The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) coordinates training courses developed and funded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  These courses are offered tuition free through federal training partners for first responder disciplines and elected and appointed officials from all levels of government.

The DHS has designated ten professional first responder disciplines:   

Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Service, Government Administration, Hazardous Materials, Healthcare, Law Enforcement, Public Health, Public Safety Communications and Public Works.

Homeland Security and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) courses are offered through resident courses at the Federal provider location and through mobile training delivered to Louisiana sites.  The agency or jurisdiction requesting Federal mobile training is required to obtain GOHSEP Training Branch approval to host classes within Louisiana AND to send first responders to attend resident Federal training. 

Federal training is typically provided at no charge to the student or the requesting agency.  Agencies and responders may verify eligibility, any associated costs, request resident or mobile training by contacting the GOHSEP Training Branch.

Federal Training Partners

1. Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP): in Anniston, Alabama.  Delivers comprehensive preparedness and WMD resident and mobile training for state and local responders; fully funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  

2. Louisiana State University (LSU):  Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Offers mobile training to help first responders address all aspects of domestic and international terrorism, WMD and high-consequence events.  All training is offered at no cost.

3. Nevada Test Site (NTS):  Northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada.  Trains first responders to respond to terrorist use of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).  Mobile and resident course training for state and local responders is fully funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  Contact the Homeland Security Training Officer for further details to schedule NTS training.

4. New Mexico Tech (NMT):  Socorro, New Mexico.  Trains first responders to address WMD incidents using explosives.  Mobile and resident training for state and local responders is fully funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

5. Texas Engineering and Extension Service (TEEX) :  College Station, Texas. Trains first responders to prepare for and respond to acts of terrorism including those involving the use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and other special incidents. Training for state and local responders is fully funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

6. Emergency Management Institute (EMI):   Emmitsburg, Maryland
EMI provides emergency management training for resident and online Independent Study (IS) courses.  Resident courses are offered tuition free to include most travel reimbursement to eligible attendees. The IS courses online are offered at no cost.
First responders may click here to access related EMI web-based IS courses at: