HOW DO I SIGN UP 

FOR THE NATIONAL FIREFIGHTER REGISTRY (NFR) FOR CANCER?

All firefighters – paid or volunteer, active or retired, with or without cancer – can 

sign up for the NFR for Cancer on a computer, tablet, or smartphone. 

1. CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT Est. 5 Mins

• Visit NFR.CDC.GOV, confirm eligibility, and click “Login.Gov” to begin. Please be aware that 

using shared public computers can be less secure than using personal devices.

• Click “Create an Account” or sign in if you already have an account.

» Tip: If you have an existing Login.Gov account and reset your password,

go to NFR.CDC.GOV after resetting to sign up.

• Type your email address and select your preferred language.

» Tip: Use a personal email instead of a work email in case you change employers.

• Navigate to your email inbox. You will receive an email from Login.gov to confirm your email address. If you do not 

receive an email within a few minutes, please double check the email address you entered and your internet access. 

• Create a password. The password must be 12 characters long. A meter will check your 

password strength - you will need a green color from the meter to continue.

• Select an authentication method. This is an added level of security to protect your 

information. You must select at least one method to move forward.

» Tip: You may be most familiar with the “text or voice message” option.

• Click “Agree and Continue” to be directed to the NFR portal.

2. GIVE INFORMED CONSENT Est. 5 Mins

• Read the informed consent document. The NFR is a voluntary project. You must provide 

informed consent to participate. Scroll down the page to read the consent form.

• Provide consent if you agree to participate. Do this by checking the box and typing your 

first and last name. If you decide not to participate you can close the window. If you change 

your mind in the future, you can visit NFR.CDC.GOV to continue with registration.

» Tip: You can download or receive an email copy of your signed Informed Consent for your records.

• Click “Begin” to start to the next step.

JOIN THE NFR AT 

NFR.CDC.GOV

SIGNING UP INVOLVES 4 STEPS:

1. Create your account 

2. Give informed consent

3. Create your profile

4. Complete the NFR questionnaire

If you get interrupted during steps 3 or 4, your 

responses will be saved. Login again to continue.
NATIONAL FIREFIGHTER REGISTRY FOR CANCER

3. CREATE YOUR PROFILE Est. 5 Mins

• Add your information. Include your first name, last name, and address.

• Verify your email. You can also provide a secondary email address.

• Choose your preferences for NFR updates. You can provide a secondary 

email address and/or opt-in to receive text message updates. 

• Add your work status. If you are retired or no longer work in the fire 

service, provide the approximate date when you stopped working.

• Review your profile and then click “Continue.” You will then 

have the opportunity to “Start the Questionnaire.”

» Tip: You can review or update your profile at a later time if anything changes.

4. COMPLETE THE NFR QUESTIONNAIRE Est. 30 Mins

Demographics

• Add your demographic information. Date of birth and sex are required.

• Provide the last four digits of your social security number. Providing this will increase the chance of 

correctly linking your NFR account to any past or potential future cancer diagnosis information.

• Click “Save & Continue” to start to the next step.

» Tip: Double check your responses. They cannot be edited once saved for data security reasons.

Work and Exposure

• Add your fire service history. Include where and when you worked and what job titles you held. 

For each department/job title, estimate the number of fire responses you had. This information will 

enable the NFR to have a clearer understanding of your experience and potential exposures.

NEED 

MORE HELP?

Review our

Frequently Asked 

Questions or email 

the NFR Help Desk: 

NFRHelpDesk@rti.org.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2023124revised022024

» When	estimating	the	number	of	responses	throughout	your	career,	you	can	include	vegetation/brush	

fires	and	wildland	fires.	Typically,	brush/vegetation	fires	are	shorter	in	duration,	whereas	wildland	

fires	can	include	wildfires	(often	more	severe	in	duration	and	intensity)	and	prescribed	fires.

» If	you	believe	any	of	the	questions	about	personal	protective	equipment	

do	not	apply	to	your	work,	you	can	select	“N/A”.	

Health History and Lifestyle

• Add your health and lifestyle history. Include any heath conditions or injuries. 

This will enable the NFR to have a clearer understanding of factors that may impact cancer risk.

» Tip: Double check your responses. They cannot be edited once saved for data security reasons.

Review and Submit

• Click “Submit” to finish signing up for the NFR. After you submit, you will receive an 

email with your NFR participant number. Keep this number for your records.

» Tip: Before submitting, you can go back to answer any unanswered questions.

» Tip: You can access your profile, future questionnaires, and other

resources at any time by logging back into NFR.CDC.GOV.

Tips for Wildland Firefighters

February 2024. NIOSH Publication Number: 2023-124 (revised 02/2024)