NCTC Training Categories
Below is a comprehensive view of the courses offered by the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) employees and the broader conservation community. Some subjects areas include specialized skill development PATHWAYS.
ACADEMIES | AQUATIC SPECIES BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION | COMMUNICATIONS | CONSERVATION POLICY |
| Academies are focused on developing the skills and knowledge needed to address the mission of the programs and the Service. They are single and multi-week courses designed for targeted groups of FWS employees. Academies are by nomination only. Recruitment announcements are released throughout the year. If you are interested in attending an Academy, talk to your supervisor for details. | These courses focus on the successful restoration of threatened and endangered aquatic species. Participants learn about the biology, identification, propagation, and conservation of aquatic species, including freshwater fishes, mussels, crayfish, and other macroinvertebrates. | These courses build the skills needed to effectively serve as the face and voice of the Service. Emphasis is placed on written, oral, and digital communication skills and tools. | These courses explore mission relevant policies and planning topics. Participants learn how to locate, interpret, and apply regulations resulting from policy and law. |
DECISION ANALYSIS | ECOLOGICAL ADAPTATION | GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES | HABITAT ASSESSMENT, RESTORATION, |
| These courses build the knowledge and skills needed to make better decisions. Most courses are based on the Problem, Objectives, Alternatives, Consequences & Tradeoffs (PrOACT) model and the Structured Decision Making (SDM) process. | These courses provide the knowledge and skills needed to address the environmental challenges posed by a changing climate. The training reflects the most current research on basic climate science, vulnerability assessment, adaptation, and scenario planning. | These courses build skill proficiency in using GIS and GIS applications for mapping and map communication, analysis, modeling, data creation and data management to support planning and decision making. Training in mobile GPS and remote sensing are also offered. | These courses build the knowledge and skills to effectively assess, restore, and manage streams, wetlands, and upland habitats. A highly developed series of courses in stream measurement and fluvial geomorphology build advanced skills for the most challenging restoration problems. |
HUMAN DIMENSIONS | LEADERSHIP AND SUPERVISION | REFUGE LAND POLICY | SAFETY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE |
| These courses focus on using social science knowledge and tools to effectively incorporate societal values into conservation planning and decision-making, and to build stronger and more diverse partnerships. | These courses and programs prepare leaders and supervisors to accomplish the Service’s mission. Skills are developed for emerging, mid-level, and advanced levels of leadership and supervision. Courses are based on the FWS Leadership Competency Development Model and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and Department of the Interior mandatory supervisory training requirements. | These courses focus on in-depth exploration of law, policy, and planning topics relevant to National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) land acquisition, protection, and management. Participants learn about managing oil and gas activities, assessment and acquisition of land, biological program planning, cultural resource protection, and other related topics. | Safety courses are mandatory for jobs that require specialized skills for using equipment or dealing with situations with inherent risk. These courses prepare employees to pass required tests to operate watercraft, conduct electrofishing, and operate other equipment. |
| These courses build skills in population modeling, biological monitoring, and quantitative assessments needed to support conservation decisions. Participants learn about the modeling process including how to think like a modeler, run popular modeling software, and interpret results from models. | These courses build the skills needed to develop, provide, and manage priority public uses and other recreation at FWS field stations. The training focuses on the Big Six priority public uses (hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, and interpretation). | Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center | These hands-on field and laboratory courses increase skills in the sampling, measuring, and health assessment of terrestrial and aquatic wildlife to manage and sustain species. Training includes techniques for identifying and monitoring species of birds, bats, small mammals, and herpetiles. |