or a placeholder name)
- Last Name: Add a label like Applicant1, Applicant2, etc. to keep accounts organized
 
 

3. Click Create Account to finish. 
 

Step 3: Complete Your Profile 

• The cycle may accept individual applicants, organization applicants, or both. Follow the instructions for the type you’re testing:
   

1. Individual Applicants Only. 

a) You’ll see this screen after you create an account:

b) Follow these instructions: Individual applicants only. 
 

2. Organization Applicants Only: 

a) After creating an account, you’ll see this screen:

b) Follow these instructions: Organization applicants only. 
 

3. Both Individual & Organization Applicants: 

a) After creating an account, you’ll be asked to select your applicant type. 

b) Based on your choice: 

- Individual: Follow the steps in Individual Applicants Only.

- Organization: Follow the steps in Organization Applicants Only.
 

Individual Applicants Only

If the cycle accepts only individual applicants: 

1. After creating your test account, the Create Your Profile page will load.

2. Click Get Started to create your individual profile. 

3. Complete all required fields (marked with a  * ). 


📌Note: Your profile form may look different from the screenshot above if the organization added custom fields. Only the Organization Owner can edit profile forms. To edit the Individual Profile Form, see ➡️ Set Up Profile Forms.

4. Click Create Profile at the bottom. 

5. The system will either start the Eligibility Check (if your cycle has one) or take you directly to the Intake Form (main application).
 

Organization Applicants Only 

If the cycle accepts only organization applicants:

1. After creating your test account, a page will appear where you can either search for or create an organization.

2. When testing for the first time, click Create New Organization to create a fake test organization. 

3. Complete all required fields (marked with a  * ). 


📌Note: Your profile form may look different from the screenshot above if the organization added custom fields. Only the Organization Owner can edit profile forms. To edit the Individual Profile Form, see ➡️ Set Up Profile Forms.

4. Click Create Organization at the bottom. 

📌Note: Be cautious when creating new test organizations. In cases where a program also has a live cycle (not in Test Mode), the system sometimes opens outside of Test Mode.

Tips to stay in Test Mode: 
- Always start from the Test Cycle URL.
- Make sure the blue Test Mode banner is visible at the top when filling out the Intake Form(s). If the Test Mode banner disappears, don’t submit. Close the browser and reopen the Test Cycle URL in an Incognito Window.
 

5. The system will either start the Eligibility Check (if your cycle has one) or take you directly to the Intake Form (main application).
 

Step 4: Complete the Eligibility Form (If Applicable)

a) If the cycle has eligibility requirements, you’ll be asked to complete the Eligibility Check (shown below) before starting the Intake Form.

b) If there are no eligibility requirements, the system will take you straight to the Intake Form. Proceed to Step 5. 

How to Start the Eligibility Check

1. On the Eligibility Check screen, click Start. 

2. Complete all required fields (marked with a  * ). 

3. Click Check Eligibility in the bottom-right corner.

Example: 

2. Possible Eligibility Results: 

   a) “You are eligible” -  Click “Start Applying” to proceed to the Intake Form (main application) and proceed to Step 5. 

b) “You might not be eligible” -  Click “Start Applying” to proceed to the Intake Form (main application) and proceed to Step 5. 

👤Note for Admin:  This is shown when an applicant doesn’t meet the criteria for a cycle with informative eligibility.

c) “You are not eligible” – You will not be able to proceed to the application.

👤Note for Admin:  This is shown when an applicant doesn’t meet the criteria for a cycle with preventive eligibility.

Step 5: Complete the Intake Form(s) 

If you’re eligible (or if the cycle doesn’t have eligibility requirements), you’ll land on the Intake Form.

a) If the Intake Form does NOT have sections, the full application displays on one screen. Proceed to Complete an Intake Form Without Sections.

b) If the Intake Form has sections, you’ll see a list of sections on the screen. Proceed to Complete an Intake Form With Sections.

Complete an Intake Form Without Sections

1. In the Intake Form, complete all required fields (marked with a  * ) and any optional fields (as needed).

2. Once complete, click Submit in the bottom-right corner.

3. Proceed to Step 6.
 

Complete an Intake Form With Sections

1. Click Start to the right of the section titles to access each section. (Note: If you already started and saved that section, it will say Edit instead). 

2. Complete all required fields (marked with a  * ) and any optional fields (as needed) in each section.

Navigation Within a Section:

- Click Next to move to the next section.

- Click Back to return to the previous section. 

- Click Save Draft & Exit Section to return to the main Intake Form screen. 

3. After completing all sections, click Review in the upper-right corner to see all your responses.



4. In the Review screen: 

a) Make any necessary edits to your application by clicking the Edit button within the appropriate section.

b) When ready, click Submit in the bottom-right corner.

5. In the confirmation pop-up, click Submit. 

6. A notification will appear confirming the form has been submitted.

7. Proceed to Step 6.
 

Step 6: Repeat Steps 1-5 to Submit More Test Applications 

• Continue submitting test applications until you’ve reached the number required.
  • If you can only submit one application per account, scroll back to Step 1 to create another account. 
     

Related Articles 

➡️How to Finish Testing an Award Cycle 

➡️How to Complete a Review

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