Oakland CERT
Are you #ReadyOakland? When disaster strikes, Oakland's first responders will be engaged in lifesaving action across the city. You or your neighbors might need help before first responders can get there. CERT training gives you the skills to act.
Oakland sits on active fault lines, in the wildland-urban interface, and along the coast. We've lived through the 1991 firestorm, the Loma Prieta earthquake, and winter flooding. The question isn't if Oakland will face another major emergency, it's whether you will be ready.
A CERT-trained volunteer knows how to check for gas leaks, treat injuries with what's on hand, and organize the people around them into an effective response team calmly and safely until professional help arrives. That person can be you.
Curriculum
The CERT training is presented in two parts. In 2026, Part 1 is presented over 2 days with each day being 4 hours in the evening from 5pm to 9pm. Part 2 includes skills education and practice as well as a large disaster simulation and final exam and is conducted over 2 days with each day being 8 hours plus 45-minute to 1 hour lunch.
Part 1 is entirely classroom based and covers the following topics:
- Disaster Preparedness
- CERT Organization
- Disaster Psychology
- CERT and Terrorism
Part 2 is skills based and include the following topics:
- Basic First Aid
- Mass Casualty Incidents and Medical Triage
- Light Search and Rescue
- Cribbing
- Fire Safety and Fire Extinguisher Use
- Utility Control
- Large Scale Disaster Simulation
This training is great for community groups, organized teams of people, neighbors, and individuals who want to be ready to support their community during a disaster or emergency.
The CERT training is a nationwide, standardized course that allows teams from other cities to work together when needed. If you completed CORE or are CERT certified in another jurisdiction, please email us to find out how you can get involved in Oakland. Former CORE participants will need to complete the full CERT course, since the curriculum has been updated.
How do CERT teams help?
CERT Trained Volunteers are prepared to lead their communities by supporting any neighborhood, Citywide, or regional disasters, emergencies, and recovery efforts. CERT volunteers may also occasionally be called upon to support large scale events throughout the city. Individuals who successful complete the CERT training will be inducted as a Disaster Service Worker - Volunteer (DSW-V). In a major incident, CERT teams may also be requested for mutual aid in other parts of the State of California. Individuals inducted as DSW-V's would be eligible for state liability protection and workers compensation while conducting duties within their scope as a DSW-V.
CERT Training Schedule
Joining CERT is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
Total time commitment: approximately 24 hours:
- Part 1: Two evenings, 4 hours each (8 hours total)
- Part 2: Two full days, 8 hours each plus lunch break on your own (roughly 16 hours)
- Get connected with a team near you.
Training is free. All you bring is your time
CERT Training sessions for 2026:
Part 1 - 2-Day Classroom Training (must attend both days):
January 15 & 22 - 5 PM to 9 PM
March 5 & 12 - 5 PM to 9 PM
May 12 & 19 - 5 PM to 9 PM
July 16 & 23 - 5 PM to 9 PM
August 11 & 18 - 5 PM to 9 PM
October 1 & 8 - 5 PM to 9 PM
Part 2 - Skills Instruction and Verification with a Large-Scale Simulation
Note: Instructions for registering for part 2 is provided after completion of part 1. If you took your Part 1 classroom training outside of Oakland CERT, please email us for instructions
May 30 & 31 - 8 AM to 5 PM with a meal break each day
November 14 & 15 - 8 AM to 5 PM with a meal break each day
The 2027 Calendar will be released late this year. Join our email list to receive an announcement regarding 2027 registration.
Sign up for CERT Part 1 today. At the end of your part 1 session, you will be given instructions on how to sign up for Part 2. Please provide a valid email when signing up. We will use that email to confirm your registration, send you important course announcements.
Sign up for CERT
The link will show sessions currently open for registration. If sessions are full, you can join our email list to receive an announcement regarding future registration.
Email Notification List
Additional Information
After completing Oakland Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, course graduates will:
- Be able to identify and anticipate hazards in the home and workplace
- Understand what steps to take in order to increase personal and family readiness
- Be familiar with the Incident Command System and basic functions
- Know how to organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers in a disaster or emergency
- Know how to apply basic medical techniques/basic first aid
- Be able to set up medical treatment areas
- Know how to help reduce survivor and DSW-V stress
- Know how to safely extinguish small fires
- Be able to conduct light search and rescue activities
- Be able to assist emergency responders in mass casualty incidents.
- Understand the appropriate actions to take in an active shooter situation
- Be able to promote CERT Training in Oakland
Oakland CERT Training is available free of charge. Youth 16 and older may join the adult CERT classes provided that parent or guardian permission has been obtained.