What is CERT?

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program trains the public in basic disaster response skills such as team organization, disaster medical operations, fire safety, and light search and rescue. The ability for CERT volunteers to perform these activities frees up professional responders to focus their efforts on more complex, essential, and critical tasks.

What Training Is Required?

There is a total of 24-hours of class time which will be presented over several weeks to accommodate schedules. Classes will typically be 3 or 4 hours each and will consist of both presentation and hands-on practical training.

• Disaster Preparedness

• CERT Organization

• Disaster Medical Operations - Part 1

• Disaster Medical Operations - Part 2

• Disaster Psychology

• Fire Safety and Utility Controls

• Light Search and Rescue Operations

• Terrorism and CERT

• Disaster Simulation

What is expected of me as a CCSO CERT member?

Members of the CCSO CERT team will be volunteers and subject to background checks before being admitted to the program. After completing the initial

24-hour course, final exam and disaster simulation, CERT members will be organized into teams by neighborhood. CCSO CERT members will be expected to attend regular meetings to receive training updates and new program information.

What other opportunities with CCSO are available to me once I’m a CERT member?

For those who are interested expanding their service to the community, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office is proud to offer diverse volunteer opportunities for community member involvement.

CCSO volunteers have opportunities to work in a variety of capacities throughout the agency including patrol support, crime prevention education, issuing disabled parking citations, fingerprinting, administrative / clerical duties, assisting detectives, monitoring jail video visitations, translating, and chaplain services to inmates.

Is it dangerous to be on a CERT team?

There is always some risk inherent in helping others, but one of the CERT program’s top priorities is your safety. You cannot effectively help someone else if you are injured, so your safety comes first. During the core training, we will emphasize your role and areas of responsibility, including actions you may (and may not) take when responding as part of CERT.

CERT Alumni (CERT certified members) Upcoming Events

• National CERT Conference 2026, August 24-29, Irvine, California, more information to follow.

• November 17, CCSO Real-Time Operations Center overview and tour, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., limited to 50 CERT Alumni due to space.
  
  

• November 18, CCSO Real-Time Operations Center overview and tour, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., limited to 50 CERT Alumni due to space.

• December 8, CERT End of Year Recognition, from 6:00 pm to 9 pm, at the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Professional Development Center, 615 Third Ave. S., Naples FL. The event is to thank our CCSO CERT Alumni and will include hors d'oeuvres, guest speakers, recognitions, and an opportunity for Alumni to mingle and get to know each other.