Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Addicted to action? Careers in Emergency Services will give you all you want

Photos and story by James Hill

It is exciting, heroic and helps save countless lives. It’s the field of emergency rescue and PCC’s emergency services programs at the Cascade Campus feature state-of-the-art equipment and a top-notch facility to train you for a career as a paramedic, fire fighter or 9-1-1 dispatch operator. The Emergency Services program is located in the new Public Services Education Building at the Cascade Campus. The program offers associate of applied science degrees for the Emergency Medical Technician and Fire Protection Technology Programs.

Also, PCC offers a one-year certificate that trains you for a career as an emergency dispatch operator. The program has its own dispatch call center to simulate real-life call centers. Students learn how to be a key component in providing a communications link to agencies, departments, field operations and the public.

The emergency medical technician program (paramedics), which has a fully equipped ambulance, offers training on call response, providing efficient health care to the critically injured and transporting patients effectively.

The Fire Protection technology program features four fire trucks and one engine, as well as a fire house that includes a three-story fire tower. It is a perfect environment for students to prepare for a career in fire suppression, investigation, prevention, rescue services and hazardous materials.

These three programs cooperate to train students to work together on real-world emergencies. Best of all, PCC is developing a partnership with the City of Portland to help train its workforce, and in turn, place PCC students into emergency services careers. For more information, call 503-978-5530.

Related Pages

Emergency TeleCommunicator (911) , Emergency Medical Services (EMS/EMT), Fire Protection