Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Academy - Summer 2026

PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION IN IT'S ENTIRETY
BEFORE YOU REGISTER AND PAY FOR THIS COURSE. Thank you.
The Santa Clara County Fire Department offers the CERT Academy to train residents on disaster preparedness skills. In the event of a disaster or public safety emergency, CERT volunteers will be able to assist their family and neighbors when first responders are not immediately available to help.

Participants will learn disaster preparedness, disaster medical operations, disaster psychology, fire suppression, light search and rescue, and terrorism awareness. Registration preference is given to those that reside in our jursidictional cities and towns. Read more below....

• The CERT Academy is (1) evening/online session, (3) evening/in-person sessions, and a (1) final in-person skills exercise during the day. All in-person sessions will be at the Joan Pisani Community Center, 19655 Allendale Ave, Saratoga.
  

• Students must be 18 or older and attend all five (5) FEMA class sessions to receive a Certificate of Completion. Should you have to miss a date, makeup sessions can be made up at a future CERT Academy. We understand that scheduling can be difficult.
  

• CERT classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday nights, from 6:00pm-9:00pm, on the following dates: Aug 4 (online), Aug 6, Aug 11, Aug 13, with the final in-person Skills/Graduation day: Saturday, Aug 15, from 8:00am to 1:00pm.
  

• Fee: $35 fee covers the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) you will receive in this course: hard hat, leather gloves, eye protection, high vis vest, and an N95 mask.
  

This training course is open to individuals who live or work within the communities served by Santa Clara County Fire Department: Cupertino, Campbell, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, San Martin, Saratoga, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, and the unincorporated surrounding areas.

NOTE: If you are interested in attending this CERT Academy and you do not reside in County Fire's jurisdictional city/town's: DO NOT register for the Academy on this eventbrite website. Instead, please do the following:
EMAIL: [email protected] with your name, home address, and phone number. We will place you on a wait list, and if there is room closer to the start date, we will contact you.
> Should you register and you are not a resident within our jurisdiction, County Fire will refund you the $35 fee, and place you on a waitlist, and you will lose the Eventbrite fee you paid.

Participants should be 18 or older. Teenagers should consider joining the Teen CERT Academy:

Questions please contact: Gracie Hernandez at (408) 341-4425 or by email at [email protected]

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Host or Publisher Santa Clara County Fire Department