Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
The City of Boston's Community Emergency Response Team is a trained volunteer group of individuals. In an emergency or large-scale City event, they can be activated and assembled to assist the City in response efforts.
The City of Boston CERT program is a member of and recognized by the National CERT Association. The Boston CERT Program is a great way for residents of Boston who are interested in supporting the City's emergency response efforts to get involved. You'll also be more prepared to respond to an emergency situation on any scale.
Become A CERT Member
CERT Member Eligibility
- You must be 18 to become a member. If you are younger than 18, you can take the training, but you will not become a member of the team until you turn 18.
- You will be required to fill out an application that will be provided at the final training session of the CERT training program.
- Applicants must go through a background check.
Online CERT Course Registration
Those interested in participating in the Boston CERT program must complete the registration form for the Online CERT Courses linked below. This will allow you to begin the online portion of the training courses.
Access and Functional Needs (AFN) CERT Basic Class Schedule
Week 1 - Tuesday, April 8, 2025 -12 Hours - Virtual Set-Up ( Specific Needs Assessment) (10 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
Week 2 - Tuesday, April 15, 2025 - Unit 1 : Disaster Preparedness and Unit 2 : CERT Organization (10 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
Week 3 - Tuesday, April 22, 2025 - Unit 3: Disaster Medical Operations and Unit 4 : Disaster Medical Operations (10 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
Week 4 - Tuesday, April 29, 2025 - Unit 5: Disaster Psychology (10 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
Week 5 - Tuesday, May 06, 2025 - Unit 6: Fire Safety and Utility Controls (10 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
Week 6 - Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - Unit 7 : Light search and Rescue Operations (10 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
Week 7 - Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Unit 8: Terrorism and Cybersecurity (10 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
Week 8 - Tuesday, May 27, 2025 - Unit 9 : Course Review, Final Exam, and Disaster Simulation (10 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
Evening CERT Basic Class Schedule
Week 1 - Tuesday, April 8, 2025 - Registration (6 - 8 p.m.)
Week 2 - Tuesday, April 15, 2025 - Unit 1 : Disaster Preparedness and Unit 2 : CERT Organization (6 - 8 p.m.)
Week 3 - Tuesday, April 22, 2025 - Unit 3: Disaster Medical Operations and Unit 4 : Disaster Medical Operations (6 - 8 p.m.)
Week 4 - Tuesday, April 29, 2025 - Unit 5: Disaster Psychology (6 - 8 p.m.)
Week 5 - Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Unit 6: Fire Safety and Utility Controls (6 - 8 p.m.)
Week 6 - Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - Unit 7 : Light search and Rescue Operations (6 - 8 p.m.)
Week 7 - Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Unit 8: Terrorism and Cybersecurity (6 - 8 p.m.)
Week 8 - Tuesday, May 27, 2025 - Unit 9 : Course Review, Final Exam, and Disaster Simulation (6 - 8 p.m.)
Saturday CERT Basic Class Schedule
First Month - Saturday, April 26, 2025 (9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.)
- Unit 1: Disaster Preparedness
- Unit 2: CERT Organization
- Unit5: Disaster Psychology
Second Month - Saturday, May 24, 2025 (9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.)
- Unit 3: Disaster Medical Operations
- Unit 4: Disaster Medical Operations
- Unit 6: Fire Safety and Utility Controls
Third Month - Saturday, June 21, 2025 (9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.)
- Unit 7: Light Search and Rescue Operations
- Unit 8: Terrorism and Cybersecurity
- Unit 9: Course Review, Final Exam, and Disaster Simulation
Emergency skill-based training
UNTIL HELP ARRIVES
"Until Help Arrives" is a hybrid, three-hour emergency skill-based training available to residents. You'll learn response skills that can be used to respond to life-threatening emergency situations. In this course, you'll be taught:
- how to stop the bleed
- how to protect the injured from harm
- how to position the injured so they can breathe, and
- what information to collect for first responders.
Register for training
To register for an Until Help Arrives course, follow the link below.
