Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

If you live or work in Berkeley, and are age 18+, you may sign up for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program. It provides education in disaster preparedness and training in basic emergency skills.

In a catastrophic disaster, government resources (people and supplies) may not be available for several days following the event. By preparing neighborhoods and community groups with basic emergency skills we can lessen the effects of a disaster and help sustain ourselves until assistance can arrive.

CERT curriculum

The CERT curriculum includes disaster preparedness, fire safety, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue operations, CERT Organization, and continuing education courses.

Berkeley CERT approaches community preparedness through three key components: Training, Response, and Volunteering. Community members can take training to learn how to help their communities in a disaster. They can serve as community volunteer responders in emergencies in Berkeley, and they can support CERT program development as volunteer trainers and subject matter experts.

Registration

To register for a class, click on the class name under “Schedule of Classes” below.

Schedule of classes

CERT Unit 3: Disaster Medical Operations I: Thursday, September 21, 6-9pm
CERT Unit 3: Disaster Medical Operations I: Saturday, September 23, 9am-12pm
CERT Unit 4: Disaster Medical Operations II: Thursday, September 28, 6-9pm
CERT Unit 4: Disaster Medical Operations II: Saturday, September 30, 9am-12pm

Other Training Opportunities

The City of Berkeley Fire Department offers various disaster preparedness and fire safety trainings for groups of 15 or more community members. To request a training, please confirm that at least 15 neighbors, friends, or other people who work or reside in Berkeley will attend/participate and complete this request form.

Community members can also participate in an online CERT program through the California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI). To access the online self-study program, sign up on the CSTI website. Download signup instructions for the online self-study CERT program.

FEMA's Emergency Management Institute also offers a free online independent study course IS-317.A: Introduction to Community Emergency Response Team (CERTs) for those interested in learning more about the CERT program model.

CERT materials, alternative formats, and accessible services

Berkeley CERT materials can be downloaded and printed or viewed online on the CERT Resources and Materials page. The City does not print copies of these documents for distribution.

This material is available in alternative formats upon request. Alternative formats include audio-format, Braille, large print, electronic text, etc. Please contact the Disability Services Specialist and allow 7-10 days for production of the material in an alternative format.

Disability Services Specialist
Email: ADA@berkeleyca.gov
Phone: (510) 981-6418
TTY: (510) 981-6347

In-person trainings are held in a wheelchair-accessible location. To request a disability-related accommodation(s) to participate in the training, including auxiliary aids or services, please contact the Disability Services Specialist at 981-6418 (V) or 981-6347 (TDD) at least three business days before the meeting date. Please refrain from wearing scented products to in-person training.

Food is not provided during training classes.

Email information and class notification list

Emails are periodically sent to notify list participants of upcoming disaster preparedness and CERT classes and activities.

For additional information, call (510) 981-3473.

If the class you wish to enroll in is full, you can sign up to be notified when additional classes are added.