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The Coastside CERT Basic Training Academy is Offered Twice a Year in English
The Coastside CERT Basic Training Academy is Offered Twice a Year in English
In 2025, we also taught a full Coastside CERT Basic Training Academy in Spanish!
CERT Basic Training Academy is a free comprehensive 21 hour training course combining classroom and hands-on instruction to teach basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, earthquake survival skills, light search and rescue, team organization, radio communication, and disaster medical operations. Upon completion, members will be able to assist their community or workplace following an emergency event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.
Thank you for a great response! - Spring CERT 2026 is FULL.
Interested, but closed out of Spring CERT? Please consider signing up for Fall CERT in November 2026.
In-person Classes at Coastside Fire Station 40
In-person Classes at Coastside Fire Station 40
Training will be conducted during evenings and weekends (see exact dates below). Classes #1 and #4 will be taught via Zoom. Classes #2, #3, and #4 will take place at Coastside Fire Station 40, 1191 Main St, Half Moon Bay.
We try to limit class size is limited to 30-35 candidates so everyone has plenty of time for hands-on practice. After 35 registered candidates, we will begin a waitlist.
Please ensure that you will be able to attend ALL 5 in-person classes before signing up.
Training is usually conducted in English. We do have certified Spanish and Chinese instructors available when, upon request, a class of 10 or more students is assembled.
Learning from the best
Learning from the best
See the Zoom recording from a previous session.
With a genuine passion for teaching, Chief Cosgrave weaves his three decades of Coastside first responder experiences in and out of FEMA's basic training curriculum with threads of practical life-saving skills, relatable stories to boost your Coastside survival IQ, and a wicked sense of humor. He knows where all the bodies are buried, so to speak (though he says he won't tell ;) and shares his amazing experiences to teach you, your family, and your neighbors how to stay safe.
Putting it all into practice
Putting it all into practice
Training culminates in a full-day, hands-on training session called Training Day & Graduation at Coastside Fire Station 40 (1191 Main St, Half Moon Bay) led by certificated CERT instructors and CERT volunteers. The emphasis is on learning by doing: Instructors demonstrate and candidates practice 5 skill sets they have learned in the classroom portion of the course (Medical Operations 1 & Triage, Medical Operations 2, Fire & Utility Controls, Light Search & Rescue, and ICS/Radio Communication), progressing from one skill station to another followed by team participation in disaster simulations.
In compliance with public health guidelines, masks are optional but always welcome. Social distancing, hand-washing, and sanitizing are encouraged. Candidates must attend the full day in order to receive a final certificate of course completion. You will be a full-fledged CERT graduate by the end of this session.
Most candidates are 18+ years old. Candidates aged 14-17 years may be able to join with written permission from a parent or guardian. We enthusiastically welcome high school students! Half Moon Bay High School students will earn 20 community service credits upon completion of this course.
Upcoming Training Sessions
Upcoming Training Sessions
March 2026 - Spring CERT
March 2026 - Spring CERT
Class is full
Class #1: Zoom Class Wednesday, March 11, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
How to Survive Local Hazards
Fire in Tom Lantos Tunnel
Beach Emergencies
Tsunami, Earthquakes
Wildfire Evacuations,
Downed Power Lines & Electrified Water
Extended Power/Utility Outages
Flooding, Wind Storms
CERT Incident Command Systems (ICS)
Class #2: Wednesday, March 18, 6:30 PM -9:00 PM, Coastside Fire Station 40, 1191 Main St, HMB
Disaster Service Worker & Hold Harmless Forms
Disaster Preparedness
Intro to Radio Communication
Class #3: Saturday, March 21,9:00 AM-4:00 PM, Coastside Fire Station 40
Stop the Bleed
Disaster Medical Operations I + Triage
Disaster Medical Ops II
Fire Safety & Utility Controls Class
Light Search & Rescue
Class #4: Zoom Class, Wednesday, March 25, 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Disaster Psychology & Mental Health
Terrorism & CERT
Coastside CERT & Next Steps After Graduation
Class #5: Saturday, March 28, 9:00AM-4:00 PM, Coastside Fire Station 40
Training Day & Graduation
Orientation
Hands-On Skills Training
Disaster Simulation
Graduation
November 2026 - Fall CERT
November 2026 - Fall CERT
Class #1: Zoom Class Wednesday evening, October 28, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
How to Survive Local Hazards
Fire in Tom Lantos Tunnel
Beach Emergencies
Tsunami, Earthquakes
Wildfire Evacuations,
Downed Power Lines & Electrified Water
Extended Power/Utility Outages
Flooding, Wind Storms
CERT Incident Command Systems (ICS)
Class #2: Wednesday, November 4, 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM, Coastside Fire Station 40, 1191 Main St, HMB
Disaster Service Worker & Hold Harmless Forms
Disaster Preparedness
Intro to Radio Communication
Class #3: Saturday, November 7, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Coastside Fire Station 40
Stop the Bleed
Disaster Medical Operations I + Triage
Disaster Medical Ops II
Fire Safety & Utility Controls Class
Light Search & Rescue
Class #4: Zoom Class, Wednesday, November 11, 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Disaster Psychology
Terrorism & CERT
Coastside CERT & Next Steps After Graduation
Class #5: Saturday, November 14, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Coastside Fire Station 40 Training Day & Graduation
Orientation
Hands-On Skills Training
Disaster Simulation
Graduation
If you have any questions, please contact coastsidecert@gmail.com. Thank you - You can do this!
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