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NIH DOS Trainings for Foreign Travel

Page updated: January 13, 2026

All NIH staff are required to complete U.S. Department of State (DOS) training in advance of going abroad on official travel. The training required depends on the duration of time overseas in within a 12-month period.

A copy of the training completion certificate(s) must be uploaded into the Travel Authorization.

Who must take the trainings?

All NIH personnel (FTEs and non-FTEs; U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens) traveling on U.S. government travel orders to any foreign country.

What training courses are required?

The DOS training required depends on the cumulative time abroad on official foreign travel in a 12-month period.

Less than 30 Cumulative Days Abroad in a 12-Month Period

Travelers who will be overseas on official travel for less than 30 cumulative days in a 12-month period are required to complete Foreign Affairs Counter Threat eLearning (eFACT) or have a valid Counter Threat Awareness Training (CTAT) certificate.

Foreign Affairs Counter Threat eLearning (eFACT) – CT420.
- Training is offered by the National Foreign Affairs Training Center (NFATC).
- On-demand, virtual course
- No tuition fee for FY 2026
- 9-module online course (estimated 3-hour duration)
- eFACT training completion certificate is valid for 6 years
- eFACT is the replacement for CTAT. Individuals who completed CTAT and have a valid certificate (6 years from date of completion) do not need to complete eFACT until their CTAT certification expires.
- Valid FACT certificate will satisfy eFACT requirement
- To access the eFACT course through NFATC, begin by submitting an admissions request in the NFATC Student Information System (SIS) and listing your IC Administrative Officer as your Training Officer. Once submitted, your Training Officer must approve the request, after which it is reviewed by the NFATC Registrar. You will receive an email notification of the admissions decision, and if approved, login credentials will be sent, typically within 24 hours. For questions, contact NFATC_Registrar@state.gov. After logging into the SIS Student Community, you can register for the eFACT course through the Course Catalog. Once registered, you will have 90 days to complete the course.

30-44 Cumulative Days Abroad in a 12-Month Period

Travelers who will be overseas on official travel for 30-44 cumulative days in a 12-month period are required to complete:

Foreign Affairs Counter Threat eLearning (eFACT) – CT420.
- 9-module online course (estimated 3-hour duration)
- eFACT training completion certificate is valid for 6 years
- eFACT is the replacement for CTAT. Individuals who completed CTAT and have a valid certificate (6 years from date of completion) do not need to complete eFACT until their CTAT certification expires.
- Valid FACT certificate will satisfy eFACT requirement
- To access the eFACT course through NFATC, begin by submitting an admissions request in the NFATC Student Information System (SIS) and listing your IC Administrative Officer as your Training Officer. Once submitted, your Training Officer must approve the request, after which it is reviewed by the NFATC Registrar. You will receive an email notification of the admissions decision, and if approved, login credentials will be sent, typically within 24 hours. For questions, contact NFATC_Registrar@state.gov. After logging into the SIS Student Community, you can register for the eFACT course through the Course Catalog. Once registered, you will have 90 days to complete the course.
Introduction to Working in an Embassy – PN113.
- Training is offered by the National Foreign Affairs Training Center (NFATC).
- On-demand, virtual course
- Tuition is $116 for FY 2026
- PN113 training completion certificate is valid indefinitely
- To register: Work with your Administrative Office to submit OPM Standard Form SF-182 and vendor payment information to the NFATC:
  Email: NFATC_Registrar@state.gov
  Phone: 703-302-7144

45-89 Cumulative Days Abroad in a 12-Month Period

Travelers who will be overseas on official travel for 45-89 cumulative days in a 12-month period are required to complete:

Foreign Affairs Counter Threat eLearning (eFACT) – CT420.
- 9-module online course (estimated 3-hour duration)
- eFACT training completion certificate is valid for 6 years
- eFACT is the replacement for CTAT. Individuals who completed CTAT and have a valid certificate (6 years from date of completion) do not need to complete eFACT until their CTAT certification expires.
- Valid FACT certificate will satisfy eFACT requirement
- To access the eFACT course through NFATC, begin by submitting an admissions request in the NFATC Student Information System (SIS) and listing your IC Administrative Officer as your Training Officer. Once submitted, your Training Officer must approve the request, after which it is reviewed by the NFATC Registrar. You will receive an email notification of the admissions decision, and if approved, login credentials will be sent, typically within 24 hours. For questions, contact NFATC_Registrar@state.gov. After logging into the SIS Student Community, you can register for the eFACT course through the Course Catalog. Once registered, you will have 90 days to complete the course.
Security Overseas Seminar (SOS) - MQ911.
- Training is offered by the National Foreign Affairs Training Center (NFATC).
- 2-day course offered in-person (Arlington, VA) or online
- Tuition is $820 for virtual offering or $865 for in-person (FY 2026)
- SOS training completion certificate is valid indefinitely
- To register: Work with your Administrative Office to submit OPM Standard Form SF-182 and vendor payment information to the NFATC:
  Email: NFATC_Registrar@state.gov
  Phone: 703-302-7144
Introduction to Working in an Embassy – PN113.
- Training is offered by the National Foreign Affairs Training Center (NFATC).
- On-demand, virtual course
- Tuition is $116 for FY 2026
- PN113 training completion certificate is valid indefinitely
- To register: Work with your Administrative Office to submit OPM Standard Form SF-182 and vendor payment information to the NFATC:
  Email: NFATC_Registrar@state.gov
  Phone: 703-302-7144

90+ Cumulative Days Abroad in a 12-Month Period

Travelers who will be overseas on official travel for 90 or more cumulative days in a 12-month period are required to complete the following courses:

Foreign Affairs Counter Threat (FACT) training - CT650.
- Training is offered by the National Foreign Affairs Training Center (NFATC) in Blackstone, VA
- 5-day practical, hands-on training
- Offered weekly, except in weeks with a federal holiday
- Tuition is $5,545 for FY 2026 (travel and lodging additional)
- FACT training completion certificate is valid for 6 years
- FACT recertification only applies to employees serving in or traveling to posts with a high or critical rating for crime, terrorism or political violence. Employees assigned to or traveling to posts rated low or medium for crime, terrorism or political violence may recertify by completing eFACT (CT420).
- To register: Work with your Administrative Office to submit OPM Standard Form SF-182 and vendor payment information to the FACT:
  Email: DS-Registrar@state.gov
  Phone: 771-208-0160
Security Overseas Seminar (SOS) - MQ911.
- Training is offered by the National Foreign Affairs Training Center (NFATC).
- 2-day course offered in-person (Arlington, VA) or online
- Tuition is $820 for virtual offering or $865 for in-person (FY 2026)
- SOS training completion certificate is valid indefinitely
- To register: Work with your Administrative Office to submit OPM Standard Form SF-182 and vendor payment information to the NFATC:
  Email: NFATC_Registrar@state.gov
  Phone: 703-302-7144
Introduction to Working in an Embassy – PN113.
- Training is offered by the National Foreign Affairs Training Center (NFATC).
- On-demand, virtual course
- Tuition is $116 for FY 2026
- PN113 training completion certificate is valid indefinitely
- To register: Work with your Administrative Office to submit OPM Standard Form SF-182 and vendor payment information to the NFATC:
  Email: NFATC_Registrar@state.gov
  Phone: 703-302-7144

Waivers

These trainings are mandatory, and agency requests for waivers are strongly discouraged. Individual waiver requests must be submitted by letter by the agency Chief Human Capital Officer to the Under Secretary of State for Management. Waivers are issued only during exceptional operational exigencies and are valid for a limited period. Requests must include a proposed timeline for completion of the training.

Notification of Foreign Travel (NFT) Requirements

Under the State Department's requirements, each agency must ensure its employees comply. Agencies must provide FACT/eFACT/CTAT completion dates on eCountry Clearance (eCC) requests prior to travel. Some posts may require additional proof of completion. Employees should carry a copy of their completion certificates with them and must provide a copy to posts upon request.

For NIH to comply with these DOS security training requirements, the FIC Visa/Passport Office needs additional documentation to process foreign travel requests to countries and regions requiring the additional training.

Before stamping the foreign travel authorization NFT Pre-Approved and forwarding to FIC, ICs must:

Add security training course name(s) and completion date(s) in the NFT Purpose of Travel field.
If eFACT training is required, add the following statement: "Traveler has not and will not have spent more than 90 cumulative days in any one or combination of foreign countries within a 12-month period."
Upload a copy of FACT/eFACT/CTAT course completion certificate(s) into the authorization.

FIC will confirm security requirements have been satisfied as part of the NFT Final Approval process. Country clearance requests submitted by FIC will include the training validity date.

ICs can track training completion in the HHS Learning Portal. A transcript item can be added and the LMS allows for submission of completion certificates.

Contact

Questions or concerns on NIH foreign travel? Please contact:

Passport/Visa Office at Fogarty International Center
Phone: (301) 827-5555
Email: FICVPO@mail.nih.gov

Page updated: January 13, 2026