CERT TRAINING IN POLK COUNTY

Scroll down this page for Basic CERT courses as well as CERT Train the Trainer (TTT) and CPR Instructor Certification courses.

CERT Basic Course: Winter and Spring 2023

Winter Session: The Winter 2023 Basic CERT course is scheduled each Monday from 6 PM – 8:30 PM beginning January 16th and concluding March 6th. The training location is to be determined.

Spring Session: The Spring 2023 Basic CERT course is a three-day course to be conducted on May 12th, 13th and 14th from 9 AM – 6 PM. The training location is to be determined.

Check back for a signup link to be posted soon.

The Basic CERT course is free and is appropriate for ages 14 and up. There are no required books or hidden fees. Everything you need will be provided for you.

We currently have several open spots on our team. However, we also understand the value of increasing our community’s number of trained spontaneous volunteers. Gaining the skills you need to help yourself, your family and your neighborhoods will make a huge difference during a large disaster. So, there is no requirement to join the team in order to take the course. During the course you will learn about risk factors and natural hazards both locally and across Oregon. You’ll also discover many ways that you can help your community both prepare for, and recover from, natural disasters.

Courses are structured in modular format and are delivered by experienced Instructors who are subject matter experts in their fields. Our Senior Instructional Team is comprised of 5 Instructors who have completed both Oregon OEM and FEMA CERT TTT coursework. Our remaining 5 adult Instructors have completed Oregon OEM CERT TTT course deliveries and most are also certified Instructor/Trainers in Firefighting, EMS, Military, Law Enforcement and Public Education fields. We currently have 1 Teen Instructor in our program.

The Basic CERT Course is the foundation course for the entire program and is required for Team Membership. However, we strongly believe that improving our communities resiliency in the face of a disaster hinges upon providing this training to any, and every, citizen who desires to do so. Therefore, the course is offered free of charge and team membership is NOT required.

While the Basic Course is offered 3 times each year as part of our training program, we are also able to accommodate community groups and organizations seeking dedicated deliveries to their members.

Basic CERT Course

Our Basic CERT Course is 30 hours in length and covers 10 modules:

Module 1: Disaster Preparedness and Local Hazards
Module 2: Light Fire Suppression and HAZMAT Protocols
Module 3: Mass Disaster Triage
Module 4: Mass Disaster Treatment
Module 5: Light Urban Search & Rescue
Module 6: Radio Communications
Module 7: CERT Structure and the Incident Command System
Module 8: Disaster Psychology
Module 9: Terrorism Awareness
Module 10: Simulated Disaster Exercise

CERT Train the Trainer (TTT)

CERT-Train-the-Trainer January 27th, 28th, 29th, 2023 from 9 am to 6 pm, location to be determined

Any current Polk County CERT members who would like to step up and take the class should contact Kimber Townsend ASAP to reserve a seat.

This course will be opened statewide on January 1st to fill any vacant.

CERT CPR Instructor Certification Class

cpr-instructor-certification Class dates to be determined in January – February, 2023. Our CERT program is partnering with Polk Fire to take on the delivery of CPR Training for our community and other first responder agencies as requested.

We currently have 1 qualified instructor and are seeking 3 more who can commit to at least one 8-hour course per month.

Kimber Townsend will confirm the instructor certification course date(s) and send them out along with a calendar invitation for those who accept.

Additional Course Deliveries Available Upon Request

G317 CERT Basic Course – Oregon OEM Sanctioned Statewide Delivery
G428 CERT Train The Trainer (TTT) – Oregon OEM Sanctioned Statewide Delivery
G427 CERT Program Manager – Oregon OEM Sanctioned Statewide Delivery
CERT Animal Response Modules 1 & 2
CERT Tools for Leadership Success
CERT Traffic and Crowd Management

Polk CERT Monthly Training Sessions

Polk CERT conducts monthly training classes. These are interactive training sessions where you will have the opportunity to train alongside other CERT members while developing your capabilities to respond effectively in a variety of emergency situations. These monthly training sessions are open for community members to participate in. Bring your family members, neighbors and associates. Introduce them to CERT and emergency preparedness. See the monthly training schedule.

EMI Self-Study Courses

Following are some selected courses from the EMI self-study portal. Polk CERT members, please send certificates of completion to Kimber Townsend to get credit for the training hours.

Introduction to Hazardous Materials
https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-5.a

Animals in Disaster: Awareness and Preparedness
https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-10.a

Animals in Disaster: Community Planning
https://training.fema.gov/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=IS-11.a

Livestock in Disasters
https://training.fema.gov/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=IS-111.a

CERT Supplemental Training: The Incident Command System
https://training.fema.gov/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=IS-315

Planning for the Needs of Children in Disasters
https://training.fema.gov/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=IS-366.a