Much of the training in the NWS is currently being accomplished by distance learning. This includes web-based training, teletraining, and webcasts. Many NWS developed training materials are on the web and freely available for widespread university and public use. The NWS is developing a one-stop shopping web page which links all operational NWS training. This web page will have a search function and link to other NWS training web pages.

The NWS is striving to package training materials into distance learning courses to improve the utilization of these materials. The courses consist of formal registration, tracking, testing, evaluations and certificates.

Ensuring distance learning training materials are utilized and meet the office's training deficiencies is the role of the local Science and Operations Officer (SOO). The SOO works with each employee each year to develop and track an Individual Development Plan (IDP). The SOO collects the training deficiencies on a yearly basis and forwards these to the regions to form the foundation for the next year's training development.

A SOO resource center has been established to allow locally developed training materials to be posted and shared with other offices and interested users. A resource center for Warning Coordination Meteorologists contains many outreach and educational items.

The NWS plans to implement a Learning Management System (LMS) to allow for easy course registration, tracking, and maintaining a database of staff training. Many commercially available training packages will be evaluated during the procurement process.