NARS Mission Statement
The mission of NARS is to support the evolving training needs of today’s railroad industry using modern training techniques.
NARS Affiliation and History
Founded in 1988, NARS trains individuals seeking to join the industry, Current employees of Class I and short line railroads, and people who works with railroad facilities in other industries.
Based on a collaborative partnership between Johnson County Community College (JCCC) and BNSF Railway, one of North America’s largest railroads, NARS provides effective, high-quality railroad training.
Our commitment to excellence ensures we improve and expand our programs, raising the bar and redefining what “excellence” means.
NARS’ highly respected faculty members prepare students for a job in the railroad industry. Our training programs are created for NARS by instructional designers and delivered by career railroad employees.
With decades of experience working for Class I railroads, our instructors bring deep technical knowledge and real-life experience to the subjects they teach.
Training
Whether you are looking to begin or advance your career in the rail industry or need to meet 243 (Minimum Training Requirements), NARS offers the educational resources and technical training you need.
NARS offers college credit, for those seeking a railroad career, and non-credit courses, for those in the railroad industry.
NARS Credit Courses – is a partnership between BNSF Railway and JCCC that offers for-credit railroad training to students at JCCC’s Overland Park, KS campus. These courses include conductor, signal and welding courses, and offer a possible associates degree.
NARS Credit Locomotive Electrical and Diesel programs – NARS affiliate colleges offer certificate and associates degree to those completing their programs. These programs utilize NARS training materials at their campus and lab, to prepare you for a mechanical career working with locomotives.
NARS Non-Credit Courses – is a partnership with approved Training Companies and instructors whom have been through NARS training to become qualified at training NARS material to contractors and BNSF railroad partners. These courses include Maintenance of Way Rules Training (MWOR), Industrial Rail Operations Training (IROT), Open-Top Loading and some basic mechanical and signal classes.