DHS/FEMA-funding

DOWNLOAD 2026 DHS/FEMA-FUNDED COURSE SCHEDULE

How to Apply for Training

Eligibility Requirements

To apply and qualify for training using our awarded DHS/FEMA Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP), National Domestic Preparedness Consortium funding, applicants must:

  • Be a state, local, tribal, or territorial first responder
  • Receive approval from both their supervisor and their State Administrative Agency (SAA)

Application Process

Before applying, please have the following information ready:

Step 1: Complete an Application

Important: Submitting an application is the first step only and does not confirm enrollment.

Apply by selecting a course below or choosing a class date from the calendar at the bottom of this page. You will be prompted to select a first-choice and second-choice class date.

Available DHS/FEMA-Funded Courses

Step 2: Check Your Email

After completing and submitting your application, you will receive an email from register@aar.com. The email will include a copy of your completed application in the body of the message, along with further instructions.

Tip: Add register@aar.com to your contacts or safe‑sender list to avoid missing this email.

If you do not receive the email within a few minutes, please contact sertc@aar.com or call (719) 584‑0584.

Step 3: Obtain Required Application Approvals

After receiving the email with your completed application:

  1. Either:
    • Print and manually sign the application, or
    • Save or print the application as a PDF and electronically sign it
  2. Forward the signed application to your supervisor for their approval and signature
  3. Forward the approved application to your State Administrative Agency (SAA) for final review and approval
    • The SAA’s email address will appear on the application form

The SAA is responsible for submitting the approved application to SERTC for review and registration.

Applicants are responsible for confirming that the approved application is submitted by the SAA to SERTC. If you have not heard from SERTC or received a registration confirmation email within three (3) business days, please contact your SAA to confirm that your application was submitted.

Important: Application approval does not confirm enrollment. You will receive a registration confirmation email once you have been officially registered in a class.

Step 4: Registration Confirmation

Once SERTC receives the approved application from the SAA, SERTC Administration will register applicants on a first‑come, first‑served basis, subject to seat availability. Every effort will be made to place applicants in their first‑choice class.

Once registered, you will receive a registration confirmation email that includes reporting instructions. Please review these instructions carefully, as they contain important details and next steps for completing your travel arrangements and preparing for training.

 

View Courses Calendar

FAQs

Follow-Up Steps if You Haven’t Received Correspondence

If you haven’t received any correspondence from either your SAA or directly from SERTC, please follow these steps:

  1. Verify Application Submission
    • Ensure you printed your emailed application, obtained your supervisor’s signature, signed the application yourself, and emailed the completed application to your SAA.
  2. Contact Your SAA
    • Confirm that your SAA received your application, approved it, and emailed it to SERTC Administration at sertc@aar.com.
  3. Contact SERTC Administration
    • Call SERTC Administration at (719) 584-0584 to confirm receipt of your application. We can then discuss your individual situation.

Additional Information

    • One application per course is required.
    • Completed and approved applications are valid for two years from the day SERTC receives the application directly from your SAA.

Reimbursement checks can take up to six weeks to be processed and returned to you from the date SERTC Administration receives your completed form. Please ensure you have submitted your reimbursement form and contact SERTC Administration to confirm receipt of your documents. If you have not received your reimbursement within six weeks of submission, please contact us at (719) 584-0584.

The FEMA Student Identification (SID) number is a unique individual number generated and assigned to participants who need or are required to take training provided by a FEMA organization. The SID uniquely identifies you throughout the FEMA organization and all of its agencies. The goal is for your FEMA SID to serve as your personal identification number instead of your Social Security Number (SSN) in support of FEMA’s effort to decrease/cease the use of SSN for identifying and tracking individuals. Visit www.cdp.dhs.gov/femasid to learn more about the FEMA SID number, why you need one, and how to apply for one.

To qualify, individuals must be state, local, tribal, or territorial first responders. This includes first responders who volunteer with local or state fire departments. Funding availability is contingent upon the completion of an application by a qualified first responder and receiving authorization from both their supervisor and State Administrative Agency (SAA).

Federal employees are not eligible to apply for this funding but may attend training using their own funding through Open Enrollment / Self-Pay.

SERTC currently offers five residential, and four mobile, DHS/FEMA-certified courses. These courses are identified with the DHS/FEMA logo on our courses page.

Residential courses conducted onsite at the SERTC training facility:

  1. PER-290 Tank Car Specialist (TCS), 5 days/40 hours
  2. PER-291 Highway Emergency Response Specialist (HERS), 5 days/40 hours
  3. PER-292 Leadership and Management of Surface transportation Incidents (LMSTI), 5 days/40 hours
  4. PER-293 HazMat/WMD Technician for Surface Transportation (HWMDTST), 10 days/80 hours
  5. PER-327 Alternative Fuels & Flammable Incident Response and Management (AFFIRM), 5 days/40 hours

Mobile Courses scheduled and conducted at your facility:

  1. AWR-290 Railroad Safety Awareness (RSA), 1 day/4 hours
  2. PER-326 Surface Transportation Emergency Preparedness and Security – Freight (STEPS-FR), 2 days/16 hours
  3. PER-330 Surface Transportation Emergency Preparedness and Security – Mass Transit & Passenger Rail (STEPS-PT), 2 days/16 hours
  4. PER-331 Surface Transportation Emergency Preparedness and Security – Senior Officials (STEPS-SR), 1 day/4 hours