Spring 2026 CERT Basic Training

Disasters can occur at any time and without warning. When the first responders are overwhelmed, there will be a delay in when help will arrive. The Basic CERT Training offered by FEMA bridges that gap to organize members in the community with the tools and capabilities to respond to a disaster. This includes knowledge of how to search for injured in lightly damaged areas, how to do an initial medical assessment prior to emergency medical services arriving, and how to reduce the risk of further injury as search and rescue operations occur.

The times for each day of training are:

• Friday: 6p to 9p
• Saturday: 9a to 4:30p
• Sunday: 9a to 4:30p

In the 21-hour certification course, there will be portions that are hands-on. However, this course is for each student to learn how to organize and prepare to support their community. Help will come. But, your preparation through this course can help ensure more of your community receive the necessary help in a timely manner. To complete the certification, you must attend all three days.

Upon completion of your regsitration for this free course, a member of the training staff will reach out to confirm your attendance at the training. We know schedules and availability can change. But we want to make sure that we have enough seats for everyone that wants to attend and complete the training. So, your registration will require a valid email and phone number for each attendee so we can complete this confirmation as we get closer to the date of training. One person can make the registration for all attending. But each ticket must have a name for each attendee.

Good anywhere in the United States, you will be able to apply this certification anywhere you may move to that has a CERT program supported by local emergency management or fire department. Even schools, college/university campuses, and work campuses have created their own CERT teams to care for their own while they await the arrival of the first responders. "Doing the Greatest Good for the Greatest Number."

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Kassandra Buster, Senior Coordinator IMPD Homeland Security Bureau