1. U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy
Overview of the NFA National System for Training
P.L : “…The purpose of the Academy shall be to advance the professional development of fire service personnel and of other persons engaged in fire prevention and control activities…”

2. The NFA prepares current and future first responders to foster a solid foundation for local fire and emergency services’ prevention, preparedness and response to fires and all- hazards.
We deliver the kinds of training unavailable at the State or local level because of course content, emergent needs or audience size.
We work with and through State and local fire training systems and colleges and universities to bring the fire service to professional status.

3. NFA’s Cooperative Efforts
National Partnerships
All 50 Accredited State Training Systems – train mid-size to smaller career and volunteer fire departments
150 largest municipal fire departments (METRO)
Training Resources and Data Exchange (TRADE) – system to share curriculum among regions, States and locals. Weekly newsletter TRADEnet – exchange of ideas / solicitation of solutions.
PARADE- system to recommend fire prevention curriculum to TRADE, regions, States and locals
Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) – annual meetings with 120 colleges and universities, monthly newsletter.

4. Current System State Training National Fire Academy Colleges
Federal
State
College
Local
Colleges
Local Training
&
Universities

5. Communications USFA Notification list – 86,000 (daily distribution)
TRADE – 40,000 (weekly distribution)
FESHE – 36,000 (monthly distribution)
Alumni Association - 27,000 (as-needed distributions)
ALSO – Each State Fire Training director, Metro fire training, IAFC, IAFF, NVFC, Volunteer and Combination Chiefs, Metro Chiefs, Women in the Fire Service, International Association of Black Professional Firefighters, National Association of Hispanic Firefighters, International Association of Hispanic Firefighters, Native American Fire Chiefs

6. Resident Programs 50 courses (200+ deliveries)
(10 and 6 day on-campus)
50 courses (200+ deliveries)
6 or 10 day duration at Emmitsburg, MD

7. 6 Day Programs Region selects 3 courses from menu of 20
(on- and off-campus)
Region selects 3 courses from menu of 20
Thirty 6-day courses per year, 3 per region I I V
VIII II X II
VII
III IX IV VI
Students are career and volunteer, all ranks
Encourages regional networking

8. 2 Day Programs (on- and off-campus)
Each State receives 9 courses from a menu of 40 each year.
Total of 450 deliveries per year.
Students are volunteer and career / all ranks

9. Technology Programs / Blended Learning
47,000 Completions in 2011

10. NFA Training – All curriculums
Year
On-Campus
Off-Campus
Classroom / Partner
On-Line
Total
2011
6,800
56,200
47,000
109,000
2010
7,300
64,000
41,500
112,000
2009
8,300
71,700
40,000
120,000
2008
8,000
76,000
30,000
114,000
2007
86,100
5,900
100,000
2006
65,700
74,000
2005
8,900
64,100
73,000

11. Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE)
Common Course:
Titles
Descriptions
Outcomes
Outlines
Content (Textbooks)
Distance Learning Supplements

12. Fire service text-book publishers are producing FESHE compliant college text-books and noting them as such…

13. “Coffee Break” Training
Short non-certificate courses once a week via . Quarterly Self-quiz at the end.
Fire protection systems
Building construction
Fire codes and standards
Inspection techniques
Hazardous materials

14. Curriculum Areas Executive Development (EFO) Management Sciences
Hazardous Materials
Emergency Medical Services
Planning and Information (data analysis)
Fire Prevention (3) – Technical, Management, Public Education
Command and Control
Fire Investigation

15. The NFA
Develops and delivers the kinds of courses unavailable anywhere else
On-campus, off-campus and on-line
Classes from 10 days to 10 minutes
Up-to-date curriculum
College credit recommendation for all classroom based courses
Continuing education units for all on line courses

16. Addressing National Needs: Endorsement
State / local systems have needs for courses unavailable from USFA/NFA due to time / financial constraints
Endorsement is a process by which State developed courses can receive NFA endorsement. They exchange courses among themselves and use federal funds to deliver them.
175 Courses currently available
Addressing National Needs:
Endorsement

17. NFA’s Independent / Objective Evaluations
Students’ Supervisor
Evaluation
American Council on Education
State and Local Training Systems
Student Evaluation
Performance

18. Comparison of Inputs, Outputs and Outcomes of Government Programs
The Congressional Institute uses the following graph to define the differences between outputs and outcomes (Congressional Institute, 2004). Conveniently, they use training as the example:
Comparison of Inputs, Outputs and Outcomes of Government Programs
INPUT
Amount of resources devoted to a program activity
Example: Dollars appropriated and FTE’s assigned to a job training program
OUTPUT
Tabulation, calculation or recording of activity or effort, expressed in a quantitative or qualitative manner.
Example: Number of people trained by program
OUTCOME
Assessment of the results of a program activity compared to its intended purpose.
Example: Number of people trained by a program that landed and kept jobs
Areas where agencies are comfortable
Area where taxpayers are concerned

19. Kirkpatrick’s Evaluation Levels
Level 1 Evaluation – Reactions
Level 2 Evaluation – Learning
Level 3 Evaluation – Transfer (Performance)
Level 4 Evaluation – Results (believed to have too many variables for reliable scientific m easurement)

20. NFA Long Term Evaluation - Supervisors*
*N=7,053 supervisors from FY 1998 – May 2012.

21. NFA Long Term Evaluation - Supervisors*
*N=7,053 supervisors from FY May 2012.

22. PL 93-498 NFA Long Term Evaluation - Supervisors*
*N=7,053 supervisors from FY May 2012

23. Fulfills Legislative Intent
“…Professional development of the fire service…”
Mission Focused
DHS
FEMA
USFA
Measured Performance
PART, GPRA, PPBES
American Council on Education
Focused on outcomes, not outputs
Kirkpatrick Level III

24. Classroom Based:
On and off campus
10, 6 and 2 day
Local and regional
Technology Based:
NFAOnline
Coffee Break
Electronic Distribution
Future Based / Profession
Associate Degree
Bachelor Degree
Graduate Degree
Partner Based:
TRADE / PARADE
FESHE
Endorsement

25. Questions???