Training Resources
Training opportunities are offered at the following levels:
- Federal
- State
- Local
- Colleges and Universities
- Department Training/Education Resources
- Alternative Fuels Training Opportunities
- Additional Training/Education Resources
For more information on Training and Educational resources please visit the USFA web site.
National Fire Academy (NFA)
Through its courses and programs, the NFA works to enhance the ability of fire and emergency services and allied professionals to deal more effectively with fire and related emergencies. The Academy's delivery systems are diverse. Courses are delivered at the resident facility in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and throughout the nation in cooperation with state and local fire training organizations and local colleges and universities. NFA courses and course-materials are free, and most of the transportation and lodging costs for students who represent career or volunteer fire departments, rescue squads, or state/local governments attending on-campus courses are currently provided as part of funding under the student stipend reimbursement program.
Through its courses and programs, the NFA works to enhance the ability of fire and emergency services and allied professionals to deal more effectively with fire and related emergencies. The Academy's delivery systems are diverse. Courses are delivered at the resident facility in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and throughout the nation in cooperation with state and local fire training organizations and local colleges and universities. NFA courses and course-materials are free, and most of the transportation and lodging costs for students who represent career or volunteer fire departments, rescue squads, or state/local governments attending on-campus courses are currently provided as part of funding under the student stipend reimbursement program.
NFA - Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) - The Volunteer Incentive Program is an intensive 6-day educational opportunity designed specifically for volunteer and combination department emergency services personnel.
Department of Homeland Security – National Training and Education Division (NTED)
NTED serves the nation's first responder community, offering more than 150 courses to help build critical skills that responders need to function effectively in mass consequence events. Courses include multiple delivery methods: instructor led (direct deliveries), train-the-trainers (indirect deliveries), customized (conferences and seminars) and web-based. Instructor led courses are offered in residence (i.e. at a training facility) or through mobile programs, in which courses are brought to state and local jurisdictions that request the training.
NTED serves the nation's first responder community, offering more than 150 courses to help build critical skills that responders need to function effectively in mass consequence events. Courses include multiple delivery methods: instructor led (direct deliveries), train-the-trainers (indirect deliveries), customized (conferences and seminars) and web-based. Instructor led courses are offered in residence (i.e. at a training facility) or through mobile programs, in which courses are brought to state and local jurisdictions that request the training.
Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP)
The mission of FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness is to operate a federal training center for delivery of high-quality, comprehensive preparedness training programs for the nation’s emergency responders. All-hazards preparedness training for state, local, or tribal government emergency responders is fully funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Transportation to the Anniston, AL, facility as well as lodging and meals are provided at no cost to responders or their agency. View the CDP Fact Sheet and the 2011 Course list.
The mission of FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness is to operate a federal training center for delivery of high-quality, comprehensive preparedness training programs for the nation’s emergency responders. All-hazards preparedness training for state, local, or tribal government emergency responders is fully funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Transportation to the Anniston, AL, facility as well as lodging and meals are provided at no cost to responders or their agency. View the CDP Fact Sheet and the 2011 Course list.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC offers a wide array of training opportunities and resources, including:
The CDC offers a wide array of training opportunities and resources, including:
- Emergency Preparedness and Response Training and Education
- Public Health Training Network
- Listing of Distance Learning Web Sites
- National Laboratory Training Network
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) Training Site
The AFIP provides educational opportunities for military and civilian pathologists, physicians, and various medical and scientific professions.
U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infection Diseases (USAMRID)
Knowledge of the extensive biological and chemical weapons programs in other countries, and use of these weapons by terrorists both in the United States and abroad, have increased concern about the medical management of biological and chemical agent casualties. Military and civilian medical and public health professionals must become proficient in recognizing that a biological attack has occurred, activating the appropriate agencies and personnel to investigate the event, treating casualties, and preventing spread of disease.
Mason County Firefighters Training Committee (North Western Michigan)
View a list of hundreds of colleges and universities across the nation that offer degree programs related to the fire and emergency services on the National Junior Firefighter Program web site.
American Public University is a private, accredited online university dedicated to serving those who serve the public. Their learning management system was developed specifically for professionals who work demanding schedules. Earn an Emergency and Disaster Management or Fire Science degree online.
Anna Maria College
Designed for fire service professionals who hold an associate's degree and meet other requirements, the online bachelor's degree in Fire Science from Anna Maria College will prepare students to move up the career ladder in many careers related to fire safety and protection.
Designed for fire service professionals who hold an associate's degree and meet other requirements, the online bachelor's degree in Fire Science from Anna Maria College will prepare students to move up the career ladder in many careers related to fire safety and protection.
Columbia Southern University offers five completely online fire science programs. The fire science degree programs at CSU provide the foundation for leadership and administration of fire service organizations.
The University of Maryland University College offers an academic major and minor in fire science.
Emergency Training Solutions offers hybrid vehicle training as well as information for emergency service organizations. Their site offers links to discussions in Fire Engineering Magazine, Fire Chief Magazine, and a FDIC 2008 presentation summary. Additionally, there are links to lesson plans, a quick response guide, and links for each model of hybrid car.
Several hybrid car manufacturers have developed Emergency Response Guides (ERGs), and in some cases videos, including: Toyota, Lexus, Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. However, there is a lack of conformity between the ERGs: each one has its own format and many lack all the information responders need at an incident to safely mitigate a rescue.
Hydrogen-fueled Vehicles
Hydrogen-fueled vehicles are not consumer ready, but training is already being developed. Two great resources for what is being done are the California Fuel Cell Partnership and the U.S. Department of Energy.
West Virginia University houses the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC), which has developed extensive resources and offers a four-hour workshop for emergency responders and a two-day course for instructors. View the NAFTC’s brochure.
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation offers a training program to help fire departments prepare for the worst — a line-of-duty death or serious injury. Fire service personnel and families who have lost a firefighter in the line-of-duty helped develop this one-day course. Taking Care of Our Own® covers pre-incident planning, survivor notification, family and coworker support, and benefits and resources available to the families. Course materials are also available for download.
Leading a combination fire department is one of the greatest challenges a fire chief can face. Jones and Bartlett published this compilation of best practices and lessons learned through experience. Written by Fred C. Windisch and Fred C. Crosby of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and with a Foreword by NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg, this guide provides advice on how to recognize a need to shift to a combination department, how to make the change, and how to manage a combination department.
This manual is designed to assist emergency service managers in establishing effective standard operating procedures within their organization. It is a valuable resource for personnel seeking a clear understanding of operational issues, and facilitates compliance with current laws, regulations, and standards related to the emergency services. Download a copy from the U.S. Fire Administration Publications Center.
Find scholarship opportunities.
The focus of Action Training Systems is to provide training programs for emergency responders in both the private and public sector.
The Spondolytis Association of America, in cooperation with NAEMT, has created a continuing education video training program on ankylosing spondolytis (AS), a type of arthritis that affects the spine and other joints. This training is not intended to be diagnostic, but rather to prepare an emergency medical technician to do the right thing to prevent further injury once a person has self-reported that he or she has AS. Emergency first responders called to care for a patient with AS must remember that their patient's spine may be inflexible and traditional protocols for emergency care may do more harm than good.
Autism Recognition and Response
This coursework was developed by the North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal, in cooperation with other agencies in North Carolina and across the U.S. Packages can be mailed to any State who requests the program. Contact: Chris Best, North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal (NC-OSFM), 1-800-634-7854, cbest@ncdoi.net
This coursework was developed by the North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal, in cooperation with other agencies in North Carolina and across the U.S. Packages can be mailed to any State who requests the program. Contact: Chris Best, North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal (NC-OSFM), 1-800-634-7854, cbest@ncdoi.net
CHEMTREC is a 24-hour public service hotline for fire fighters, law enforcement, and other emergency responders to obtain information and assistance for emergency incidents involving chemicals and hazardous materials.
The Firefighters Support Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting firefighters and rescue personnel in performing their jobs effectively and safely. Their primary mission is to develop and provide free, video-based training programs for fire, EMS, search and rescue, and emergency management personnel. Programs include "mainstream" fire topics such as Emergency Incident Rehabilitation, and less well-covered subjects such as Evidence Preservation and Meth Labs Recognition and Response. They have teamed with recognized experts in their fields to present these programs. FireEngineering.com hosts their programs, which are usually between 30 minutes and 2.5 hours in length. Most programs come with accompanying PowerPoint files that can serve as a student's hard copy notes, and the video and PowerPoint files together form a turnkey solution for agency trainers.
GM provides information to assist first responders in learning about vehicles and/or systems that may affect how they perform in an emergency situation.
MIPT is a non-profit, nationally recognized think tank creating state-of-the-art knowledge bases and sharing information on terrorism.
The National Association of State Fire Marshals provides this dynamic pipeline emergency response training training curriculum.
TRANSCAER® (Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response) is a voluntary national outreach effort that focuses on assisting communities to prepare for and respond to a possible hazardous material transportation incident.
VFIS offers a wide range of educational tools to help emergency service organizations become better prepared for every call, reducing the risk of injury or loss to their members, the people they service, and the property they protect. VFIS also conducts a series of seminars and workshops throughout the year.
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