NWCG Online Troubleshooting Information

Out of date software causes problems and online course progress will not be recorded by the online learning management system. This means the training must be accomplished again!

The National Fire Academy (NFA) Online "Check System" feature checks to ensure your PC is compatible with it's learning management system (LMS) software and thus it checks for the minimum needed to support the site so it is only checking for Java 6.1 or above.

However, NWCG online courses which are hosted under the NFA Online LMS require the current version of Java and Flash Player plugins to be present on the student's PC.

Before accessing NWCG online training, check your computer's Java and Flash Player versions. If your Windows PC does not have the current version installed and you have administrative rights on your computer, download and install the updated version(s) at the links provided below. Or, contact your agency's IT department, submit a Help Desk ticket and ask them to install the latest version of Java and Flash Player. Both plugins can be downloaded and installed from the links provide below.

Note: If your PC is a 64 bit system then you will need both versions of Java (32 and 64 bit) installed and available for use by Internet Explorer.

Verify Java Version: http://www.java.com/en/download/installed.jsp?detect=jre

Verify Flash Version: http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/

Note: Java software is a critical plugin used for communications between the user's computer (client) and the National Fire Academy (NFA) Online learning management system (LMS) server to track and record student progress. Without an updated version of this software plugin on your Windows PC computer, your online course progress will not be tracked and you will not be able to access course content, take exams or receive an NWCG completion certificate. If you prefer not to enable Java entirely, more advanced users can micromanage Java applications. In addition to disabling Java, most browsers allow users to create exceptions for safe sites that require it. Even though Java is a relatively vulnerable program, most unsafe exploits come from unsafe sites, not Web pages in an average user's everyday routine. Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/03/28/hackers-can-exploit-94-percent-java-users/#ixzz2Or3CJ5V6

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/04/21/3-common-browser-misconceptions-explained/

Also, the Flash Player plugin is critical for viewing media during the online training and must be the current available version.

U.S. National Park Service employees who are running AFS3 on your Windows PC normally have "Shockwave Flash Object" disabled in the "Manage Add-ons" menu because it interferes with AFS3 running correctly. If your PC is receiving a Flash Player error message when accessing S-260, Interagency Incident Business Management (2011) through NFA Online, you will need to put in a ticket with NPS Help Desk requesting they enable "Shockwave Flash Object" under the "Manage Add-ons" menu and update, if needed, Java and Flash Player plugins.

Caution: A known issue that will cause the deletion of module tracking/completion data is when the Internet Explorer (IE) Microsoft browser "x" in the top right corner of the window is used to exit the content window; module tracking data is deleted and not recorded in the Learning Management System (LMS). This is an IE Microsoft Security feature which cannot be hard-coded out of the courseware. Users must utilize the "exit" or "next" buttons in the content screen to ensure that module tracking data is successfully recorded to the LMS.