Starting a CERT Program
Step 5: Tailoring Training
Keeping Your Instructors Current
As you update the CERT materials, you will need to establish a way to keep your instructors current on the revised materials. How you approach instructor currency will depend on you and how you work with your instructors. Some suggestions from experienced CERT Program Coordinators for keeping instructors current are listed below.
- Type revisions to the Instructor Guide in bold to make them stand out to the instructors.
- Provide a synopsis of program revisions by email or CD.
- Conduct a briefing with instructors to go over the revisions before the first session of each class.
Even if you have not updated the materials, if you don't offer CERT courses regularly, or if you have a large cadre of instructors, you may need to ensure that they remain current on the materials. One way to ensure currency is to require each instructor to train at least once on a regular basis. (Initially, keep your instructor cadre small so that you can schedule instructors more frequently. As your program grows, these instructors will become the core of your cadre.)
Another is to plan regular meetings with your instructor cadre to cover program content, logistics, and training techniques.
You may have other ways that have worked to keep your instructors current. Continue to use them, and share them with others.