National Fire Academy

Mission

Promote the professional development of the fire and the emergency response community and its allied professionals. To supplement and support State and local fire service training programs, the National Fire Academy delivers educational and training courses having a National focus.

Functions

  1. Serve as the USFA's National focal point for advancing the professional development of fire service and emergency response personnel and allied professionals engaged in fire prevention and control and life safety activities.
  2. Participate in the revision, improvement, and expansion of curricula to meet National priorities through analysis of student evaluations, focus groups, NFIRS data and other research activities; and consultation with the Board of Visitors and leaders in State and National fire-service organizations, stakeholders, and other USFA programs.
  3. Provide educational opportunities through resident and distance deliveries in management technology, executive development, emergency medical services technology, incident management, planning and information management, hazardous materials, emergency response to terrorism, arson prevention/detection, fire prevention, public education, counter terrorism and instructor development.
  4. Develop and revise academic policies, standards for admission and performance, and establish criteria for the award of course certificates.
  5. Provide and conduct courses, seminars, workshops, conferences, executive forums, symposiums, and other educational and training opportunities for use at the NETC campus using alternative delivery mechanisms and other traditional means.
  6. Provide model training programs and educational materials suitable for use at other fire training and educational institutions.
  7. Develop and administer a program for use by schools of higher education to advance the knowledge and skills of fire service and emergency response personnel.
  8. Provide assistance to State and local fire service training programs through cooperative agreements, grants, contracts, and other means.
  9. Encourage the inclusion of fire prevention and detection technology and practices in the education and professional practice of architects, builders, city planners, and others engaged in the design and construction of physical facilities.
  10. Encourage and strengthen new and existing programs and partnerships with Federal, State and local fire service training agencies, State and local Governments, and private institutions by providing technical assistance and advice to vocational training programs, junior colleges, colleges, and universities.
  11. Coordinate with other FEMA program offices to ensure that fire prevention and control activities are included in the Agency's risk-based emergency management program for mitigation, preparedness, and response and recovery.
  12. Serve as point of contact with National accreditation organizations to seek acceptance and recommend accreditation of USFA courses for college credit and certification.
  13. Coordinate the design, development and evaluation of USFA curricula.
  14. Manage and conduct the NFA State Weekend Program of courses at NETC.
  15. Oversee the long- and short-term evaluation of USFA curricula, including the analysis of data and institution of required changes.
  16. Develop an in-service training system for contracted instructors to ensure that high academic standards are adhered to in NFA instruction.
  17. Maintain a National simulation exercise system that used computer-based multi-media and interactive scenarios for training and education of emergency response and emergency management personnel.
  18. Work with other FEMA program offices in support of disaster response, recovery and mitigation activities.