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Student Rules

Please familiarize yourself with the rules and policies on this page for your safety and to ensure a hassle-free and enjoyable training experience at the National Emergency Training Center (NETC).

Alcohol

Alcohol is not allowed at the NETC and will be confiscated. Consumption of alcoholic beverages is limited to the Command Post Pub and at coordinated activities held at the Log Cabin.

Attendance

You are required to attend all course sessions. If you don't, you may not receive a certificate or a travel reimbursement.

If you need to leave campus early and miss part of a course or graduation, notify the training specialist in writing. The training specialist, in collaboration with the National Fire Academy (NFA) superintendent, may waive the attendance requirement in extraordinary circumstances if you complete all course requirements.

If you receive approval to leave early, forward the approval to the NETC Admissions Office so your travel reimbursement isn't limited.

Dress code

Please wear clothing that projects a professional image and is appropriate for classroom activities. If the NFA superintendent or your instructor determines that your clothing is not appropriate, you must change before you can return to class.

Classroom

Appropriate business casual attire includes:

  • Slacks, to include khakis and capri pants.
  • Suits.
  • Sport coats or blazers.
  • Skirts or dresses.
  • Shirts with collars.
  • Sweaters.
  • Dress or casual shoes.

Fire Investigation students: Please refer to your pre-course materials for guidance on appropriate attire to wear during exercises.

Never appropriate in the classroom:

  • Shorts.
  • Flip-flops.
  • Clothing that shows offensive images or text.
  • Clothing that exposes your midsection.
  • Ripped clothing.

Reasonable accommodation

You can wear religious attire when it does not impose an undue hardship on classroom activities. If you have a disability, we will accommodate your attire if it does not impose an undue hardship on classroom activities.

Recommended graduation attire

  • Blouse or dress shirt with tie.
  • Class shirt.
  • Departmental dress uniform.
  • Dress slacks.
  • Skirt or dress.
  • Sport coat or blazer.
  • Suit.

Laptops and other personal computer devices

You can’t connect your laptop, mobile phone, USB drive or any other personal computer devices to government equipment.

Service animals

Animals are not allowed on campus, except for guide/service animals. Please notify the NETC Admissions Office at least 2 weeks in advance if you are bringing a guide/service animal. The service animal must always be in the student’s presence. The animal cannot be left in the dormitory room unattended.

Smoking

You can’t smoke inside NETC buildings. This includes smokeless tobacco and smokeless electronic vaporizers (e-cigarettes).

If you smoke inside your dorm room, we will:

  • Ask you to leave campus.
  • Deny your travel reimbursement request.
  • Charge you to clean the room.

Visitors

Only you, as the assigned student, are allowed in your dorm room. Relatives or friends can’t stay on campus and they can’t access campus work spaces or buildings. The NETC Housing Office can provide you with information on off-campus accommodations for visitors, but you are responsible for arranging and paying for the accommodations.

Weapons

Weapons are prohibited on campus. This includes:

  • Ammunition.
  • Bow and arrows.
  • Firearms such as handguns, pistols, rifles and shotguns.
  • Knives with blades longer than 3 inches.
  • Machetes.

Security personnel may search you, your vehicle or your luggage. If you arrive at NETC with weapons of any kind, your entry to campus may be denied.

Maryland law is very narrow in its definition of law enforcement officers who may carry firearms. For your own protection, and to expedite your processing into the NETC, do not bring weapons of any kind to campus.