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All 2025 Courses are still on schedule.
No course closures are expected for 2025.
Am I in the course or on the waiting list?
If you paid the deposit or full amount for the course and received an invoice showing payment then you are in the course. If you registered on the "waiting list" and you received an email saying you were on the "waiting list", then you are on the waiting list. If you registered on the waiting list and received an invoice showing a balance due, then you were selected from the waiting list to be in the course. Please pay the balance due as soon as possible to remain in the course.
Are there still seats available?
Please go to the course and scroll down to "Event Information". The "Seats Avaialble" row will show how many seats are remaining.
W9 forms, Where do I get them?
If you require a W9 form or an expense form please click here.
Which course do I pick?
Please pick either fire, law, or coroner and only sign up for the course that most closely resembles your current job duties. If you sign up for "fire" and you work for a police department you WILL be dropped from the course. The same applies to those working for a fire department who sign up for law or coroner. For the purposes of this course, if you are a Deputy Coroner or have Coroner duties, you should pick Coroner, not law enforcement. Law enforcement is reserved for detectives or law enforcement officers who do not perform Coroner duties. If you are fire law enforcement, you would choose fire, not law enforcement. It should be noted that all students must be sworn to attend this course which by default makes all students "Law Enforcement" regardless of your agency or title.
Locating the Dead K9 course:
If you have questions regarding the K9 or Locating the Dead please see: https://www.slofist.org/student/courses/ltd.
Are there still seats available for the course?
Please click on the course and which discipline you hold, (Fire, Law, Coroner), and if you see join waitlist, the course is full. You may also look toward the bottom of the course details where you will see "seats available" and you will also see "waiting list" which will show how many people are currently on the waiting list.
How do I get on the waiting list?
To be placed on the waiting list please go to the course registration page and click the Register button. Then select the "Waiting list Ticket" and fill out the information requested. Please use only student information, not training staff info.
Where am I on the waiting list, how likely is it that I will get into the course?
Where you are at on the waiting list is not indicative of your chances of getting into the course. Some years we go through the entire waiting list, and other years we don't use it at all. If you email us asking where you are at on the list or how likely it is that you get in will either go unanswered or you will receive a reply stating that we can not answer your question because it honestly can not be determined. But rest assured that you will contacted as soon as there is a seat available, and most likely you will receive an automated email with an invoice.
When will the next course open?
The course opening for the current FFDIC will be announced via email to those on the waiting list typically before the end of July following the conclusion of the current course. Regular registration will open in early September.
Can you hold my spot or put me in next year's course?
Unfortunately no. This course is first come, first served, and we can only hold spots for paid seats. We cannot place you in next year's either. If you are on a previous year's waiting list you will have an early registration opportunity before general registration for the next course.
Why can I only select one ticket for registration? I need to register more than one.
We only allow one registration and payment per student, each student must register with their information and not training staff information. This is to ensure that students will receive any last-minute correspondence need prior to the course.
Can my training staff register for me?
Yes, but we do not recommend it. There is a lot of detailed information needed for the student to register so that we may place the students into the appropriate teams. And you must put in the contact information for the student, not training or finance staff. We can not emphasize this enough!
Paying by credit card
If you pay via credit card additonal fees will be added and those fees will not be refunded for any reason.
Can I pay with a Purchase Order?
No, we no longer accept purchase orders or checks.
Payment Deposits
You may hold your spot in the course by paying a $200.00 deposit to hold your spot. Full payment is due 60 days prior to the start of the course or you will be dropped from the course. This deposit is only refundable 60 days prior to the course. After 60 days the deposit is retained. Any prosessing fees will not be refunded for any reason.
I need to cancel my attendance
You can cancel by using the link in the confirmation email or by logging into your account and going to "My Course History" in the student menu and clicking the cancel button. If it is less than 60 days before the start of the course you will not have that option to cancel and you must contact us at
I can not attend, but someone else can take my place from my agency
Please have the other person register on the waiting list and then send us an email to let us know who is no longer attending, and who is taking their place and we will make the change. Email us at
Need an Invoice or payment receipt?
If you are a training officer or accounts an accounts payable person, please contact the student to retrieve the invoice, they were sent one via email when they registered. It is their responsibility to forward the information you require. You can also download the invoice anytime by logging into your account first and going to https://www.slofist.org/student/support/my-course-history or clicking "Student Home" below the FAQ menu link. If you still can not retrieve an invoice, please be advised that we do not have office staff and it may take several days for one to be provided.
What Equipment do I need to bring?
***Firearms are not permitted on the training grounds. Please plan accordinly to secure your firearm in your vehicle or other location during for the duration of the field investigation time.***
All necessary tools, basic protective gear, sunscreen, food, and drinks will be provided. Temperatures range from cold to very hot and you will be in the sun for extended periods of time. Items such as brim hats and long selves are recommended, and you are welcome to bring any equipment and PPE you would like to use. We do recommend that you use the PPE that your agency requires for conducting a field investigation, as these will be real burn scene recreations were bodily fluids and chemical remnants of burned materials. There will be work gloves, safety glasses, nitrile gloves, sun screen, and bug spray available. It is highly recommended that you were work boots with a steel toe and shank as there will be nails, glass, and sharp edges at each scenario. Scenes include vehicles, structures, and outdoor burn scenes which can include exposure to ignitable liquid vapor, burned plastics, wood, metal, vegetation, and human remains just as in any real life scene, please plan accordingly.
Classroom Dress Code:
Please wear comfortable clothes for the classroom portion, business casual is recommended but not required. Uniforms are optional and also not required.
Field Scenario Dress Code:
Please wear clothes that can get dirty with close-toed shoes, preferably safety boots. It is highly recommended that you wear the same or comparable clothing that you would on an actual investigation with sun protection, and/or turnout like safety gear. SCBA's are not needed, however you may wear a respirator or P100 mask if desired.
Cameras:
Some cameras are available, but you may bring your own camera as long as it takes a memory card such as an SD card. The memory card will be furnished by SLOFIST and will be collected at the end of each field day. Photos may not be taken via cell phone and no unauthorized pictures will be allowed to leave the confines of the course.
Locations:
The location of the course is in the hotel conference/meeting room. The field site location will be provided during the class. Registration typically occurs on Sunday evening in the hotel lobby and Monday morning at 7 am prior to the 0800hrs start time.
Food provided:
SLOFIST will provide lunch each day of the course and one hosted dinner/mixer event, breakfast will be provided each day by the hotel. You can advise us of any dietary or food allergies in your registration form and we will make every attempt to fulfill your request, but please be advised that we can not guarantee that we meet everyone's needs, so please plan accordingly.
I forgot my login information
If you have forgotten your login information please use the forgot password or for username on the login page. Your login user name should be your email address unless you have chosen otherwise, if so then use your email address to retrieve that information.
I have another question who can I call?
Please email us at