STEPP Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question not listed here? Contact the STEPP Solution Center by phone at 202-753-9553 within the Washington, DC area or toll free at 888-780-3980 (weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time), by email at steppsupport@powertrain.com, or by submitting a ticket by clicking HERE
Note: More FAQ subject areas may become available once you log into STEPP.
Access
Does STEPP support multifactor authentication?
Starting in FY24 STEPP users will have two additional options for authentication: Smart Card or Email PIN.
- All DOD civilians, military, and federal users (.MIL or .GOV emails) will be required to use CAC, EAC, or PIV to log in to STEPP.
- Existing STEPP users:
- Must ensure the STEPP Profile shows the same email registered on their CAC (see Updating STEPP User Profile email address in this FAQ)
- If CAC and STEPP Profile emails are identical, then register your CAC with D-MFA (https://icam.dcsa.mil/).
- NEW STEPP accounts only:
- Click on "Create New Account" to create a STEPP account via D-MFA.
- Click on "Create New Account" to create a STEPP account via D-MFA.
- Existing STEPP users:
I have a CAC. Can I use it to log in to STEPP?
Yes. STEPP supports CAC login through D-MFA.
To ensure successful login, your STEPP email address must match the email associated with your D-MFA account.
To check or update your STEPP email:
- Log in to STEPP using your current username and password.
- Click your name in the top-right corner.
- Select "Edit Profile" and update your email address as needed.
- After verifying your email, register your CAC at: https://icam.dcsa.mil
- Use the "Login via D-MFA" button on the STEPP login page once setup is complete.
If you encounter any issues with your D-MFA account, contact DCSA IT Support email at: dcsa.quantico.hq.mbx.dcsa-it-support@mail.mil
Unable to Log via D-MFA?
- Confirm that you have a D-MFA account at https://icam.dcsa.mil/ and there is a STEPP tile visible under “My Apps”.
- Message stating you are not authorized to access Moodle - contact STEPP Solution Center (info at top of page) for STEPP account update.
- Confirm that you are using the “Login via D-MFA” button to access STEPP.
- Receiving a "Connection is not private" error - contact the DCSA IT Support Desk at 878-274-1003.
- If still unable to login - contact the STEPP Solution Center (info at top of page).
Errors when attempting to login?
- Emailed message is received stating "Passwords cannot be reset on this site" - please use the Login via D-MFA button with your CAC.
- Error message stating "You cannot proceed without changing your password" - please use the Login via D-MFA button with your CAC.
- Login message stating "You are not authorized to access Moodle" - contact STEPP Solution Center (see last bullet) for STEPP account update.
- Repeatedly can't sign into STEPP with username/password - account may have been set for CAC login. Please attempt the Login via D-MFA button.
- If still unable to login - contact the STEPP Solution Center (info at top of page).
How do I log in?
To access STEPP, you must first log in to your D-ICAM account using either your Smartcard or your Username and Password. Once logged in, locate and select the STEPP tile under the "My Apps" section.
Account
How do I create a new STEPP account?
To create a STEPP account, you must first register for a D-ICAM account. Follow these steps:
- Go to the STEPP login page and select "Create New Account".
- Navigate to https://icam.dcsa.mil and select "Accept".
- If you have a Smartcard, choose "Sign in with PIV / CAC card". If not, select "Don’t have an account? Sign up" at the bottom of the page.
- Enter your First Name, Last Name, and Email, then create a Password and click Sign Up.
- Check your inbox for a verification email from noreply@okta.mil. Click "Verify your email" or "Enter a verification code"; either option works.
- After verification, select Continue to access the D-ICAM Dashboard.
- Locate and click the STEPP tile under My Apps to begin using your account.
Note: You may be prompted to set up an authentication method like Okta Verify, which involves scanning a barcode. This step is optional and may not be available to all users.
How do I update my STEPP profile?
To update your profile, hover your cursor over your name at the top right of the page and select the Edit Profile button. From there, you can update various fields of your profile such as name, email address, company, phone, and organization.
How do I update my STEPP Email Address?
To update your email address in STEPP:
- Hover your cursor over your name in the top right corner of the STEPP homepage.
- Click Edit Profile.
- Update your email address and save the changes.
- Check your new email inbox for a confirmation message and follow the instructions to verify the change.
Important: STEPP and D-MFA are linked through your email address. If you update your email in STEPP, you must also update it in D-MFA to avoid login issues.
If I have multiple accounts in STEPP, how do I request assistance to have the training and accounts merged?
Please contact the STEPP Solution Center to request the account merge. Be sure to provide both account emails in the problem description, along with the desired active account. You can reach the STEPP Solution Center by phone at 202-753-9553 (within the Washington, DC area) or toll-free at 888-780-3980 (weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time), by email at steppsupport@powertrain.com , or by submitting a ticket at https://securitytraining.dcsa.mil/blocks/help_desk/newticket.php .
Certificate
Need a Course Completion Certificate for a recently completed course?
Note: It may take up to 20 minutes after completion for the certificate to appear with the completion date. Hover over your Name at the top right of the STEPP page. Click My Transcript, then select the recently completed Course. On the Course Page, scroll down and click the Certificate of Completion icon.
Need a certificate for a completed course?
Hover over your Name at the top right of the STEPP page, then click View Profile. Click My Certificates under the Miscellaneous Section. This will list your downloaded certificates from training completed after October 1, 2018. Select the appropriate Completion Certificate.
Note: For recent training, it may take up to 20 minutes after completion for the certificate to display the completion date.
How do I view/print my certificate?
If you completed the course prior to October 1, 2018 hover your cursor over your name at the top right of the page and select the My Transcript option. Scroll down to the "My Training Record" list, select the name of the course, and a certificate for the course will be generated in your browser. If you completed the course after October 1, 2018 navigate in My Transcript to the course completed, select it, then select the Certificate of Completion button.
It can sometimes take up to 15 minutes for a date to appear on your certificate after the course has been completed.
How can I obtain a list of my STEPP certificates for my record keeping?
To view a list of course completion certificates and their award dates (since October 2018), hover your cursor over your name at the top right of the STEPP page, and select the "View Profile" option from the drop-down menu. Select “My Certificates” within the Miscellaneous block on your Profile page. A list of certificates that you have previously downloaded will populate a table on the page – note that this can take a few minutes depending on the amount of completions awarded. If you do not see a certificate for an activity that you have completed, you may need to return to its course page and generate the certificate. Above the resulting list, select “Microsoft Excel” from the drop-down menu, then click the “Download” button. Once the file is complete, expect to see a prompt with options or a pop-up window asking to save the file, depending on the browser in use. Save and manipulate the file for your purposes.
Where is my SPēD Certification Information?
SPēD certification was migrated out of STEPP in 2020 to My SPēD Certification (MSC), and in 2024 to Defense Acquisition University (DAU) system. For more information or to create an account see https://www.cdse.edu/Certification/Account-Login .
How does a student receive an updated Certificate of Completion, with a new date, for an already completed course?
Select eLearning courses have a “Course Reset” button at the top of the course page with the date of the last successful completion. Pressing the Course Reset button will reset the course completion and allow the student to retake the course. Students are required to meet the course completion requirements to achieve a new Certificate of Completion with an updated date.
If a student completes a course and then resets it, he/she will receive completion certificates for both completions, right?
Yes. The student will be able to access their latest completion certificate on the course page and the “My Certificates” page in their profile. Students will be able to access past completion certificates by selecting the course names in their online transcript.
Configuration
What is the required internet connection for STEPP?
The recommended internet connection is a minimum of 512Kbs.
Recommended browser for eLearning courses?
CDSE recommends using the most current version of the following browsers: Microsoft Edge, FireFox, Chrome, or Safari.
Note: Although eLearning courses can be viewed in Internet Explorer, CDSE does not recommend using Internet Explorer.
D-MFA
What is D-MFA?
D-MFA (DCSA Multi Factor Authentication) is a secure identity and access management platform that allows you to log in once (Single Sign-On, or SSO) and access multiple applications without needing to re-enter credentials.
How do I log in to D-MFA?
Visit your organization’s D-MFA login page (usually https://icam.dcsa.mil ).
I forgot my D-MFA password. What should I do?
Please open a support ticket at dcsa.quantico.hq.mbx.dcsa-it-support@mail.mil .
Why does my account show an account ending with @dcsa.mil?
This is not an email. It is an account identifier related to D-MFA. Instead of an actual email account.
I’m getting a “Your login is not recognized” message. What’s wrong?
This may mean:
- You’ve entered incorrect credentials
- Your account is locked or deactivated
- You’re on the wrong login URL
Please contact support - dcsa.quantico.hq.mbx.dcsa-it-support@mail.mil .
How do I add or remove apps from my D-MFA dashboard?
Only D-MFA administrators can assign apps to users. If you need access to a new app or no longer need one, submit a request to your IT team.
Why can’t I access one of my apps in the D-MFA dashboard?
Check if:
- You’re assigned to the app
- Your D-MFA account is active
- The app is experiencing downtime
If issues persist, please contact the DCSA IT Support email at: dcsa.quantico.hq.mbx.dcsa-it-support@mail.mil .
How do I update my profile information (e.g., email, phone number)?
- Go to the D-MFA portal: https://icam.dcsa.mil
- Click on your name in the top right-hand corner of the page.
- Select "Settings".
- Navigate to the "Personal Information" section and click "Edit".
- Enter your correct email address and save the changes.
After updating your email, you will receive a confirmation email at the new address. Please follow the instructions in that email to complete the update.
If you encounter any issues or need additional help with your D-MFA account, you can reach out to the DCSA IT Support email at: dcsa.quantico.hq.mbx.dcsa-it-support@mail.mil .
Who do I contact if I need help?
Contact the DCSA Support Team at dcsa.quantico.hq.mbx.dcsa-it-support@mail.mil or by phone at 878-274-1344 for any issues related to D-MFA access.
eLearning
How do I launch my training?
Navigate to the course you are trying to launch and make sure you are enrolled. If you are enrolled, select the button associated with the course, module, or exam.
How do I view my course progress?
Because we offer such a wide variety of courses, the way you check your course progress may differ depending on the course. Therefore, the best way of checking your progress is to relaunch the course and check to see if each category is marked as complete.
Course display is too large/small for my screen!
Together pressing the Ctrl-minus or Ctrl-plus keys may incrementally adjust the overall dimension of the course page within your window.
How can I view my progress in a curriculum or prerequisite page on STEPP?
- Navigate to the curriculum or prerequisite page you're enrolled in.
- Open the Course Index, which is the collapsible panel located in the upper left corner of the screen. Note: The Course Index will display all sections and activities included on that page.
- Completed activities will be marked with a green-filled circle to the left of the activity name.
Exam
Unable to obtain your next attempt at a course exam?
The second exam attempt cannot be unlocked until the eLearning course has been fully completed. This will require all eLearning course content to be viewed in order to obtain more attempts.
After Completing the course again, navigate back to the course page and Select the "Click Here to unlock additional exam attempts" button located on the course page below the "Launch Exam" section.
When I submit the answers to my exam, the submission process freezes or stops working.
Please make sure you have a stable internet connection when taking the exam. System requirements and other troubleshooting information can be found at https://www.cdse.edu/stepp/help-configuration.html .
Can I stop in the middle of an online exam and return later to finish it?
Yes, you may exit an exam and return at a later time to finish it.
Hours of Operation
What are STEPP's hours of operation?
STEPP Hours: Available 7 days a week, weekdays from 3:30am to 1:30am EST
STEPP has three scheduled downtimes:
- Daily weekday backup from 2:00am to 3:15am EST
- Weekend (Sunday Maintenance) from 12:01am to 3:15am EST
- Weekly course publishing downtime Fridays from 9:00pm – 01:00am EST
STEPP Navigation
What is on my STEPP Dashboard?
On your STEPP dashboard, you can find a Course Overview that features all the classes you are enrolled in. You can also find your Registration Requests, which is where you can see your approval status for classes that are pending approval. On the side of the page, there is a calendar and an upcoming events section. You can submit a ticket to the STEPP Solution Center by using the "Need Help?" section. Hovering over the "Training" tab near the top of the page will show you a list of categories for courses on the site.
How do I establish my preferences?
To edit your site preferences, hover your cursor over your name at the top right of the page and select the "Preferences" option in the menu. From here you may select to edit your profile information or even your STEPP calendar preferences.
How do I browse/search for training?
To browse the list of courses, hover your cursor over the "Training" tab at the top of your homepage and select the category you would like to browse. If you are looking for a specific course, you can search for it by using the "Search" block section on the right side of the homepage.
How do I access the course student guide?
To view the student guide for a particular course, navigate to the course page and select the Student Guide button located at the bottom of the page. The guide will be available on the displayed web page. Alternatively, you can view those available student guides by selecting "Training > STEPP Resources > Student Level Resources" from the top navigation bar in STEPP and selecting CDSE Student Guides to locate the desired document.
Transcript
How do I view/print my transcript?
To view your transcript, hover your cursor over your name at the top right of the page, and select the "My Transcript" option from the drop-down menu. To print your entire transcript, select "Show 100 entries," on all drop down menus on the left side of the page, then press Ctrl + P to print the page. To request an official copy of your transcript, please submit a STEPP Solution Center.
If a student completes a course, then resets it, what does it look like on his/her training transcript?
Each successful course completion will appear on a student’s training transcript.
