Community Emergency Response Team

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a FEMA program offered through the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office.  This program is designed to train citizens how to better prepare themselves and their families should their home or neighborhood be affected by a disaster.  During disasters, communities may not have immediate access to emergency services because of the size of the area affected, lost communications, or unusable roads. CERT trained citizens learn how to stay safe and help themselves, their family and neighborhood.

The Sheriff’s Office and emergency personnel train members of neighborhoods, community organizations, and businesses in disaster preparedness and basic disaster response skills. The nine week training course outline includes:

• Disaster preparedness.
• CERT organization.
• Fire safety.
• Light search and rescue. 
• Disaster psychology.  
• Disaster medical operations (Part 1).
• Disaster medical operations (Part 2).
• Terrorism.
• Final exercise and graduation.

Upon graduation, CERT members use the training learned in the classroom and during exercises to assist their families, neighborhoods and workplaces following an event when emergency responders are not immediately available. The Sheriff's Office provides continuing education for CERT Academy graduates.

Upcoming Classes

The 2025 CERT Academy training sessions will be held starting September 16, 2025, through November 11, 2025. The sessions are held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. for nine consecutive weeks. Registration opens mid-summer.

Classes are limited to 25 students. Equipment and materials will be provided at no charge.

Should you have any questions regarding the CERT Academy, please email the CERT program or call 651-266-7332 and leave a voicemail.

Requirements

The CERT Program is available to all residents of the State of Minnesota who are 18 years and older. Participants must pass a criminal background check. Participants must commit for the entire nine-week session. Please complete the CERT Academy Application:  RCSO_CERT_Academy_Application.pdf. 

Completed applications should be emailed to the CERT Team at [email protected] or dropped off at the RCSO Patrol Station: 

1411 Paul Kirkwold Drive
Arden Hills, MN 55112