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CERT News: 

(NEW!) FEMA has updated materials for the CERT Basic Training course

What are the changes?  The updated course is the same effective training as before, with the units and topics organized in the same way.  However, edits were made throughout all of the course materials including the Participant Manual, Instructor Guide, and the PowerPoint files. These changes are intended to assure that protocols are up-to-date and that the content is as clear as possible for those taking the training. Since there are many edits throughout the training, CERT instructors are encouraged to review all of the updated materials.  

Who made the changes?  To update the Basic Training, FEMA worked with a panel of 12 experienced CERT trainers from across the country, followed by a review by local CERT programs designated by the CERT or CERT/Citizen Corps coordinator in each state. FEMA senior leadership and FEMA’s technical review team also reviewed and commented on the updated material.  

Where can I find the new material? The course files are now available on the national CERT website. Please visit www.citizencorps.gov/cert and click on "Training Materials" to access documents in PDF or Word.  On the Web site you will also find the updated Participant Manual in low vision format. If your local CERT program will need the Participant Manual in Braille, please contact your State Program Manager. The updated Instructor Guide references a series of videos that CERT trainers may want to use when they conduct the Basic Training course. These videos are available on the Web site by clicking on "Video Material" on the home page.  

What comes next? Later this year, the CERT National Office will be posting a new CERT Train-the-Trainer course and the new CERT Program Manager course.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.

CERT Online Training

The CERT National Program Office released two new supplemental training modules, CERT Animal Response I and CERT Animal Response II. The new Animal Response modules are the first in a series of supplemental training modules building on the disaster response training that program participants receive in the CERT Basic Training course.  The supplemental modules are designed to expand the skills of CERT members and teams, and to increase CERT’s ability to support emergency response professionals.  The Animal Response modules, as well as other CERT supplemental training to be released in the future, are intended for those who have completed the basic training.

The Animal Response modules generally address pets, service animals, “for-profit” livestock, wildlife, exotic animals and non-commercial livestock such as horses. CERT Animal Response I (three hours) will teach CERT members emergency preparedness for animal owners, animal-related functions in emergency management and how to recognize specific animal behaviors.

CERT Animal Response II (four hours) will teach members their role in responding to animal issues and the skills needed when they encounter animals while performing their broader CERT response functions.  As in all CERT training, these new supplemental modules also feature CERT responder safety.

Click here to access the supplemental training materials.

Search and Rescue Tutorial

This tutorial allows CERT-trained individuals to review and refresh their skills in sizeup and search and rescue techniques. Teams can use the tutorial as a group refresher activity. Those who are not yet CERT members can also use the tutorial for background on the CERT basic training.

Start taking the tutorial

IS-317 Course Overview

"Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams", IS-317, is an independent study course that serves as an introduction to CERT for those wanting to complete training or as a refresher for current team members. It has six modules with topics that include an Introduction to CERT, Fire Safety, Hazardous Material and Terrorist Incidents, Disaster Medical Operations, and Search and Rescue. It takes between six and eight hours to complete the course. Those successfully finishing it will receive a certification of completion and .8 CEU's from the Independent Study Office.

The IS-317 can be taken by anyone interested in CERT. However, to become a CERT volunteer, one must complete the classroom training offered by a local government agency such as the emergency management agency, fire or police department. The local classroom course schedule can be found to the right.

Start taking the course

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CERT FAQ's

Q. What is CERT?
A.  The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills.  Using CERT training, individuals can assist others in their neighborhood, workplace or school following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.

Q. Why take CERT training?
A.The primary reason for CERT training is to give people the decision making, organizational and practical skills to offer immediate assistance to family members, neighbors and associates while waiting for help.

Q. Who can take the training?
A. Naturals for the training are neighborhood watch, community organizations, communities of faith, school staff, workplace employees, scouting organizations and other groups that come together regularly for a common purpose.  CERT skills are useful in disaster and everyday life events.

   Click here to visit the national CERT homepage