Training
Each USF CERT member receives special training in disaster response, starting with our CERT Basic Training course. After Basic Training, USF CERT members receive supplementary training to ensure that our team is ready to respond. USF CERT Members also have access to advanced training through the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including specialty topics such as HAZMAT, Storm Spotting, Emergency Sheltering, Damage Assessment, Professional Development classes, and more.
Basic Training
CERT Basic Training is a 22 hour course taught by our team of certified FEMA CERT Instructors. Trainees learn vital CERT skills in Disaster Preparedness, Fire Science, Disaster Medical Operations, Search and Rescue, Disaster Psychology, CERT Organization, and Terrorism Awareness topics. The course is both lecture and skill based, meaning students learn and practice these topics, and then put them to the test in a final Mass Casualty Incident disaster exercise.
CERT/SORT Training & Course List
We have put together online training opportunities into an Excel database for our Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Student Outbreak Response Team (SORT) members.
At the bottom of the database, you'll see tabs pertaining to Team Preparedness (disaster response/coordination), Leadership, Medical, Public Health, Mental Health, Sheltering, and Communications to be able to break down the trainings/courses into various categories that might be of interest to individuals. Feel free to explore opportunities for you to gain knowledge and/or share with your workers and network potential trainings that you think would be valuable. Great for any professional development, add trainings to your resume/CV, or if you need CEUs as well.
Assess the list at https://tinyurl.com/CERTVirtualTraining
State Emergency Response Team
Training Resources & Activity Center
Florida Division of Emergency Management's State Emergency Response Team Training Resources & Activity Center (SERT TRAC) is a hub for in-person courses offered by FEMA and delivered by the state of Florida. SERT TRAC courses can be found year round all across the state, and cover advanced CERT topics such as becoming a FEMA CERT Instructor, as well as classes for professionals and government officials like the Homeland Security Exercise & Evaluation Program (HSEEP) and Advanced Incident Command System. All of these are available to USF CERT members at no cost!
Medical Training
CERT Basic Training covers Disaster Medical Operations including first aid and triage, but USF CERT members also have access to different opportunities for more advanced medical training. We can connect you with Emergency Medical Responder certification, Basic and Advanced Disaster Life Support classes, and more!
FEMA
Independent Study Program
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers online Independent Study (IS) classes that provide certifications of completion in almost 200 different topics, from the Incident Command System to Active Shooters to Professional Development and everything in between. All of these courses are free and relatively short and available to all of our USF CERT members. Our program will show you which classes to take to set yourself up for success!
National Domestic Preparedness Consortium
The National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC) is a partnership of several nationally recognized organizations whose membership is based on the urgent need to address the counter-terrorism preparedness needs of the nation’s emergency first responders within the context of all hazards including chemical, biological, radiological, and explosive Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) hazards.
Center for Domestic Preparedness
Anniston, Alabama
The Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) is FEMA’s premier All-Hazards training facility. The CDP offers specialized, hands-on courses in HAZMAT operations, CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) operations, mass casualty response, and much more. Training, travel, lodging, and meals are fully funded for eligible state, local, tribal, and territorial responders, making it an exceptional opportunity for professional development and readiness.
Center for Radiological Nuclear Training
Las Vegas, Nevada
The Center for Radiological/Nuclear Training (CTOS) at the Nevada National Security Site provides specialized instruction for emergency responders in radiological and nuclear incident preparedness. As part of FEMA’s National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, CTOS offers hands-on, scenario-based training designed to enhance the ability of first responders to detect, respond to, and manage radiological or nuclear threats. Training, travel, lodging, and meals are fully funded for state, local, tribal, and territorial responders, ensuring broad access to this critical national preparedness resource.
National Center for
Biomedical Research & Training
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The National Center for Biomedical Research & Training (NCBRT), housed at Louisiana State University, is a leading federal training partner that provides DHS- and FEMA-certified courses in areas such as biological incident response, counterterrorism, and emergency preparedness. As a founding member of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, NCBRT offers high-quality, scenario-based instruction at no direct cost to eligible state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies.
Energetic Matrials Research & Testing Center
Socorro, New Mexico
The Energetic Materials Research & Testing Center (EMRTC), part of New Mexico Tech, is a premier national facility specializing in the research, development, testing, and training involving explosives and energetic materials. Located on a 40-square-mile field laboratory near Socorro, New Mexico, EMRTC offers FEMA/DHS-certified training in explosive response, counter-terrorism, and threat mitigation—often at no cost to eligible first responders. Its unique infrastructure allows for large-scale testing, hands-on simulations, and advanced instruction that enhance the readiness and capabilities of emergency personnel nationwide.
National Emergency Response
& Rescue Training Center
College Station, Texas
The National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (NERRTC), part of Texas A&M’s Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), is a cornerstone institution in the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, offering hands-on, scenario-based training to enhance the readiness of emergency responders across the nation. Established in 1998, it delivers DHS/FEMA-certified courses at no cost to eligible jurisdictions, covering disciplines such as incident management, hazardous materials, search and rescue, infrastructure protection, and disaster recovery. Through its real-world training environments (including the “Disaster City” training grounds) and rigorous curricula, NERRTC helps build a more resilient, capable response community.
For more information on training opportunities, contact us.