National Fire Academy Training Assistance

CFDA 97.018 Active Grant
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Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding (estimated)
$1.8M FY2026
$1.5M
FY24
$1.5M
FY25
$1.8M
FY26*
* estimated

Funded Projects

Examples of what this program has supported.

FY2025 Fiscal Year 2025: NFA trained 58,625 fire and emergency medical services personnel through NFA sponsored 2-,6- and 10- day on and off-campus courses, state-sponsored 2-,6-10-day courses, and NFA Online distance learning courses. Financial assistance/stipends were paid to 2,215 students attending 187 resident offerings for 6- and 10-day course offerings at the NETC campus.
FY2026 FY 26: NFA is projected to train an estimated 70,000 fire and emergency medical service personnel through NFA - Sponsored 2-,5-, and 10-day on- and off-campus courses, state-sponsored 2-, 6-, 10-day courses, and NFA Online distance learning courses. Financial assistance/stipends are projected to be paid for an estimated 3,000 students.

Program Objective

​Provide student travel stipends (up to 75 percent of the expense of attendance) to fire service, emergency medical services, and emergency managers attending National Fire Academy (NFA) courses at the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) in Emmitsburg, Maryland. NFA provides courses in 13 curriculum areas that consider a whole community approach to support state and local response agencies preparedness, prevention, response, recovery and mitigation for response to local, regional and national emergencies. Cost sharing for student attendance at NETC supports the Mission Essential Task to build the Nation's readiness to respond effectively to all hazards by advancing integrated doctrine, training, education, and exercises. This assistance is provided by Public Law 93-498, Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • Nonprofit Organization
  • Not-for-Profit Organization
  • For-Profit Organization
  • Other
  • Local
  • State
  • Territorial
  • Tribal
  • Unrestricted by Entity Type
  • Unrestricted by Individual Type

Sponsored organization, Public nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals), Specialized group (e.g. health professionals, students, veterans), Private nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals).
Any student who is a member of a fire department or has significant responsibility for fire prevention and control and has been accepted into an eligible course at NFA may apply for stipend reimbursement. Federal or private industry employees or foreign students may be accepted into NFA courses but are not eligible for stipend reimbursement.

Beneficiaries

  • Nonprofit Organization
  • Not-for-Profit Organization
  • For-Profit Organization
  • Other
  • Local
  • State
  • Territorial
  • Tribal
  • Unrestricted by Entity Type
  • Unrestricted by Individual Type

Student or sponsoring organization.

How to Apply

Award Procedure

The completed agreement package will be processed immediately. A U.S. Department of the Treasury payment schedule will be prepared and a reimbursement will be issued electronically to the beneficiary’s bank account.

See Program Guidance: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/nfa/admissions/training-costs.html or in the NETC Welcome Package: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/NETC_Welcome_Package.pdf

Program details & compliance

Description

​​FY 2025: Funding is used to reimburse students traveling to attend NFA courses at the NETC. Students are reimbursed for the cost of a round-trip airline ticket, train ticket, bus ticket, or mileage for POV (one round trip) to the NETC training location, Students are also provided transportation to/from local airports to NETC, as well as free lodging. For FY 2025, 3,424 students were paid $1,091,002 in stipends.​

Mission Categories

Primary: Fire Protection

Other categories:
Higher Education

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

A student must be attending the National Fire Academy training course.

Required Documentation

B - Project Grants (including travel grants), C - Direct Payments for Specified Use.

Student Stipend Agreement (FEMA Form 75-3) and Student Stipend Agreement (Amendment) (FEMA Form 75-3a) accompanied by a copy of the required supporting documentation.

This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles.

Reporting & Compliance

Records Retention
84 months

Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts

  • Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart E — Cost Principles
  • Subpart F — Audit Requirements

Contacts

U.S. Fire Administration, FEMA
(800) 238-3828
500 C Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20472
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2026-06-23. Spec v2.0. Last synced: 2026-07-08 03:02:39.