The CERT training program was adopted by FEMA and modeled after a 1985 citizen program developed by the City of Los Angeles Fire Department. The purpose of the CERT program is to create a well-trained citizen emergency work force, which is vital in the immediate aftermath of disaster situations when the number and scope of incidents overwhelm conventional emergency services.

The City of Simi Valley is proud to have offered the CERT Academy for 20 years. Over 1,600 residents have completed this curriculum since the City began offering the training shortly after the Northridge earthquake in 1994.

CERT educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact them and provides hands on training in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT teaches individuals to assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT trained individuals are also encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness activities in their community. The CERT Academy curriculum consists of approximately 24-hours of hands-on training from Ventura County Fire Department Firefighters.

CERT students will receive a CERT start-up kit (helmet, vest, goggles, gloves, light, and whistle) and a certificate upon successful completion of the entire course.

Using the basic information taught in the CERT training, students will learn how to prepare for emergencies and be ready to respond to assist their family, neighbors or co-workers immediately following all types of emergencies.  The basic CERT curriculum consists of the following instructional modules:

• Disaster Preparedness
• Fire Safety
• Light Search and Rescue
• CERT Team Organization
• Disaster Medical Operations
• Terrorism awareness
• Disaster psychology

Time!  The CERT training is presented in six weekly 3-hour sessions and one 8-hour session on the final class date for a total of seven sessions.  Attendance at all seven sessions is required for graduation privileges and receipt of your certificate of completion.

Materials!  Students are encouraged to wear comfortable clothes, sturdy shoes (no open toes) and bring a sack lunch to the Saturday session.  All other supplies will be provided.  Most importantly...bring a good attitude, enthusiasm and willingness to learn and help others! 

Anyone 18-years of age or older, who lives or works in Simi Valley, is eligible to attend. Additionally, those ages 12-17 can now attend with a parent or guardian.  The CERT training is a perfect "fit" for people who are interested in serving our community by assisting their family and neighbors during emergencies or other disaster situations.

Although preference goes to Simi Valley residents and employees from businesses located in the city, the training can accommodate others who live elsewhere in Ventura County, by utilizing a waitlist.  People on the waitlist will be notified about any last minute vacancies in the session currently open for enrollment.

 Simi Valley Spanish CERT is offered to residents of Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Moorpark first. Residents of other cities are encouraged to join the waitlist.

Sign up for this session and future CERT trainings online at vcfd.org/cert.  Please note that space is limited, so sign up now!

For more information, contact CERT@simivalley.org. 

CERT trainings are held a few times each year. If you are unable to attend all the classes during one particular session, you may be able to make-up the missed class(es) at a different city in Ventura County or attend a make-up class at a future Simi Valley CERT training date (NOTE: before contacting one of the other cities to make-up a class, determine which modules you will be missing first). You can also check the Ventura County Fire Department Calendar website or call (805) 583-6116 for additional class listings.

CERT training offered in neighboring cities: 

• City of Camarillo: Heidi Zahrt at hzahrt@cityofcamarillo.org
• City of Moorpark: Roger Pichardo at rpichardo@moorparkca.gov
• City of Oxnard: Candy Campbell-Ursu at cert@oxnard.org
• City of Ojai: Clint Garman at clint.garman@ventura.org
• City of Thousand Oaks: Grahame Watts at gwatts@toaks.org 
• City of Ventura: Mack Douglass at mdouglass@cityofventura.ca.gov
• City of Santa Paula: Kate Watkins kwatkins@spcity.org
• City of Oak Park: Diane Starzak at distarzak@sbcglobal.net
• City of Fillmore:  Michael Salazar at msalazar@fillmoreca.gov
• City of Piru: Michael Lopez at piruwildfireprevention@gmail.com
• Community of Santa Rosa Valley: Rosemary Allison at rosemaryallison@aol.com

An online FEMA Independent Study course is also available. The "Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams" course (IS-317) is for those wanting to refresh their CERT knowledge or to receive an overview of the training online.  Go to: FEMA CERT Course to view this course online.

Once you've completed the CERT Academy, your effectiveness and level of contribution during an emergency or disaster depends on you.  We suggest that CERT graduates maintain and update their kits annually.  We also suggest that you participate in regular refresher training opportunities to keep your skills current.

Although there is no obligation, the CERT curriculum was originally designed to enlist community members as a volunteer resource to assist the City during a major emergency or disaster.  However, most people enroll in this academy simply to learn how to become better prepared and to help their family, not to become a first responder.

If you're interested in volunteering as a disaster responder, the City's Office of Emergency Services Disaster Service Worker Volunteer Program may be what you're looking for. 

If you're interested in learning about future training opportunities to keep your CERT skills fresh or participation in other Emergency Management exercises, drills, or annual community preparedness events, visit the VCFD's page.