The application period for admission to the 2024-2025 session of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Firearms Examiner Academy (NFEA) is open to all qualified candidates. In addition to personal qualifications, trainees must be assigned to an established firearms section within Federal, state and local agency laboratories. Agencies must have an experienced firearm and toolmark examiner on staff to guide and prepare their trainee with mandatory assignments and a research project prior to graduation from the program. The trainer will also be required to continue with a formal training program once the trainee completes the NFEA program.

The NFEA provides training for apprentice/entry level firearm and toolmark examiners to Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. It is important to note that the NFEA is not a certification program. The academy curriculum is composed of the fundamentals of firearms & toolmark examinations and serves as a basis for the trainee, under supervision, to develop into a qualified firearm and toolmark examiner. The application deadline for the 2024-2025 session of the NFEA is June 30, 2024, with selections made soon after. It is anticipated that the class will begin in October 2024. Please note the training schedule may be adjusted based on the receipt of funding and the completion of the current NFEA class.

Although the training is free, agencies will be responsible for covering round trip travel expenses for their trainee to travel to the academy for Phase II and Phase IV of their training. 

Additional information and the application form can be found at: