Virginia Local Learning — Courses, Training & Extension Programs

Emergency response training

Train to help when something happens.

Virginia has emergency training available through county emergency management offices, the American Red Cross, Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia Tech), and VDEM. CERT training is available in most counties.

CERT Training

Community Emergency Response Team — free training through your county emergency management office. Covers triage, fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster psychology.

Find VA CERT programs →

Red Cross Classes

First aid, CPR/AED, babysitter training, and disaster preparedness courses. Search by ZIP to find the nearest class and schedule near you in Virginia.

Search classes by ZIP →

SKYWARN Spotter Training

Free severe weather spotter training from the National Weather Service. Learn to identify and report dangerous weather conditions.

Find SKYWARN training →

Cooperative Extension

County-level programs in food preservation, gardening, agriculture, family finance, and emergency preparedness. Most are free or low-cost.

Find VA Extension →

Community College Courses

Search for EMT certification, welding, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, sustainable agriculture, and emergency management programs near you.

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Amateur Radio — ARRL

Ham radio is the most resilient communication method when infrastructure fails. Find clubs offering license classes near you in Virginia.

Find VA radio clubs →

Next steps

Where do you want to go next?

Connect locally

Find what's happening in your community.

Festivals, cleanups, civic events, and gatherings across Virginia.

Local Community

Build deeper skills

Learn the skills. Verify the competence.

Field Skill guides on first aid, food preservation, water, solar, and more.

Self-Reliance Library