National Fire Academy courses, catalogs and schedules

National Fire Academy (NFA) courses are delivered online, at our campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and off-campus throughout the nation in cooperation with state and local fire training organizations and local colleges and universities.

Our free courses target middle- and top-level fire officers, fire service instructors, technical professionals, and representatives from allied professions. Any person with substantial involvement in fire prevention and control, emergency medical services, or fire-related emergency management activities may apply for NFA courses.

Application period: CLOSED

Here’s how to apply for courses and get a Student Identification Number.


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Courses and schedules

On-campus classroom courses: six- and 10-day | two-day
Specialized training courses and advanced management programs of national impact offered in a classroom setting at our Emmitsburg campus.
Off-campus classroom courses: six- and 10-day | two-day
The same courses taught in Emmitsburg but delivered in your state to provide you with the opportunity to attend NFA training closer to home.
Online and online-mediated courses
Through NFA Online, you can receive career-enhancing, self-paced training at home.
State- and local partner-sponsored classroom courses
Locally-sponsored two- and six-day training courses that use NFA course content.
State courses approved by the NFA
State-developed courses assessed by NFA as the equivalent of our training in both quality and content and taught by local instructors.
Course evaluation and general feedback
Learn how we measure the long-term impact of our training courses and provide us with your general feedback.

Featured courses

Executive Planning (R0506)

10-day on-campus Planning & Information Management

This course is a capabilities-based planning course that uses strategic planning models to collect and analyze planning elements and leadership behaviors in terms of risk and hazard evaluation, and a project management model to track resource allocation and project capability gaps. Strategic elements are presented in case-study context.

Course dates: May 11-22, 2015 vacancies | July 20-31, 2015 vacancies | Nov. 9-20, 2015 | May 16-27, 2016 | July 11-22, 2016

Practical Applications of Fire Dynamics and Modeling (R0204)

Six-day on-campus Arson

For the experienced fire investigator, this course will provide important principles and applications of fire dynamics and computer fire modeling with the objective of understanding and describing fire phenomena and related processes associated with fire scene reconstruction. Through this course, you will become familiar with various tools that can be used to assist in supporting fire cause determination theories.

Course dates: Oct. 18-23, 2015 | Jan. 17-22, 2016 | Mar. 6-11, 2016 | July 31-Aug. 5, 2016 | Sept. 18-23, 2016

Youth Firesetting Prevention and Intervention (R0629)

Six-day on-campus Arson Fire Prevention: Management Fire Prevention: Public Education

This course provides you with knowledge and skills necessary to identify children and adolescents involved in firesetting. The course addresses how to establish programs to meet the needs of these youths and their families.

Course dates: Oct. 25-30, 2015 | Feb. 28-Mar. 4, 2016 | May 8-13, 2016

Course vacancies

Course vacancies

We still have immediate openings in upcoming courses. Browse the vacancy list and take advantage of these training opportunities!

Download the 2014-2015 NFA course catalog PDF 1.6 MB

More information on NFA training