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About NDPTC Courses

Q: What kinds of courses are offered?

NDPTC develops and delivers FEMA-certified training courses. The overall focus is on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, with a specific focus on natural hazards, coastal communities, and the special needs and opportunities of islands and territories.

Q: Are all courses structured the same way?

All FEMA-certified courses are structured similarly and Participants must:

• Register for a course online
• Take an online Pre-Test
• Download Course Materials
• Attend Class
• Take a Post-Test
• Submit a Course Evaluation
• Receive a Certificate of Completion

Training Requests & Eligibility

Q: How do I request training be delivered at my location?

There are two ways to schedule a class offered by NDPTC. Standard scheduling is done through your SAA: https://www.firstrespondertraining.gov/TEI/tei.do?a=saa.

If your agency does not qualify for State allocated training delivered through DHS or FEMA, but you are affiliated with an organization that would benefit from this type of training, you could possibly become the host facility for the delivery. To be considered for this type of delivery, please submit your request in writing to the NDPTC Training Coordinator explaining the scope of your organization, why the training would be helpful, how many people would be attending, location and approximate time frames.

The basic requirements are:

• Ensure a minimum of 25 people will attend the training.
• Secure a delivery site.
• Handle all administrative functions including, invitations, registration and coordination.

Q: Can anyone sign up for training? I am a concerned citizen and do not have access to the SAA, can I still attend training?

If you are affiliated with an organization that would benefit from this type of training you could possibly become the host facility for the delivery. The basic requirements are to ensure there are a minimum of 25 people that will attend the training. You will be responsible for securing a delivery site, invitations to prospective participants, registration and coordination.

Q: How do I find out if I qualify to attend a state sponsored course delivery?

Again, contact the SAA for your region: https://www.firstrespondertraining.gov/TEI/tei.do?a=saa

Training Location

Q: Do you have a training facility like the ones in Alabama, Nevada and New Mexico?

No. Many of the consortium members provide training that requires either hands-on participation or hazardous situations. For those reasons, their training must be done on-site. NDPTC does not have a physical training facility -- currently all courses are delivered at the host facility.

Q: Do you provide resident training at your location?

No, not at this time. We have worked with several local host agencies to deliver courses in Hawai'i and the Pacific region. To arrange for delivery in your state, please contact your State Administrative Agency (SAA) or your organization's training point of contact (TPOC).

Training Cost

Q: Is there any charge to attend training?

No. The cost of developing and delivering the training is covered by a cooperative agreement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Q: Does NDPTC cover the cost of travel or lodging if I need to come from another state?

We do NOT normally cover the cost of travel or lodging to attend training. We only cover the costs of travel and lodging for the trainers that we provide.

Login & Account Creation

Q: Why are there two different login options?

NDPTC is part of the University of Hawai'i, therefore numerous UH faculty, staff, and students are engaged with the center. The UH Login was incorporated so that faculty, staff and students can utilize their existing UH Username and Password instead of having to establish and remember another set of login credentials. All other users external to the University of Hawai'i must use the Non-UH option which requires creating a username and password.

Q: Why am I unable to login even though I created a profile?

New Non-UH Users are sent an email after they create their profile. The purpose of the email is to ensure the email address is valid, and that the user has access to that account. You must click the link within the email message to activate your account and finalize the user registration process. You will not be able to login otherwise.

Q: Where can I get more information about UH accounts?

For more information on UH usernames, click here.

Password Reset

Q: Why is the password reset option only available for Non-UH users?

Allowing UH users to login with their university login credentials was provided for convenience since NDPTC is closely affiliated with the University of Hawai'i. However, UH usernames and passwords are used for many other purposes such as email and access to online financial and student systems. As such, the UH Web Login Service is managed centrally by UH's Information Technology Services (ITS) for all UH users. NDPTC has no control over the username or password.

For everyone else (Non-UH users), the username and password is stored in the NDPTC database. Therefore, access to modify that information is provided at the NDPTC website.

Q: How do I update my password?

On the login page, in the "Unable to Login" section, enter your email address and click the Login Help button. You will receive an email response with specific instructions.

Q: As a UH user, where can I update my password?

UH users may go to this website to update their password: https://sunsys.its.hawaii.edu/acctmgmt/

Registering for Courses

Q: Do all courses require a code to register?

Registration codes are required because enrollment is controlled by the Host Agency. Typically the Host Agency has a designated group of people or staff that they are requesting the training for. Registration codes are provided to the Host Agency and they are responsible for distributing the code to their intended participants.

Q: Are there any courses that are open to the general public to register for?

No, not at this time.

Q: I informed the Host Agency that I will be attending. Am I still required to register online?

Online registration is required, and also gives you access to the course Pre-Test (which must be taken prior to the class start date), and course materials such as the Participant Guide. Also, any pertinent information related to the course or from the instructor will be sent via email. We will not be able to communicate with you unless you register at our website.

Canceling Your Registration

Q: I registered for a course but am no longer able to attend. What should I do?

If you registered but have not taken the online Pre-test, you may cancel your registration. On the My Courses page, select the appropriate course. On the Course Checklist page, there is an option called "Cancellations" - follow the instructions from there. Cancelling your registration will allow the Host Agency to fill the class, especially if there are participants on the wait list.

Note: If you already took the Pre-test, you will not be able to cancel your registration online. In this case, please inform either the Contact Person at the Host Agency, or inform us via email at ndptc-training@lists.hawaii.edu.

My Courses

Q: What is the My Courses page?

The My Courses page is a consolidated list of all course activity to date. It contains all courses you registered for, are wait-listed for, or have completed and earned a Certificate of Completion for. It also contains courses that you registered for but did not complete.

Q: I already completed a course, including the Pre-test, Post-test, and Evaluation. Why does the course still display in the "Current/Upcoming Courses" section?

Courses will remain under "Current/Upcoming" until the course officially closes. This is typically after all deadlines have passed. So while you may have completed the Course Evaluation before the deadline, the course doesn't officially close until the evaluation deadline has passed. Subsequently, all Participants will have access to their certificates at the same time.

Q: What is a "Demo" or "Pilot" course?

All NDPTC courses must go through a specific process in order to receive FEMA certification. A "Demo" is the first delivery where a specific target audience is assembled to provide feedback on the course content, materials, and the instructor. Feedback is incorporated into the course and subsequently, the course is offered as a "Pilot". There are typically two pilot offerings before all course documentation is submitted to FEMA for certification.

Pre- and Post-Test

Q: What is the Pre-Test?

The Pre-Test is a fairly short test that all participants must take prior to the start of the class. The purpose is to gauge the level of knowledge of the material that will be presented. A summary of Pre-test scores are provided to the instructor prior to the course start date. Both the Pre-test and Post-test are required for a participant to complete the course.

Q: What happens if I don't take the Pre-Test online?

Since the Pre-test is required for all participants, if you do not take the test online, you will be required to take the test on paper prior to the start of the class. This may delay the class start time for all attendees as the instructor cannot begin teaching until all tests are submitted.

Q: What is the Post-Test?

The Post-Test is a fairly short test that all participants must take at the end of the class. The purpose is to gauge the participants' knowledge of the material and to determine the effectiveness of the course and the instructor. Participants must score at least 70% on the Post-test to pass the course and receive a Certificate of Completion.

Q: What happens if I need to leave early and am unable to take the Post-Test in class?

You may be given an option of taking the Post-Test online.

Q: Is it possible to re-take the Pre-Test or the Post-Test?

The Pre-Test may be taken only once. If you scored below 70% on the Post-Test, you may re-take the test in order to earn a Certificate of Completion.

Q: Is there a limit on how many times I can take the Post-Test?

You may re-take the test only once.

Certificates

Q: What do I receive after taking a course?

A Certificate of Completion is awarded to all participants who complete the course. Completing a course means you've taken the Pre-test, and scored at least 70% on the Post-test.

Q: How long will it take to receive my certificate?

The time it takes to receive your certificate will vary depending on the course. If tests are taken on paper forms, the results may be delayed as it must be entered into the NDPTC system for scores to be computed. If tests are taken online, results are available immediately. However, on average, participants should receive their certificates within 2 weeks after the course ends.

Q: How do I obtain my certificate?

You will receive your certificate via email (as a PDF attachment) or you may download your certificate from our website, on the My Courses option under the Training tab.

Q: On the My Courses page, I see "N/A" in the Certificate column. What does that mean?

N/A means you did not complete the course. To complete a course, you must have submitted a Pre-test and you must score at least 70% on the Post-Test.

Q: I am not able to access my certificate online. Is it possible to have my certificate mailed to me?

A: Yes, please email us at ndptc-training@lists.hawaii.edu with your request.