Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

CERT LogoThe New Hanover County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program's mission is to assist citizens and businesses in becoming self-sufficient for up to 96 hours following a disaster, and to help educate the community to do the same.

The primary objective of the CERT Program is to train volunteers to safely and promptly care for themselves, their families, and their neighbors during an emergency, helping to relieve some of the demand on first responders. CERT volunteers will be trained in basic disaster response skills by professional firefighters, EMS personnel and other emergency responders.

Register for CERT Training

Become a member of New Hanover County's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and help make a difference in the event of a disaster. Local training is conducted by New Hanover County Emergency Management in partnership with Cape Fear Community College.

Plans are underway for the Spring 2022 CERT program! We will be posting information soon, but you can see schedules for previous programs below to understand the course layout.

Virtual CERT Training

Online CERT training is available year-round and allows you to go at your own pace. Ten hours of hands-on practice are required before certification is complete and can be scheduled with NHC Emergency Management staff.