Thank you for your interest in CERT Basic Training! Registration for the spring 2023 training is now open. The program is open to anyone 18 years of age or older who lives, works, or owns a business in the City of Alexandria. (If you live in Arlington County or Fairfax County, we can put you in touch with those CERT programs to take their training.)

Join other concerned members of the Alexandria community to learn how to increase your neighborhood's disaster readiness and support the first responders who serve your neighborhood. The CERT program educates you to prepare yourself, your family, and your community to address hazards that may impact the City of Alexandria and to respond to emergency situations. Learn basic disaster response skills such as damage assessment after a disaster, triage and giving first aid to victims, extinguishing small fires, performing light search and rescue, and providing much needed assistance in times of crisis. When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first responders by providing immediate assistance to victims and organizing volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also participate in non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community.

I want to help! What do I need to do?

Attend the CERT training course to become a Team Member. You will learn how to prepare yourself, your family and your community for a disaster. Become familiar with tools to help you organize after a disaster and how to conduct triage and provide basic first aid. Learn to assess damage after the disaster, extinguish a small fire, conduct searches and rescue victims safely, and complete a small-scale disaster simulation.

I want to find out more!

The next basic CERT course will take place in Spring 2023 and will be a hybrid course (in person and virtual class sessions). For more information about CERT training, call or email Deputy Emergency Manager Kevin Coleman at (703) 746-5267 or kevin.coleman@alexandriava.gov.

Registration for the spring 2023 session is now open. Participants are required to attend all classes and the final exercises in order to graduate. The 7-week training will be held on Tuesday evenings, 7 p.m. - 10 p.m., beginning March 7. Classes are a mix of Zoom sessions and in-person sessions. The class schedule is as follows:

• March 7 in person
• March 14 via Zoom
• March 21 in person
• March 28 via Zoom
• April 4 via Zoom
• April 11 in person
• April 18 via Zoom

Skills exercises and graduation will take place in person on Saturday, April 29, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you are unable to attend these classes, another session will be offered in fall 2023. For specific questions, please contact the CERT Coordinator at coordinator@alexandriavacert.org or the CERT Program Manager Kevin Coleman at kevin.coleman@alexandriava.gov. We look forward to you joining Alexandria CERT!

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. To request a reasonable accommodation, email kevin.coleman@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.5267.