Contact jodi.blackwood@cresa.wa.gov for additional information.
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Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training is an opportunity for people of all ages, sizes, and physical abilities to learn valuable basic skills needed during an emergency.
Whether you are interested in learning how to take care of yourself and your family, your neighborhood, or taking an active role in community preparedness, the CERT training will help increase your confidence and provide peace of mind.
Fall 2025 Training Classes
Thank you for your interest in the CERT program. The Basic Training class consists of six sessions and a final drill; all seven sessions must be attended to receive a course completion certificate and to participate in activities and further training with the CERT Clark County, WA group. Minimum age is 18, or 17 with an adult. There is no maximum age. People of all skills and abilities are encouraged to participate. All participants must be Clark County residents. The dates for our upcoming classes are listed below.
Registration will open at 9:00 am on September 9th; information on how to apply and instructions for payment will be available at that time. (Both may be done online.) Applications submitted before that time will be disregarded. Classes will remain open until they are filled; participation is on a first-come, first-served basis. We do not have a waitlist or notification list and ask that you please check back.
Please feel free to share this information with your neighbors, friends, and families. Remember, the more people in a neighborhood who are trained in disaster response, the better. If I may answer any questions, feel free to contact me.
Thank you again for your interest!
Jodi Blackwood
Program Manager
jodi.blackwood@cresa.wa.gov
Class 3 - Ridgefield
10/1 Weds. Unit 1 Basic Preparedness
10/8 Weds. Unit 2 CERT Organization & Radio Communications
10/15 Weds. Unit 5 Disaster Psychology & Unit 8 Terrorism
10/18 Sat. Unit 6 Fire Safety & Unit 7 Light Search & Rescue Ops
10/22 Weds. Unit 3 Med Ops 1
10/29 Weds. Unit 4 Med Ops 2
11/1 Sat. Final Drill & CERT in Clark County, WA
Evening classes will be held 6:30 to 9:00 pm
Clark Cowlitz Fire Rescue Station 21
911 N. 65th Ave., Ridgefield, WA 98642
Saturday class locations TBA
10/18 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
11/1 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Class 4 - Vancouver
10/2 Thurs. Unit 1 Basic Preparedness
10/9 Thurs. Unit 2 CERT Organization & Radio Communications
10/16 Thurs. Unit 5 Disaster Psychology & Unit 8 Terrorism
10/18 Sat. Unit 6 Fire Safety & Unit 7 Light Search & Rescue Ops
10/23 Thurs. Unit 3 Med Ops 1
10/30 Thurs. Unit 4 Med Ops 2
11/1 Sat. Final Drill & CERT in Clark County
Evening classes will be held 6:30 to 9:00 pm
Bridgeview Resource Center
505 Omaha Way, Vancouver, WA 98661
Saturday class locations TBA
10/18 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
11/1 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Thank you to Vancouver Fire Department, Clark County Fire District 6, Fire District 3, and Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue for their support of CERT Clark County, WA!
CERT Training requires a commitment of 24+ hours for classroom and field training, along with approximately one hour of reading homework each week, culminating in a final field exercise.
Registrants must pass a background check and sign a code of conduct.
Classes are typically offered one night a week and include two Saturday sessions; attendance is required at all classes for certification.
The following topics are included in each CERT Basic Training Class:
Session 1: Intro to CERT & Basic Emergency Preparedness
Session 2: CERT Organization & Disaster Communications
Session 3: Disaster Psychology & Terrorism
Session 4: Fire Safety & Utility Controls and Light Search & Rescue Operations
Session 5: Disaster Medical Operations 1
Session 6: Disaster Medical Operations 2
Session 7: Final Drill & CERT in Clark Co. -- the Practical Application
Through their participation in neighborhood activities and events, they assist in preparedness outreach and public education.
CERT volunteers help build relationships between the community and emergency responders.
The CERT program educates volunteers of all ages, ranging from stay-at-home parents, students, seniors, and individuals working full-time in how to prepare for the hazards that may impact their area and how to assist their neighborhood in the event of a disaster.
CERT volunteers are trained to:
Check on the safety and well-being of their neighbors
Suppress small fires using a fire extinguisher
Conduct light urban search and rescue
Provide emergency medical aid and psychological comfort to survivors
Organize and direct other individuals who offer assistance
CERT Deployment & Activation
As we continue to build our CERT program and increase our pool of CERT volunteers, we are partnering with Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) in its efforts to build community resiliency in Clark County. Through public outreach activities and events, and group presentations on emergency preparedness, we endeavor to show people how they can work together to support themselves and each other in the event of a disaster.
While we do not currently have deployable neighborhood CERT teams, we are developing knowledgeable groups of people in neighborhoods that may be led by a CERT volunteer.
Once you have completed your Basic CERT Training class, you will be welcome to join us for our additional training sessions. Topics include:
Points of Distribution (PODS)
Evacuation Point & Assembly Area Training
Shelter Training
Call Center Training
Traffic Control Certification
CERT volunteers may also be called upon to support CRESA's Emergency Operation Center (EOC) during an activation by helping implement any and/or all of the above training exercises in a real-life emergency situation.
Here are links to additional resources for Emergency Preparedness information:
Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) https://www.cresa911.org/162/Emergency-Preparedness
Sign Up for Emergency Alerts https://member.everbridge.net/453003085616336/login
Emergency Management Alerts & Warnings https://www.cresa911.org/206/Alert-And-Warning
Disasters & Emergencies https://www.ready.gov/
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/foodwater/prepare.html
Thank you to our sponsoring agencies and organizations!
Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA)
Clark County Fire District 6
Vancouver Fire Dept.
Clark Cowlitz Fire Rescue
Clark County Fire District 3
Citizen Corps Clark County, WA
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