Frequently Asked Questions
If you're looking for FAQ's on a particular topic, please click on one of these buttons:
FAQ's are answers to Frequently Asked Questions asked about NIC's services and resources. Click on one of the titles to see the answer. We recommend using the search function to find what you're looking for and so that you're not endlessly scrolling for things that aren't relevant to your needs.
What do I need to know as a participant intending to apply for an event? - Training Participant Information
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Important Information for Participants Intending to Apply for an In-Person or Classroom NIC Event
What to expect for in-person classroom trainings:
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Create an NIC LMS account now
NIC manages its class registrations through our NIC Learn center. If you are interested in applying for any of our in-person or virtual training options, you'll need to create a free account first so that we can add you to our classes and register you properly. We recommend using your work email for the account.
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Class Registration
There are two options for class registration and they depend on the class itself.
- The class is invitation only: In this case, NIC staff will register you for an event and you will log into the Learn Center to find that the class has been added to your account.
- The class is open to the public: In this case, the class will be advertised and listed on the NIC Learn Center with registration open to anyone. You can apply for the class and NIC staff will review your profile before adding you to the class roster.
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NIC will securely send you forms to fill out and return
NIC will securely send you Travel Claim and Direct Deposit forms through a secure, Department of Justice link. You will have 5 days to complete the forms and send them back to NIC in order to attend the training and be reimbursed for your travel expenses.
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Complete all pre-work before in-person attendance
Depending on the training, there may be preparatory work that you will need to complete before you in-person training event. This is to make sure that you and everyone else are on the same level when the training starts.
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Training Occurs
You and other participants will travel to the training location and complete the in-person classroom sessions before returning home. Please see the common questions answered below to make sure you understand how travel, lodging, and trip costs will work.
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Follow Up & Reimbursement
After the in-person training, NIC will send you a survey to provide feedback on your experience so that we can improve for future students and programs. You will also need to file your Invitational Travel and Per Diem Claim Form.
Travel FAQ:
Effective May 31, 2015, all future NIC programs and training events will be guided by the following procedures:
We understand that these changes to NIC’s business practices may result in questions or concerns. Specifically, we want to know if this change will cause any insurmountable issues or challenges to your agency. Should you have a comment or concern, please feel free to contact NIC, via email (NICLearningCenter@bop.gov) or telephone (800-995-6429). We welcome your feedback regarding this important administrative change.
Thank you for your attention to this issue. We appreciate your continued collaboration with the National Institute of Corrections and look forward to seeing you at an NIC classroom event.
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How Do I Receive Live Support While in the NIC Learning Center?
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1. Access the NIC Learning Center at https://nic.learn.com
2. You can access Live Help and Support at two locations on the home page of the NIC Learning Center.
3. Follow links at either location to page below. Click green Chat Now with Live Support for live help and support using a chat function. Depending on your internet connection speed this may take a few seconds to a minute.
4. If you are unable to reach the page below, please contact your local IT for assistance, as an internet pop‐up blocker setting is not allowing you to reach the NIC Live Help/Support feature
How Do I Print My NIC Training Certificate?
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1. Go to https://nic.learn.com and Log In to your user account.
2. Click My Learning tab at the top left of the screen after logging in to your user account.
3. Click and select My Transcripts and Certificates under the My Learning tab.
4. Find the training program you wish to print a certificate for under Completed Programs.
5. Your certificate icon is on the right side of the page – click to print your certificate!
How Do I Register as a New User in the NIC Learning Center?
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1. Go to https://nic.learn.com/ and click Create an Account to create a user account for the NIC Learning Center.
2. Please read this information. When you have finished, click the purple New Users button at the bottom of the screen to proceed.
3. Please complete the Registration fields page to register as a new user. Those marked with a red * are required fields.
4. Complete this form and click Next Step in the bottom right hand corner of the screen.
5. To complete your New User Registration, complete the Password Recovery Question and click Save.
How Do I Take an NIC E‐Learning Course?
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1. Go to https://nic.learn.com/ and Log In to your user account.
2. Click Catalog tab at the top left of the screen after logging in to your user account.
3. Click and select E‐Courses under the Catalog tab.
4. Search for courses under All Courses or by selecting one of the Subject Categories. For example, if you are interested in a course on being an effective team leader check the Team Building category.
5. Locate the course you are interested in and click Click here to start this course. For example, this person has decided to take the Being an Effective Team leader e‐course.
An important note about NIC e‐courses:
As you progress through your e‐course, please click through each screen to ensure you get credit for completing the course. Please use the BLUE Exit button, and not the RED X to ensure that the system will record you as completing the course.6. To start the e‐course, click Click here to launch the course.
Please Note:
As you progress through your e‐course, to ensure that the system will record you as completing the course, please use the BLUE Exit button, and not the RED X to ensure that the system will record you as completing the course.
How Do I Find What Training Is Available At NIC?
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1. Go to https://nic.learn.com.
Go directly to NIC's in-person (classroom) trainings
2. You will land on the home page of NIC’s Learning Center, where you can access available classroom, blended, virtual instructor led (VILT) and e‐courses.
To register for and participate in NIC’s Learning Center and take courses, you must be a registered user.
Simply create an account or login if you already have an account.
Is my agency eligible to receive TA from NIC?
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Any local, state, federal, or tribal corrections agency is eligible to receive TA services from NIC.
Is NIC able to fulfill every request submitted for TA?
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Due to budget and staffing limitations, NIC cannot fulfill all the requests for TA it receives. However, NIC will review each TA request and will provide a response to the requesting agency. In cases where the request cannot be met, NIC strives to provide information about alternate resources that may be useful to the requestor.
Does my agency pay for the TA?
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NIC’s TA services are paid for through funds provided to the agency by Congress to support the work of the agency. Typically, the requesting agency will be expected to provide meeting space, or other relevant information, and necessary access to facilities or agency staff.
Will I be required to sign a formal agreement before receiving TA?
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NIC’s TA application form and other paperwork to initiate a TA engagement will stipulate all the conditions regarding receiving TA services from NIC. For example, the expectations for the TA regarding when it will start, how long it will last, the level of agency support expected from the requestor, what services NIC will provide, and how the TA engagement will conclude may be included along with other information. Typically, the requesting agency is expected to complete a detailed assessment (and, in some cases, a follow up assessment) to discern the effect of the TA services.
How quickly will my agency receive TA?
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TA services can begin almost immediately depending on the services sought, the availability of NIC resources, the availability of the agency, and the urgency of the requestor’s need. In most cases, TA services begin within a few months of the request.
Once TA has begun, what changes can be made?
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Occasionally, NIC begins a TA engagement with an agency only to discover that, due to changing circumstances, the services requested are not as originally planned. NIC maintains a flexible stance and a willingness to adjust each TA engagement to ensure that services provided meet the actual needs of the requesting agency and that NIC’s limited resources are used efficiently and effectively.
Can I request more than one type of TA at the same time?
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Yes. Because NIC is committed to delivering TA that is tailored to your agency, we understand that there are times when you may need help with more than one issue. However, remember that each request is reviewed on its own merit and that your agency should be able to demonstrate its capacity to engage in multiple projects at the same time.
How much will requesting (technical) assistance cost my agency?
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NIC provides all its services free of charge. However, it is expected that the requesting agency provide access to staff, data, and anything else that will help us help you.
If my agency has received TA in the past, can I submit additional requests for the same issue?
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Yes. However, NIC is committed to ensuring that any TA you receive will help build capacity in your agency. As with any other request, NIC will carefully review your information to determine the level of need and what our response will be.
Who has to sign the technical assistance request letter?
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The CEO of your agency. For example, the Director of Corrections, the Sheriff, or County Administrator must sign the Request Assistance request letter.
Do you give grants for equipment and training?
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NIC is not a funding agency. We do not provide you with a grant to purchase equipment or procure training. NIC does not provide funds directly to an agency. When we provide assistance, we fund the cost of consultants' travel and time.
Who receives the technical assistance report?
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Both NIC and the agency representative who requested the technical assistance will receive a copy of the technical assistance report. The agency is free to distribute the report.
Upon delivery of the final Technical Assistance report to the agency that requested the assistance, the report becomes the property of that agency. The National Institute of Corrections will not distribute the report to non-NIC entities, or consider it an agency record under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), without the express, written approval of the agency.
Learn More: For more information about the Freedom of Information Act, visit https://www.bop.gov/foia/#tabs-0
Can NIC make a staffing analysis, population projection, and/or feasibility study for our agency?
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No, NIC cannot provide such services. These studies are very lengthy and complicated, and we do not have the resources to do them.
What NIC can do is assist your agency in building the capacity to conduct these analyses, on its own, through training and materials available through the NIC Information Center. We can also help you understand how to get funding to support these initiatives.
Can NIC pay for a keynote speaker at our conference?
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No, NIC cannot provide funding for keynote speakers at a conference. However, NIC can provide training at a conference, providing it meets our initiatives.
What is Technical Assistance?
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Technical assistance or TA is a term used in education, government, and industry to mean “consultation.” NIC TA is short-term, no-cost help for agencies on a variety of issues.
Will NIC will certify my jail?
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No, NIC does not certify jails, even with a court order. NIC is not an investigatory or regulatory agency. NIC’s interest is in determining how best you can provide detention services in your community in a manner that is safe for inmates, staff and the public.
Does the National Institute of Corrections certify jails?
No, the National Institute of Corrections does not certify jails because it isn't a regulatory agency nor is it investigatory agency. NIC does help jails improve their training, processes, and procedures to better serve their incarcerated individuals, staff, and community.
What kind of TA does NIC provide?
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NIC provides corrections agencies with a wide range of TA services including responding to critical incidents, assisting in problem-solving, as well as strategic or long-range planning, policy development, system mapping and other issues and topics.
How is NIC’s TA work different from its training programs?
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Typically, an NIC TA engagement is a tailored response to a specific, limited need of a single requesting corrections agency. While some types of non-standard training may be delivered through TA, NIC’s training programs comprise standardized curricula that address a range of core correctional issues and are responsive to a range of corrections training needs.