Page updated: March 7, 2024
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 Counter Threat Awareness Training (CTAT) or have a valid High Threat Security Overseas Seminar (HTSOS) certificate.
-
Counter Threat Awareness Training (CTAT) – CT401.
- HHS Learning Portal:
- 9-module online course (estimated 5-hour duration)
- CTAT training completion certificate is valid for 6 years
- CTAT is the replacement for HTSOS. Individuals who completed HTSOS and have a valid certificate (6 years from date of completion) do not need to complete CTAT until their HTSOS certification expires.
- Valid FACT certificate will satisfy CTAT requirement
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:
-
Counter Threat Awareness Training (CTAT) – CT401.
- HHS Learning Portal:
- 9-module online course (estimated 5-hour duration)
- CTAT training completion certificate is valid for 6 years
- CTAT is the replacement for HTSOS. Individuals who completed HTSOS and have a valid certificate (6 years from date of completion) do not need to complete CTAT until their HTSOS certification expires.
- Valid FACT certificate will satisfy CTAT requirement
-
Introduction to Working in an Embassy – PN113.
- Training is offered by the
Foreign Service Institute.
- On-demand, virtual course
- Tuition is $115 for FY 2024
- 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 Foreign Service Institute Registrar:
Email:
FSIRegistrar@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:
-
Counter Threat Awareness Training (CTAT) – CT401.
- HHS Learning Portal:
- 9-module online course (estimated 5-hour duration)
- CTAT training completion certificate is valid for 6 years
- CTAT is the replacement for HTSOS. Individuals who completed HTSOS and have a valid certificate (6 years from date of completion) do not need to complete CTAT until their HTSOS certification expires.
- Valid FACT certificate will satisfy CTAT requirement
-
Security Overseas Seminar (SOS) - MQ911.
- Training is offered by the
Foreign Service Institute.
- 2-day course offered in-person (Arlington, VA) or online
- Tuition is $775 for virtual offering or $805 for in-person (FY 2024)
- 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 Foreign Service Institute Registrar:
Email:
FSIRegistrar@state.gov
Phone: 703-302-7144
-
Introduction to Working in an Embassy – PN113.
- Training is offered by the
Foreign Service Institute.
- On-demand, virtual course
- Tuition is $115 for FY 2024
- 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 Foreign Service Institute Registrar:
Email:
FSIRegistrar@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
Foreign Service Institute in Blackstone, VA
- 5-day practical, hands-on training
- Offered weekly, except in weeks with a federal holiday
- Tuition is $4,543 for FY 2024 (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 CTAT (CT401).
- To register: Work with your Administrative Office to submit
OPM Standard Form SF-182 and vendor payment information to the Foreign Service Institute Registrar:
Email:
FSIRegistrar@state.gov
Phone: 703-302-7144
-
Security Overseas Seminar (SOS) - MQ911.
- Training is offered by the
Foreign Service Institute.
- 2-day course offered in-person (Arlington, VA) or online
- Tuition is $775 for virtual offering or $805 for in-person (FY 2024)
- 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 Foreign Service Institute Registrar:
Email:
FSIRegistrar@state.gov
Phone: 703-302-7144
-
Introduction to Working in an Embassy – PN113.
- Training is offered by the
Foreign Service Institute.
- On-demand, virtual course
- Tuition is $115 for FY 2024
- 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 Foreign Service Institute Registrar:
Email:
FSIRegistrar@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/CTAT/HTSOS 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 increased 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 CTAT 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/CTAT/HTSOS 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: March 4, 2024