2026 National Conference

Join us in celebrating the 40th anniversary of CERT at the 2026 National CERT Conference. The conference will take place in Irvine, California from August 24 - 29, 2026. This year's theme, "Stronger Communities Start Here" plays homage to CERT's roots and the foundation of resiliency that CERT plays in its communities across the country. Join us for three full days of pre-conference training and two and a half days of continued learning and breakout sessions.

Schedule:

  • Pre-Conference: August 24 - 26, 2026
  • Main-Conference: August 27 - 29, 2026


Register for the Conference

Conference Registration Rates

Conference registration is now open. Early Bird Registration rates available until May 1, 2026. 

Staff Conference Rates

Conference rates for NCA members who are paid staff working with CERT:

Staff Conference RatesBefore 5/1/26After 5/1/26
NCA Member General Registration $525$575
NCA Member General Registration including Pre-Conference$600$650




Volunteer Conference Rates

Special discounted rates are available to NCA members  who are CERT volunteers and are paying their own way to attend conference. See the discounted rates below:

Volunteer Conference RatesBefore 5/1/26After 5/1/26
NCA Member General Registration $395$445
NCA Member General Registration including Pre-Conference$470$520
 

Other Conference Rates

Special rates for other types of conference registrations. Non-NCA Members will not have the ability to take Pre-Conference Training.

Other Conference RatesBefore 5/1/26After 5/1/26
Non-NCA Member Registration $700$700
Exhibitor Only Registration - Support Staff$295$295
  

Cancellation/Refund Policy

No refunds will be issued for any cancellations received after July 27, 2026. Substitutions are allowed and must be submitted in writing prior to the start of the conference.



2026 National CERT Conference Awards

As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of CERT, we would like to recognize all the great CERT programs, volunteers, and partners that have contributed to making CERT so successful. An awards ceremony will be held during the 2026 National CERT Conference on August 28, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Irvine, California. We are asking for nominations for the following categories:

  • CERT Volunteer of the Year: recognizes an individual CERT volunteer who demonstrates exceptional commitment, service, and leadership in support of community preparedness and emergency response.
  • CERT Program Manager of the Year: recognizes a CERT Program Manager who demonstrates outstanding leadership, innovation, and dedication to building a strong and effective CERT program.
  • CERT Team in Action: recognizes a CERT Team that demonstrates exceptional teamwork, coordination, and impact during a deployment/activation in the community.
  • CERT Multicultural Award: recognizes a CERT volunteer or program that demonstrates outstanding commitment to culturally responsive emergency preparedness and response.
  • CERT Community Outreach Program: recognizes a CERT program community outreach project that demonstrates exceptional dedication to engaging, educating, and empowering the community in emergency preparedness, response, and resilience.


Submit an Awards Nomination

Nominations accepted through May 1, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

See below for additional information about the conference.