diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 5f78a9d0b..fd1284c20 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@
     "prettier:check": "prettier src --check",
     "prettier:fix": "prettier src --write",
     "prepare": "husky install",
-    "test:watch": "TZ=UTC vitest",
-    "test": "TZ=UTC vitest run",
-    "test:e2e": "TZ=UTC playwright test --project=e2e",
-    "test:user": "TZ=UTC playwright test --project=user",
-    "test:smoke": "TZ=UTC playwright test --project=smoke",
-    "test:ui": "TZ=UTC vitest --ui",
-    "coverage": "TZ=UTC vitest run --coverage"
+    "test:watch": "cross-env TZ=UTC vitest",
+    "test": "cross-env TZ=UTC vitest run",
+    "test:e2e": "cross-env TZ=UTC playwright test --project=e2e",
+    "test:user": "cross-env TZ=UTC playwright test --project=user",
+    "test:smoke": "cross-env TZ=UTC playwright test --project=smoke",
+    "test:ui": "cross-env TZ=UTC vitest --ui",
+    "coverage": "cross-env TZ=UTC vitest run --coverage"
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@datadog/browser-logs": "^6.5.0",
@@ -106,7 +106,8 @@
     "vite-plugin-checker": "^0.13.0",
     "vite-plugin-node-stdlib-browser": "^0.2.1",
     "vitest": "^4.0.8",
-    "vitest-canvas-mock": "^0.3.3"
+    "vitest-canvas-mock": "^0.3.3",
+    "cross-env": "^7.0.3"
   },
   "resolutions": {
     "qs": ">=6.14.1",
diff --git a/tests/config.ts b/tests/config.ts
index a9656f53d..73365dead 100644
--- a/tests/config.ts
+++ b/tests/config.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ dotenv.config({
 
 export const runtimeConfig = {
   storageRoot: 'storage',
-  storageState: process.env.PLAYWRIGHT_STORAGE_STATE || 'storage/default.json',
+  storageState: process.env.PLAYWRIGHT_STORAGE_STATE || 'tests/.auth/admin.json',
   baseURL: process.env.PLAYWRIGHT_BASE_URL || 'http://localhost:3000',
   apiBaseURL: process.env.PLAYWRIGHT_API_BASE_URL || 'http://localhost:3000',
 
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/api.fixtures.ts b/tests/fixtures/api.fixtures.ts
index aa8bb8b8a..7c5209b0b 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/api.fixtures.ts
+++ b/tests/fixtures/api.fixtures.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import {request, test as base} from '@playwright/test';
 import {UserAPI} from "../utils/api-client/user-api";
 import {AppletAPI} from "../utils/api-client/applet-api";
+import {InvitationsAPI} from "../utils/api-client/invitations-api";
 import {runtimeConfig} from "../config";
 import {readStorageFile} from "../utils/file";
 
@@ -9,6 +10,8 @@ type Fixtures = {
   adminUserApi: UserAPI
   appletApi: AppletAPI
   adminAppletApi: AppletAPI
+  invitationsApi: InvitationsAPI
+  adminInvitationsApi: InvitationsAPI
 };
 
 
@@ -58,6 +61,22 @@ export const test = base.extend<Fixtures>({
     const api = new AppletAPI(context);
     await use(api);
     await api.dispose();
+  },
+
+  invitationsApi: async ({}: any, use) => {
+    const context = await initContext(runtimeConfig.userTokenFile)
+
+    const api = new InvitationsAPI(context);
+    await use(api);
+    await api.dispose();
+  },
+
+  adminInvitationsApi: async ({}: any, use) => {
+    const context = await initContext(runtimeConfig.adminTokenFile)
+
+    const api = new InvitationsAPI(context);
+    await use(api);
+    await api.dispose();
   }
 
 });
diff --git a/tests/suites/e2e/specs/activities/complete-assesment.spec.ts b/tests/suites/e2e/specs/activities/complete-assesment.spec.ts
index b3544f0c2..d00059e00 100644
--- a/tests/suites/e2e/specs/activities/complete-assesment.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/suites/e2e/specs/activities/complete-assesment.spec.ts
@@ -1,14 +1,37 @@
 import { test, expect } from '../../../../fixtures/pages.fixture'
+import { requirePlaywrightAuthCredentials } from '../../../../utils/credentials';
 
 test.describe('Activity Completion', () => {
   test('User can complete an assessment and submit answers', async ({
     appletListPage,
     appletDetailsPage,
-    page
+    loginPage,
+    page,
+    baseURL,
   }) => {
-    // Navigate to applets list
+    const { email, password } = requirePlaywrightAuthCredentials();
+
+    await loginPage.goto(baseURL);
+    await loginPage.login(email, password);
+    await page.waitForURL(/.*\/protected\/applets/, { timeout: 15000 });
+
     await page.goto('/protected/applets');
     await expect(page).toHaveURL(/.*\/protected\/applets/);
+
+    const appletListExists = await page
+      .waitForSelector('[data-testid="applet-list"]', { timeout: 10000 })
+      .catch(() => null);
+
+    if (!appletListExists) {
+      const noAppletsVisible = await page
+        .waitForSelector('text=/no applets/i', { timeout: 10000 })
+        .catch(() => null);
+
+      if (noAppletsVisible) {
+        test.skip('No applets available in this environment to complete an assessment');
+      }
+    }
+
     // Give the applet list more time to load and become visible
     await expect(appletListPage.appletList).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10000 });
 
diff --git a/tests/utils/api-client/applet-api.ts b/tests/utils/api-client/applet-api.ts
index e95c08f7c..39586401b 100644
--- a/tests/utils/api-client/applet-api.ts
+++ b/tests/utils/api-client/applet-api.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-// TODO Perhaps a better implementation
+/**
+ * API helper for applet-related operations in the curious API client.
+ */
 import { expect } from '@playwright/test';
 import {CuriousApi} from "./api";
 
@@ -22,6 +24,12 @@ interface createAppletPayload {
 
 export class AppletAPI extends CuriousApi {
 
+    /**
+     * Create a new applet via the API.
+     *
+     * @param appletData - The applet payload.
+     * @returns The API response.
+     */
     async createApplet(appletData: createAppletPayload): Promise<any> {
         const response = await this.apiContext.post('/applets', { data: appletData });
         console.log(response);
@@ -29,6 +37,13 @@ export class AppletAPI extends CuriousApi {
         return await response.json();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Create a manager invitation for an applet.
+     *
+     * @param inviteData - The invitation payload.
+     * @param appletID - The applet identifier.
+     * @returns The API response.
+     */
     async createManagerInvite(inviteData: { email: string; firstName: string; lastName: string; language: string; role: string; workspacePrefix: string; title: string; }, appletID: string): Promise<any> {
         const response = await this.apiContext.post(`/invitations/${appletID}/managers`, { data: inviteData });
         console.log(response);
@@ -36,6 +51,12 @@ export class AppletAPI extends CuriousApi {
         return await response.json();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Retrieve invitations for a specific applet.
+     *
+     * @param appletID - The applet identifier.
+     * @returns The API response.
+     */
     async getAppletInvitations(appletID: string): Promise<any> {
         const response = await this.apiContext.get(`/invitations?page=1&limit=10&ordering=-id&appletId=${appletID}`);
         console.log(response);
diff --git a/tests/utils/api-client/invitations-api.ts b/tests/utils/api-client/invitations-api.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6ec787a44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/utils/api-client/invitations-api.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+import {CuriousApi} from "./api";
+import type {
+  GetInvitationSuccessResponse,
+} from '../../../src/shared/api/types/invitation';
+
+/**
+ * API helper for invitation lifecycle operations.
+ */
+export class InvitationsAPI extends CuriousApi {
+  /**
+   * Fetch the invitation details for a given invitation ID.
+   *
+   * @param invitationId - The invitation identifier.
+   * @returns The invitation response object.
+   */
+  async getInvitation(invitationId: string): Promise<GetInvitationSuccessResponse> {
+    const res = await this.apiContext.get(`/invitations/${invitationId}`);
+    if (!res.ok()) {
+      const text = await res.text();
+      throw new Error(`getInvitation failed: ${res.status()} ${res.statusText()} - ${text}`);
+    }
+    return res.json() as Promise<GetInvitationSuccessResponse>;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Accept an invitation by ID.
+   *
+   * @param invitationId - The invitation identifier.
+   */
+  async acceptInvitation(invitationId: string): Promise<void> {
+    const res = await this.apiContext.post(`/invitations/${invitationId}/accept`);
+    if (!res.ok()) {
+      const text = await res.text();
+      throw new Error(`acceptInvitation failed: ${res.status()} ${res.statusText()} - ${text}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Decline an invitation by ID.
+   *
+   * @param invitationId - The invitation identifier.
+   */
+  async declineInvitation(invitationId: string): Promise<void> {
+    const res = await this.apiContext.post(`/invitations/${invitationId}/decline`);
+    if (!res.ok()) {
+      const text = await res.text();
+      throw new Error(`declineInvitation failed: ${res.status()} ${res.statusText()} - ${text}`);
+    }
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/utils/api-client/user-api.ts b/tests/utils/api-client/user-api.ts
index b0e1eab3e..1f23a7bd2 100644
--- a/tests/utils/api-client/user-api.ts
+++ b/tests/utils/api-client/user-api.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 import {CuriousApi} from "./api";
 
+/**
+ * Payload used to create a user through the curious API client.
+ */
 interface CreateUserPayload {
   confirmPassword?: string;
   email: string;
@@ -8,6 +11,9 @@ interface CreateUserPayload {
   password: string;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Response shape returned from the create user endpoint.
+ */
 interface CreateUserResponse {
   result: {
     email: string;
@@ -18,7 +24,12 @@ interface CreateUserResponse {
 }
 
 export class UserAPI extends CuriousApi {
-
+  /**
+   * Create a user through the API client.
+   *
+   * @param payload - The new user details.
+   * @returns The created user response.
+   */
   async createUser(payload: CreateUserPayload): Promise<CreateUserResponse> {
     try {
       this.log(`Creating user: ${payload.email}`);
@@ -39,6 +50,14 @@ export class UserAPI extends CuriousApi {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Authenticate a user with retry support.
+   *
+   * @param email - The user email.
+   * @param password - The user password.
+   * @param retries - The number of times to retry on failure.
+   * @param delayMs - Delay between retries in milliseconds.
+   */
   async login(email: string, password: string, retries = 3, delayMs = 1000) {
     this.log(`Attempting login for ${email} with ${retries} retries`);
     for (let attempt = 1; attempt <= retries; attempt++) {
@@ -68,6 +87,9 @@ export class UserAPI extends CuriousApi {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Dispose the underlying API request context.
+   */
   async dispose() {
     try {
       await this.apiContext.dispose();
diff --git a/tests/utils/api.ts b/tests/utils/api.ts
index 45004bfcc..f1df4fcef 100644
--- a/tests/utils/api.ts
+++ b/tests/utils/api.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,27 @@
 import {APIRequestContext, request} from '@playwright/test';
 import {runtimeConfig} from "../config";
 
-// Construct a URL for API endpoints
+/**
+ * Construct an API URL from a base URL and an endpoint path.
+ * Removes duplicate slashes when necessary.
+ *
+ * @param baseUrl - The base API URL.
+ * @param endpoint - The endpoint path to append.
+ * @returns A normalized URL string.
+ */
 export const constructApiUrl = (baseUrl: string, endpoint: string): string => {
   return `${baseUrl.replace(/\/+$/, '')}/${endpoint.replace(/^\/+/, '')}`;
 };
 
-// Generic POST request helper
+/**
+ * Send a generic API request using a Playwright APIRequestContext.
+ *
+ * @param apiRequestContext - The Playwright request context.
+ * @param url - The full request URL.
+ * @param data - The JSON payload to send.
+ * @param method - The HTTP method to use.
+ * @returns The parsed JSON response body.
+ */
 export const postToApi = async (
   apiRequestContext: APIRequestContext,
   url: string,
@@ -45,9 +60,11 @@ type ApiLoginResponse = {
 }
 
 /**
- * Perform an API authentication and return an access token on success
- * @param email
- * @param password
+ * Perform an API authentication request and return the access token.
+ *
+ * @param email - User email to authenticate.
+ * @param password - User password to authenticate.
+ * @returns A bearer access token string.
  */
 export const performLogin = async (email: string, password: string): Promise<string> => {
   const api = await request.newContext({ baseURL: runtimeConfig.apiBaseURL });
diff --git a/tests/utils/credentials.ts b/tests/utils/credentials.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fa2f08536
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/utils/credentials.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+/**
+ * Credentials used by Playwright end-to-end tests.
+ *
+ * `source` identifies whether the credentials were loaded for an admin
+ * or regular user login.
+ */
+export type PlaywrightCredentials = {
+  email: string;
+  password: string;
+  source: 'admin' | 'user';
+};
+
+/**
+ * Read an environment variable from standard or nested `uat` format.
+ *
+ * @param key - The environment variable name to resolve.
+ * @returns The string value if present, otherwise an empty string.
+ */
+const getEnvValue = (key: string): string => {
+  const value = process.env[key] as string | undefined;
+  if (value) return value;
+  const uatValue = (process.env as any)?.uat?.[key];
+  return typeof uatValue === 'string' ? uatValue : '';
+};
+
+/**
+ * Load a pair of Playwright credentials if both email and password exist.
+ *
+ * @param emailKey - Environment key for the email address.
+ * @param passwordKey - Environment key for the password.
+ * @param source - Indicates whether these are admin or user credentials.
+ * @returns The credentials object, or `null` if either value is missing.
+ */
+const loadCredentials = (
+  emailKey: string,
+  passwordKey: string,
+  source: 'admin' | 'user',
+): PlaywrightCredentials | null => {
+  const email = getEnvValue(emailKey);
+  const password = getEnvValue(passwordKey);
+  return email && password ? { email, password, source } : null;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Return Playwright user credentials if available.
+ */
+export const getPlaywrightUserCredentials = (): PlaywrightCredentials | null =>
+  loadCredentials('PLAYWRIGHT_USER_EMAIL', 'PLAYWRIGHT_USER_PASSWORD', 'user');
+
+/**
+ * Return Playwright admin credentials if available.
+ */
+export const getPlaywrightAdminCredentials = (): PlaywrightCredentials | null =>
+  loadCredentials('PLAYWRIGHT_ADMIN_USER_EMAIL', 'PLAYWRIGHT_ADMIN_USER_PASSWORD', 'admin');
+
+/**
+ * Prefer admin credentials, then fall back to user credentials.
+ */
+export const getPlaywrightAuthCredentials = (): PlaywrightCredentials | null => {
+  return getPlaywrightAdminCredentials() ?? getPlaywrightUserCredentials();
+};
+
+/**
+ * Require user credentials and throw a helpful error if they are missing.
+ */
+export const requirePlaywrightUserCredentials = (): PlaywrightCredentials => {
+  const creds = getPlaywrightUserCredentials();
+  if (!creds) {
+    throw new Error(
+      'Missing Playwright user credentials. Set PLAYWRIGHT_USER_EMAIL and PLAYWRIGHT_USER_PASSWORD or process.env.uat.PLAYWRIGHT_EMAIL / PLAYWRIGHT_PASSWORD.',
+    );
+  }
+  return creds;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Require admin or user auth credentials and throw a helpful error if they are missing.
+ */
+export const requirePlaywrightAuthCredentials = (): PlaywrightCredentials => {
+  const creds = getPlaywrightAuthCredentials();
+  if (!creds) {
+    throw new Error(
+      'Missing Playwright auth credentials. Set PLAYWRIGHT_ADMIN_USER_EMAIL / PLAYWRIGHT_ADMIN_USER_PASSWORD or PLAYWRIGHT_USER_EMAIL / PLAYWRIGHT_USER_PASSWORD (or process.env.uat equivalents).',
+    );
+  }
+  return creds;
+};
diff --git a/tests/utils/data/users.ts b/tests/utils/data/users.ts
index a85fd9a2a..04254e264 100644
--- a/tests/utils/data/users.ts
+++ b/tests/utils/data/users.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,12 @@ export interface UserData {
   password: string;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Generate a random user object for test data.
+ *
+ * @param password - Optional password, defaulting to a strong sample password.
+ * @returns A user object suitable for account creation.
+ */
 export function generateRandomUser(password?: string): UserData {
   const uid = crypto.randomUUID();
 
@@ -18,6 +24,12 @@ export function generateRandomUser(password?: string): UserData {
   };
 }
 
+/**
+ * Create a unique email address based on an optional base email.
+ *
+ * @param baseEmail - An optional base email to preserve the domain.
+ * @returns A unique email string.
+ */
 export function generateUniqueEmail(baseEmail?: string): string {
   if (baseEmail && baseEmail.includes('@')) {
     const [local, domain] = baseEmail.split('@');
diff --git a/tests/utils/file.ts b/tests/utils/file.ts
index 384d89fdf..4cd22941e 100644
--- a/tests/utils/file.ts
+++ b/tests/utils/file.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,23 @@
 import path from "path";
 import fs from "fs";
 
+/**
+ * Build a platform-safe storage filename from path segments.
+ *
+ * @param paths - Individual path segments.
+ * @returns The joined filename.
+ */
 export const generateStorageFilename = (...paths: string[]): string => {
     return path.join(...paths);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Write raw string data to a storage file, creating parent directories as needed.
+ *
+ * @param data - The contents to write.
+ * @param filename - The target filename.
+ * @returns The filename that was written.
+ */
 export const writeStorageFile = (data: string, filename: string): string => {
     fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(filename), { recursive: true });
     fs.writeFileSync(filename, data);
@@ -12,6 +25,12 @@ export const writeStorageFile = (data: string, filename: string): string => {
     return filename;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Read the contents of a storage file as UTF-8.
+ *
+ * @param filename - The file to read.
+ * @returns The file contents.
+ */
 export const readStorageFile = (filename: string): string => {
   return fs.readFileSync(filename, 'utf-8')
 }
diff --git a/tests/utils/loginPage.ts b/tests/utils/loginPage.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5c55d1738
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/utils/loginPage.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+import { Page } from '@playwright/test';
+import { UserAPI } from './userApi'; // Import the improved class
+
+/**
+ * Perform a UI login flow by navigating to the login page and submitting credentials.
+ *
+ * @param page - The Playwright page instance.
+ * @param url - The login page URL.
+ * @param email - The email address to sign in with.
+ * @param password - The corresponding password.
+ */
+export const UIlogin = async (page: Page, url: any, email: string, password: string) => {
+    await page.goto(url);
+    // Fill in login form
+    await page.fill('input[name="email"]', email || '');
+    await page.fill('input[name="password"]', password || '');
+    // Submit the form
+    await page.click('button[type="submit"]');
+};
+/**
+ * Perform an admin login via API and inject the auth token into the browser context.
+ *
+ * @param page - The Playwright page instance.
+ * @param email - The admin email address.
+ * @param password - The admin password.
+ * @returns The access token string.
+ */
+export const apiAdminLogin = async (page: Page, email: string, password: string) => {
+    const userApi = new UserAPI();
+    await userApi.init();
+
+    try {
+        // Perform login using the API context from UserAPI
+        const loginResponse = await userApi.login(email, password);
+        const token = loginResponse.result.token.accessToken;
+
+        if (!loginResponse.ok()) {
+            throw new Error(`Login failed: ${loginResponse.status()} - ${await loginResponse.text()}`);
+        }
+
+        // Inject token into localStorage for browser context
+        await page.addInitScript((tokenValue) => {
+            localStorage.setItem('Bearer', tokenValue);
+        }, token);
+
+        return token; // Return token for further use if needed
+    } catch (error) {
+        console.error('Error during admin login:', error);
+        throw error;
+    } finally {
+        await userApi.dispose();
+    }
+};
+
+/**
+ * Walk through the UI flow to create a new user account.
+ *
+ * @param page - The Playwright page instance.
+ * @param email - The email address for the new account.
+ * @param password - The password for the new account.
+ */
+export const createAccountForm = async (page: Page, email: string, password: string) => {
+    await page.goto('/login');
+    await page.getByText('Create an account').click();
+    await page.waitForURL('/signup');
+    await page.fill('input[name="email"]', `${email + Date.now()}@example.com`);
+    await page.fill('input[name="firstName"]', 'Automation');
+    await page.fill('input[name="lastName"]', 'Tester');
+    await page.fill('input[name="password"]', password);
+    await page.fill('input[name="confirmPassword"]', password);
+    await page.getByRole('checkbox', { name: 'I agree to the Terms of Service' }).check();
+    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Create Account' }).click();
+};
diff --git a/tests/utils/ui.ts b/tests/utils/ui.ts
index f6c973529..041056619 100644
--- a/tests/utils/ui.ts
+++ b/tests/utils/ui.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
 import {Page} from "@playwright/test";
 import {AuthSelectors} from "./selectors/auth.selectors";
 
+/**
+ * Complete the standard UI login flow.
+ *
+ * @param page - The Playwright page instance.
+ * @param url - The login URL to navigate to.
+ * @param email - The user email to enter.
+ * @param password - The user password to enter.
+ */
 export const performUiLogin = async (page: Page, url: string, email: string, password: string) => {
   console.log(`Logging in to ${url}`);
   await page.goto(url);
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 666065e5a..9985d2f0a 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -2885,7 +2885,14 @@ create-require@^1.1.1:
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/create-require/-/create-require-1.1.1.tgz#c1d7e8f1e5f6cfc9ff65f9cd352d37348756c333"
   integrity sha512-dcKFX3jn0MpIaXjisoRvexIJVEKzaq7z2rZKxf+MSr9TkdmHmsU4m2lcLojrj/FHl8mk5VxMmYA+ftRkP/3oKQ==
 
-cross-spawn@^7.0.3, cross-spawn@^7.0.6:
+cross-env@^7.0.3:
+  version "7.0.3"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/cross-env/-/cross-env-7.0.3.tgz#865264b29677dc015ba8418918965dd232fc54cf"
+  integrity sha512-+/HKd6EgcQCJGh2PSjZuUitQBQynKor4wrFbRg4DtAgS1aWO+gU52xpH7M9ScGgXSYmAVS9bIJ8EzuaGw0oNAw==
+  dependencies:
+    cross-spawn "^7.0.1"
+
+cross-spawn@^7.0.1, cross-spawn@^7.0.3, cross-spawn@^7.0.6:
   version "7.0.6"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/cross-spawn/-/cross-spawn-7.0.6.tgz#8a58fe78f00dcd70c370451759dfbfaf03e8ee9f"
   integrity sha512-uV2QOWP2nWzsy2aMp8aRibhi9dlzF5Hgh5SHaB9OiTGEyDTiJJyx0uy51QXdyWbtAHNua4XJzUKca3OzKUd3vA==