Research and design
Research and design
Breadcrumbs

Using test accounts for usability testing in staging

Last Updated: May 6, 2025

If you’re conducting usability tests in the staging environment you will need a test account. This page walks you through the process of finding an appropriate account, and provides guidance on meeting VA.gov security standards for sharing passwords. It also explains how to reset a password so others can use the account when your testing is complete.

Working with test accounts

Test accounts are simulated VA.gov user credentials used to sign-in to the staging environment for testing purposes. The staging site has several hundred test accounts shared among all VFS teams. Each test account has unique attributes that allow you to simulate the experience of a real user based on your requirements.

It's recommended that you change staging test account passwords before sharing them with participants during usability testing and reset them again at the end of the day.

Before you begin

  • You’ll need to do the following:

    • Sign-in to the VA.gov network using Government Furnished Equipment (GFE), Citrix Access Gateway (CAG) or Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) (access required)

    • Access the Test User Dashboard (TUD) in a browser on the VA.gov network. You can use your GitHub credentials to sign-in.

Step-by-step guide

Step 1: Find an account

First, you’ll find an account in the TUD that suits the needs of your product.

  1. Once you’re on the VA network, open the TUD in a browser. (see the Before you begin section above)

  2. Use the filters to find an account that has the unique account attributes your product needs to test it.

    Screenshot of TUD showing how to filter accounts
    Filter by accounts dropdown menu


  3. Click on the expand arrow to see the account details. Use this information to determine if the account will work to test your product.

    Screenshot of an open account row showing details.
    Expand arrow to show more account detail


    4. Click View/edit a note on the right side of the row to view if this account is in use.

    Screenshot of TUD showing an account row, highlighting the View or edit a note link.
    View/edit a note link

Step 2: Change the password

Once you find an account that works for your testing, you’ll need to change the password before each usability test. Follow these steps to change the password for an account selected from the TUD.

  1. Click on the Go to staging link or open staging in a browser

    Screenshot of an open account row highlighting the Go to staging button.
    ‘Go to staging’ button


  2. Click Sign-in and select the ID.me button

    Screenshot of sign in options.
    ID.me sign-in


  3. Click Forgot password.

    Screenshot of ID.me sign in page highlighting the Forgot password link.
    ‘Forgot password’ link

  4. Enter the email address of the test account you’d like to use, then click Continue.

    Screenshot of the reset your password window with email field filled in with email from TUD.
    Reset your password window


  5. Click the Complete confirmation link in the yellow box at the bottom of the window.

    Screenshot of step 2 of the reset password process highlighting the Complete confirmation link at the very bottom of the window.
    Complete confirmation link


  6. Click Continue on the screen to complete your authentication. This information is pre-filled for you. No personal phone number is needed.

    Screenshot of the third step of resetting your password process highlighting the Continue link.
    Receive a code by phone window

  7. Click Continue on the screen to enter the pre-filled 6-digit code.

    Screenshot of the fourth step of resetting your password process highlighting the Continue link.
    Enter the 6-digit code window


  8. Enter the new password you want to change for the usability test session and click Continue.

NOTE: The TUD does not update when you change the password, so please make sure to note the following:

  • Email of the account you chose

  • New password

For the new password, you can use something like [Abbreviated study name][00]
Your new password should contain:

  • lowercase letter

  • uppercase letter

  • number

  • at least 8 characters

    Screenshot of the final step of resetting your password process where you'll enter your new password and click Continue.
    New password/confirmation window


  1. Go back to the TUD and find the account that you just changed the password. Then, click View/edit a note on the right side of the row.

    Screenshot of TUD showing an account row, highlighting the View or edit a note link.
    View/edit a note link


  2. Add a note to the account so others don’t try to use it.

    Screenshot of the view or edit a note window with the message (date) Temporarily changed the password for usability testing with Veterans.
    View / edit a note window

Step 3: Reset the password

At the end of each day, please reset the password to what's in the TUD so others can use the account if needed.

To reset the password, follow these steps:

  1. Open the TUD in a browser while on the VA.gov network (see the Before you begin section)

  2. Search for the account that you changed the password by entering the email address you used for testing in the search field

    Screenshot of search box at the top of the Test User Dashboard interface.
    Email address of the account you’d like to reset the password


  3. Click on the Go to staging link and sign-in with ID.me as you did above with “Forgot password”.

    Screenshot of an open account row highlighting the Go to staging button.
    ‘Go to staging’ button


  1. Click Forgot password

    Screenshot of ID.me sign in page highlighting the Forgot password link.
    ‘Forgot password’ link


  2. Return to the TUD and copy the email by clicking the copy icon.

    Screenshot of account row highlighting a copy icon after the email address.
    Copy email address icon


  3. Paste the email address and click continue

    Screenshot of the Reset password window showing that you can paste the email address you just copied into the email field, then click continue.
    Email address in Reset password window


  4. Click through the next three screens as you did for ‘Forgot Password’.

  5. Next, go back to the TUD and copy the password. This is the original password that you should reset it to.

    Screenshot of account row highlighting a copy icon after the password.
    Copy password icon


  6. Paste the original password to reset it and click continue.

  7. The password has been reset and is ready for the next person to test!

    Screenshot of the password reset success message.
    Confirmation of password reset

Help and feedback