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.

• The CERT Academy is (3) evening/in-person sessions, (3) evening/online sessions, and a (1) final skills exercise during the day. All in-person course dates will be held at the Campbell Community Center.

• Students must attend all seven (7) class meetings to receive a Certificate of Completion.

• CERT classes are held on Tuesday (in-person) and Thursday (online) nights, from 6:00pm-9:00pm, on the following dates: 8/6, 8/8, 8/13, 8/15, 8/20, 8/22, with an in-person Skills/Graduation: Saturday on 8/24 from 8:30am to 1:00pm.

  The in-person classes will be on Tuesday at the Campbell Community Center, Room Q-84. The final skill day will be in Room Q-80. (Thursday night classes are via zoom)

• Fee: $35 fee covers the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) you will receive in this course: hard hat, gloves, eye protection, vest, and 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, Saratoga, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and the unincorporated surrounding areas.

If you do not live in one of the cities listed, your local Fire Department may hold their own CERT Academies, such as San Jose, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Santa Clara, Gilroy, Morgan Hill, etc. Please go to those Fire Department websites to review their CERT programs.

If you are interested in attending CERT and do not live or work in the jurisdictions served by the Santa Clara County Fire Department you can attend any of the CERT classes served by SCCFD, however, preference will be given to those who reside in any of the seven (7) SCCFD jurisdictions.

Participants should be 16+. If participants are under 18 years old, a guardian or parent must be present during in-person courses.

Questions please contact: Gracie Hernandez at (408) 341-4425 or by email at cert@sccfd.org.