Continuing Education

FREE Online / Self-Paced Continuing Education:

Online Courses

FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute offers lots of interesting courses. Check their Independent Study Program for the list. Of specific interest and usefulness to CERT volunteers:

IS-317 Introduction to CERT – This online overview of CERT Basic Training can be a great refresher for existing CERT members.

National Incident Management System – IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, IS-800 – Supplement your CERT basic training with online classes from FEMA. These classes will give you a greater understanding of how to use CERT organizational principles and how you fit into the emergency response system.

Continuing Education Classes

CERT members who have completed the Basic Training are given the opportunity to expand their knowledge, hone their skills, and learn how to participate in a broader range of volunteer activities through the Continuing Education program. NOTE: We’re not offering many of these during shelter-in-place orders.

Emergency Communications – This class is for CERT graduates (and those currently enrolled in the Basic Training class) who want to learn how to properly operate FRS/GMRS radios for use in a drill or disaster response. The goal is to encourage all CERT members to learn the skills needed for proper radio operations.

Radio Communications – Fundamentals of Net Control – An intermediate-level class for radio operators who want to learn how to properly run a radio net during a drill, emergency response, or a routine practice net.

American Red Cross – Sheltering – Learn American Red Cross roles, responsibilities, methods, and protocols used in shelter operations. This is an instructor-led class offered by the American Red Cross.

Traffic and Crowd Management – Learn the skills needed to manage traffic and crowds in planned and emergency situations. You will learn to use hand signals and traffic control devices to manage traffic in various situations, how to respond to crowd behavior, when to back away from a crowd instead of responding, maintaining safety while managing crowds, and how to put together traffic and crowd management plans.

CERT Animal Response – The Contra Costa County Animal Response Team (CART) teaches emergency preparedness for situations involving animals. Their 20-hour training will cover all aspects of care and sheltering of animals during a disaster, with special emphasis on cats and dogs. These classes are hosted by Martinez Area CERT but taught by CART.

Knots and Ropes for Search and Rescue – This two hour training provides a review of the correct use of ropes and knots to assist in rescue operations. This class is taught by a search and rescue-trained member.

Advanced Cribbing – This three hour training involves the rescue of victims trapped under debris and earth. The class is taught once a year by one of the Martinez Area CERT instructors.

Stop the Bleed – Uncontrolled bleeding is the number one cause of preventable death from trauma. The greater the number of people who know how to control bleeding in an injured patient, the greater the chances of surviving an injury. This class is taught once a year by current and retired Emergency Room staff.

For further information about CERT, please Contact Us.