CERT Hybrid EMT Academy – Student Onboarding

Welcome to the CERT Hybrid EMT Academy.

This page contains all required onboarding steps and academic expectations that must be completed prior to attending your Skills Residency.

The Hybrid Academy provides flexibility in completing your didactic training; however, that flexibility requires discipline, consistency, and personal accountability. Your preparation during this phase will directly impact your success in the program.

Start Here: Student Introduction Video (Required for Acceptance)

Before proceeding with any onboarding steps, all students must complete a short introduction video.

This is a quick 5–7 minute video where you will answer a few simple questions so our team can get to know you prior to the start of the program.

Access Your Video Introduction:

Click here to submit your video introduction

Instructions:

Follow the prompts to record your responses
Complete your video in a quiet, well-lit environment
Present yourself in a professional manner

What to Expect:

5 short questions
Approximately 5–7 minutes to complete
No preparation required

This is not something to stress over. Simply be yourself and answer the questions clearly.

Important:

Must be completed within 72 hours of registration
Your enrollment is not finalized until your video has been reviewed
You will receive an acceptance email from the Program Director once approved

Do not proceed to Step 1 until you have received your acceptance email.

Step 1: Access Pearson and Begin Coursework

Once accepted into the program, you will begin the didactic portion of your training through Pearson MyLab Brady.

Your access code was provided in your registration confirmation email.

To Access Your Course:

Go to the Pearson enrollment link for your academy
Sign in with your Pearson account, or create one if needed
Enter the "Keycode" from your registration confirmation email
Select your course from the “My Courses” page

If you contact Pearson Support, give them the course ID: dikun48767

Coursework Requirements (Hybrid Program)

All students must complete the full didactic portion of the program prior to attending the Skills Residency.

This includes:

Completion of all assigned chapter readings
Completion of all chapter tests with a minimum score of 80%

Chapter tests may be retaken as many times as needed to achieve a passing score.

Critical Requirement:

Completion of all coursework is mandatory.

Students who have not completed all assigned readings and achieved the required scores will not be permitted to attend the Skills Residency.

Written Entrance Exam (First Day of Skills Residency)

On the first day of your Skills Residency, you will complete an in-person written exam:

50-question written exam
Minimum passing score: 80%

If you do not achieve a passing score on your first attempt, you will be provided one additional remediation opportunity, which will take place on the Saturday between your first and second week.

Skills Residency Schedule

The Skills Residency is conducted:

Monday through Friday
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Additional support opportunities are available:

Weekend remediation sessions (as needed)
Open Skills Labs: Fridays from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Available immediately upon registration)

Additional Academic Support

CERT provides multiple optional resources to support your success:

Student Resources

Course lectures, PowerPoints, and skills demonstrations are available at:

https://www.virginiaemt.com/studentresources

Live Virtual Classroom (Optional)

Students have access to live virtual classroom sessions via Google Meet:

Offered 2–3 evenings per week
Wednesday's 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM (Eastern Time)
Saturday's 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (Eastern Time)

These sessions are led by an Academy Lead and include:

Chapter review
Expanded explanations and real-world context
Open Q&A

Participation is not required, but strongly encouraged.

Step 2: Complete Required FEMA ICS Courses

All students must complete the following FEMA courses prior to attending the Skills Residency:

If you do not already have a FEMA Student Identification Number (SID), you must create one:

https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasid

Please download and save each certificate upon completion.

Step 3: Upload Your FEMA Course Certificates

After completing the required FEMA courses, upload your certificates using the form below.

Upload Instructions:

Enter your full name exactly as it appears on your registration
Enter the email address used during registration
Select your academy from the dropdown menu
Upload all FEMA course completion certificates
Submit the form

All certificates must be uploaded prior to your Skills Residency.

Failure to complete this requirement may result in administrative action.

Step 4: Complete Your First-Class Paperwork

All students must complete their required paperwork prior to attending the Skills Residency.

You will receive an Adobe e-sign invitation by email. Please review and complete all documents promptly.

Students Under 18:

A parent or legal guardian must complete the required consent forms.

Step 5: Uniform Pickup and Student ID Photo

All students must visit the CERT facility prior to their Skills Residency to:

Pick up their CERT uniform shirt
Complete their student ID badge photo

Availability:

Monday – Friday
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Location:

CERT – Fair Oaks Mall
11750 Fair Oaks Mall
Fairfax, VA 22033

Parking: Park by Dick’s Sporting Goods

Video Directions

Badge Photo Requirements:

Professional appearance required
No hats
No sunglasses
No distracting attire
Neat and presentable appearance

Step 6: Review Uniform and Appearance Standards

Here are examples of appropriate navy blue duty pants and black shoes:

Men’s Uniform Pants: CQR Men's Tactical Pants.
Women’s Uniform Pants: CQR Women's Tactical Pants.
Men’s Uniform Shoes: Bruno Marc Men’s Black EMT Shoes.
Women’s Uniform Shoes: Dr. Scholl’s Kimberly Women’s EMT Shoes.

Uniforms must be clean, professional, and appropriate for a healthcare training environment.

Additional details regarding grooming, uniform standards, and professional appearance are outlined in the policy documents below.

Students are expected to maintain a clean, professional appearance throughout the program.

Required Uniform:

Navy blue uniform-style pants
CERT uniform shirt or polo
Black shoes or boots appropriate for EMS training

Uniforms must be clean and appropriate for a healthcare training environment.

Step 7: Review Required Student Policies

All students must review the following prior to attending the Skills Residency:

Students are expected to understand and comply with all CERT standards.

Step 8: Monitor Your Email

Students are expected to monitor their email regularly for updates and important communications.

Please check your spam or junk folder to ensure you do not miss any information.

Final Reminder

The Hybrid EMT Academy requires discipline, accountability, and preparation.

Your success in the Skills Residency is directly dependent on the effort you put into completing your coursework and onboarding requirements ahead of time.

Completion of all steps above is required to participate in the program.