Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q: What is military caregiver leave under FMLA?

    A: 

    Military caregiver leave allows eligible employees to take up to 26 weeks of leave in a single 12-month period to care for a family member (spouse, son or daughter, parent, next of kin) who is a covered service member/veteran with a serious injury or illness. Military caregiver leave is available to an eligible employee once per service member, per serious injury or illness.

    The “next of kin” of a covered service member/veteran is the nearest blood relative, other than the veteran’s spouse, parent, son, or daughter, in the following order of priority:

    1. a blood relative who has been designated in writing by the service member as the next of kin for FMLA purposes
    2. blood relative who has been granted legal custody of the service member
    3. brothers and sisters
    4. grandparents
    5. aunts and uncles
    6. first cousins

    A veteran who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy for a serious injury or illness is a cover ed veteran if he or she:

    • was a member of the Armed Forces (including a member of the National Guard or Reserves)
    • was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable
    • was discharged within the five -year period before the eligible employee first takes FMLA military caregiver leave to care for him or her

    A serious injury or illness is one that is incurred by a service member while on active duty that may cause the service member to be medically unfit to perform the duties of his or her office, grade, rank, or rating. A serious injury or illness also includes injuries or illnesses that existed before the service member’s active duty and that were aggravated by service while on active duty.

  • Q: For what other purposes can an employee use FMLA leave?

    A: 

    Federal employees can use 24 hours of leave without pay during any 12-month period to fulfill certain family obligations:

    • School and Early Childhood Educational Activities - to allow employees to participate in school activities directly related to the educational advancement of a child
    • Routine Family Medical Purposes - to allow parents to accompany children to routine medical or dental appointments
    • Elderly Relatives' Health or Care Needs - to allow employees to accompany an elderly relative to routine medical or dental appointments or other professional services
  • Q: Where is my certificate from the class I just attended?

    A: 

    Course completion certifications from the NIH Training Center are in your LMS Account under Learning in Completed Learning. Here are some helpful guides to get you through LMS. If you have any technical difficulties with access, please see the LMS Helpdesk.

  • Q: I signed up for a class scheduled on a Friday before a Monday holiday. Will the class end early?

    A: 

    Generally, NIH Training Center classes are conducted for eight (8) hours with an hour for lunch. As it’s important that you receive the necessary content, please plan on a full day of instruction. If a class date is not optimal for you, note that the NIHTC offers multiple dates throughout the fiscal year for our classes.

  • Q: Can I receive Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) for attending a DDM Seminar?

    A: 

    All participating staff who register for either the live or archived DDM Seminar will receive 1.5 hours of supervisory refresher credits per event. In addition, participants can submit the session into the acquisitions online system to receive 1.5 CLPs for FAC-COR, FAC-C and FAC-PPM re-certifications.

  • Q: Can contractors and NIH fellows take virtual classes at the NIH Training Center?

    A: 

    Yes, they can. Their IC must approve their request and the associated fees for participating.

  • Q: Can I take the Retirement Refresher class even if I have not attended the FERS or CSRS Pre-Retirement classes?

    A: 

    That’s a great question! It’s recommended that you attend one of the three-day Pre-Retirement classes prior to attending the Refresher.

  • Q: I attended an NIHTC class last week and am not seeing an update to the completion status on my Learning Management System (LMS) profile. When can I expect to see a “Successful” status?

    A: 

    Generally, the status on your LMS profile is updated within two weeks of attending class. Please note, two weeks is an average. Specific classes have post requirements and may extend beyond two weeks.

  • Q: I am confirmed to attend training. When will I receive information and materials?

    A: 

    Generally, class information including a calendar invite and materials are sent to students approximately one week before the class.

  • Q: How do I access Skillsoft in the LMS?

    A: 

    Locate the Catalog Search portlet on the LMS homepage. In the lower right corner, select the “Category” link. Scroll down to 3-Online Training and select Skillsoft Online to view the courses.

  • Q: When will my IC see the Common Accounting Number (CAN) charge for a class an employee attends?

    A: 

    The CAN is charged after the student attends class. The class is marked “delivered” in the Learning Management System (LMS) and the student receives credit for attending.

  • Q: Our IC wants a class for just our employees at our location. What do I do to make this happen?

    A: 

    Great! The NIH Training Center offers training to ICs at their locations. This is called Group Training/Closed Enrollment. We can provide you with all the pertinent information discuss what training best fits your needs. Contact the NIH Training Center to arrange a consultation with one of our Program Managers at 301-496-6211 or email us at NIHTrainingCenter@nih.gov.

  • Q: Will my training completion certificate be automatically uploaded into the Federal Acquisition Institute Training Application System (CSOD)?

    A: 

    No, unfortunately the HHS Learning Management System (LMS) is not connected to FAI’s CSOD. The LMS is internal to HHS and CSOD is a government-wide system. Please contact the FAI Help Desk for more guidance on how to upload your training certificate: 703-752-9604 or FAI.

  • Q: I took the Basic ITAS class. What class should I take next?

    A: 

    After taking Basic ITAS you should gain a minimum of two months of recent timekeeping experience and then register for the Advanced ITAS class.

  • Q: How can I tell if I’m enrolled in an NIH Training Center class?

    A: 

    Here is a quick and easy way to check your registration status in a class.

    • Log into the HHS Learning Portal (LMS)
    • On the left-hand side of the screen, select Learning. 
    • If the class appears, you are registered.
    • If you do not see your class, look at the top of the window and choose the Message Center

    If you do not see your class, look at the top of the window and choose the Message Center (Envelope icon). Click on the Search button. You will see a list of status updates for you. There should be a message regarding your registration.

    If you are still experiencing issues, feel free to contact the NIH Training Center at 301-496-6211 or send email to NIHTrainingCenter@nih.gov.

  • Q: I received a notification stating I’m on a wait list for a class I am taking. What does that mean?

    A: 

    This means you are pending approval by your direct supervisor and your Servicing Administrative Officer (AO). View the email notification that you received from the Learning Management System. Once your request has been fully approved and a valid Common Accounting Number (CAN) has been entered, then you are eligible to be moved to the roster. This will occur if a seat is available at the top of the NEXT hour. If there are no seats remaining, your status will remain as waitlisted until a seat is available. For more information, see the NIHTC Registration Process video.

  • Q: As a manager, do I need to let the NIH Training Center know that I've approved my employee to attend a class?

    A: 

    You do not need to notify the NIH Training Center when you provide approval for a training; the LMS system generates an automated notification.

  • Q: I’m having trouble accessing the DDM Seminar Series Website?

    A: 

    Please access the website using VPN as seminars are solely for NIH staff.

  • Q: I see a class I am interested in attending, but the notes indicate that the class is a "Closed Enrollment." What does that mean? Can I attend?

    A: 

    "Closed Enrollment" trainings have been set up by one particular IC, for that IC's employees only. If you belong to that IC, you can attend. Registration for your IC's closed enrollment is usually free of charge and requires no approval in the system.

  • Q: How are DDM Seminar Series speakers selected?

    A: 

    Speakers are all nominated by staff with final recommendations made to Dr. Alfred Johnson, NIH’s Deputy Director for Management. There is a committee comprised of senior administrative leaders that review all nominations. Strong consideration is given to those speakers that offer the NIH community an interesting perspective on a specific leadership or management issue or challenge. Cost and availability are always considered when selecting speakers.

  • Q: Can I nominate a speaker if I am a contractor at NIH?

    A: 

    We welcome nominations from all NIH staff.  Please remember that nominees should be dynamic, experienced public speakers from business, academic, non-profit, or government sectors.

  • Q: When do you post the virtual platform link for classes?

    A: 

    The link for a virtual training is typically emailed to registered participants 2-5 days before the first day of class.