National Conference (more info)
2025 National CERT Conference
This year's conference theme, "Building Community Resilience, One Brick at a Time" is a nod to the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, known as "The Brickyard." The conference will feature training and presentations for all levels of CERT including: Emergency Management professionals, CERT Program Managers, CERT Instructors, CERT Volunteers, and CERT partners.
Schedule
See below for the tentative schedule of the conference sessions. The conference program will be available for download closer to the date of the conference.
Monday, August 4, 2025
8:00 am - 5:00 pm: Pre-Conference Training
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
8:00 am - 5:00 pm: Pre-Conference TrainingWednesday, August 6, 2025
8:00 am - 5:00 pm: Pre-Conference Training3:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Registration Open
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Opening Plenary and Reception
Thursday, August 7, 2025
8:00 am - 5:00 pm: Registration Open8:00 am - 9:15 am: Breakout Session 1
9:15 am - 9:30 am: Break
9:30 am - 10:45 am: Breakout Session 2
10:45 am - 11:00 am: Break
11:00 am - 12:15 pm: Breakout Session 3
12:15 pm - 2:00 pm: Box lunches provided (Special Meeting for State CERT Coordinators)
2:00 pm - 3:15 pm: Breakout Session 4
3:15 pm - 3:30 pm: Break
3:30 pm - 4:45 pm: Breakout Session 5
Friday, August 8, 2025
8:00 am - 5:00 pm: Registration Open8:00 am - 9:15 am: Breakout Session 6
9:15 am - 9:30 am: Break
9:30 am - 10:45 am: Breakout Session 7
10:45 am - 11:00 am: Break
11:00 am - 12:15 pm: Breakout Session 8
12:15 pm - 2:00 pm: Box lunches provided (Special Meeting with Regional Representatives)
2:00 pm - 3:15 pm: Breakout Session 9
3:15 pm - 3:30 pm: Break
3:30 pm - 4:45 pm: Breakout Session 10
Saturday, August 9, 2025
8:00 am - 5:00 pm: Registration Open8:00 am - 9:15 am: Breakout Session 11
9:15 am - 9:30 am: Break
9:30 am - 10:45 am: Breakout Session 12
10:45 am - 11:00 am: Break
11:00 am - 12:15 pm: Breakout Session 13
12:15 pm - 2:00 pm: Box lunches provided (NCA Leadership Meeting)
2:00 pm - 3:15 pm: Breakout Session 14
3:15 pm - 3:30 pm: Break
3:30 pm - 4:45 pm: Breakout Session 15
Costs
Early Bird Registration rates available until June 6, 2025.
| Conference Rates | Before 6/6/25 | After 6/6/25 |
| General Registration (Volunteers) | $395 | $445 |
| General Registration (Non-Volunteers) | $525 | $575 |
| General Registration + Pre-Conference (Volunteers) | $470 | $520 |
| General Registration + Pre-Conference (Non-Volunteers) | $600 | $650 |
| One-Day Registration for Saturday, August 9th | $100 | $150 |
| Pre-Conference Training Only | $75 | $75 |
Hotels
The conference will be held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Plainfield Indianapolis Airport. Special conference rates are available to those registered for the conference.
Additional Conference Resources
- Sponsor and Exhibitor Packet
- Call for Speakers (Proposals due 5/16/25)
Pre-Conference Sessions:
There will be several pre-conference session offerings from August 4 - 6, 2025. See below for the course descriptions:
Course Description:
This course prepares participants to deliver the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s 2019 CERT Basic Training course. National Disaster & Emergency Management University (NDEMU) Instructors deliver it using FEMA’s approved curriculum and training materials.
Course Description:
This course prepares participants to establish and sustain an active local CERT program. National Diaster & Emergency Management University (NDEMU) Instructors deliver it using FEMA’s approved curriculum and training materials.
Course Description:
This comprehensive preparation course equips participants experienced and familiar with CERT Train-the-Trainer and Program Manager courses to deliver the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) CERT Program Manager or CERT Train-the-Trainer Course as an Instructor Trainer. Course participants will receive an evaluation rubric and development plan to excel at delivering these courses. Participants will review the 2019 CERT Train-the-Trainer and Program Manager instructor's curriculum and demonstrate teaching skills during the course. This course is not intended to supplant existing state/territory CERT TTT and CERT Program Manager instructor trainer requirements. The course also serves as a tool to improve the ability of states and territories to develop CERT Instructor training cadres.