Public Safety

They call it a brotherhood, although sisters are included, and those who have the privilege of belonging don't just train together and work together, they're a team during off-duty hours as well. Bonds of friendship are important in this career, because, on the job, these are the people you trust with your life. To belong requires intelligence and strength, not just physical strength, but strength of character as well. It's a job not everyone can do.

Imagine yourself on the front lines. Chemeketa can help take you there.

The desire to be of service to their communities and to protect others is the reason many people give for entering a career in public safety. Jobs in the highly competitive occupations of criminal justice, firefighting and emergency medical services are some of the most rewarding jobs you can have.

Fire Protection

Associate degrees/certificate

Chemeketa offers two options in Fire Protection Technology: Fire Suppression and Fire Prevention. Both options include training and education for those wanting to enter this exciting field and those already employed who need additional training.

Fire Suppression Option

Most firefighters work for public fire departments, and, at Chemeketa, you will begin gaining this experience while still a student. At the Marion County fire station, on Chemeketa's campus, fire suppression students work a 24-hour duty shift each week and respond to actual emergency incidents under the supervision of fire department officers.

The Fire Suppression option can be coordinated with the Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic program so that both degrees can be earned in nine to 11 terms.

Distance learning classes are available for fire service professionals active in the field who need to earn college credits or update their training. Distance education may include earning college credit for prior learning, such as local training and work experience; individualized instructional contracts; transfer credits from local schools and independent study courses. For more information about distance education, call 503.399.6242.

Fire Prevention Option

If you graduate with a degree in Fire Prevention, you will be prepared for a career with a public fire department or industrial business as a fire prevention specialist.

Advanced Fire Officer Certificate

The Advanced Fire Officer Certificate program can help you prepare for promotion to officer positions, or, if you are already a fire officer, you can gain valuable new skills. The program meets or exceeds National Fire Protection Association and Oregon standards for Fire Officer 1 and 2. To be admitted, you must be certified as Firefighter 1 or equivalent, and actively pursuing Firefighter 2, or have an associate degree in fire protection or possess professional certificates and have experience or equivalent credentials in fire prevention, fire training or public fire education. For more information, call Gene Fisher, 503.399.6241.

Emergency Medical Technology-Paramedic

Associate degree

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) may be employed by ambulance companies, fire departments, police departments and industry. The demand for EMTs and paramedics continues to grow, both locally and nationally.

The Emergency Medical Technology/Paramedic program at Chemeketa prepares you for an entry-level position in this field, and offers continuing education courses so that you can keep your skills up-to-date. Chemeketa offers excellent on-campus facilities, as well as outstanding clinical training sites.

Working toward EMT Paramedic certification, you will complete approximately 300 hours of hospital clinical experience and 320-500 hours of field internship. Clinical experiences focus on developing the skills, attitudes and work habits necessary for you to be successful in a career as an EMT.

Criminal Justice

Associate degree/certificate/transfer

Chemeketa's Criminal Justice program can prepare you for a career in law enforcement, parole and probation, and adult and juvenile corrections. You may also find a job in 9-1-1 telecommunications, intake and release work in correction institutions and in private and public security work. If you are interested in a career working with juvenile offenders, Chemeketa offers a one-year certificate in Juvenile Corrections.

Some employers may require that you earn a bachelor's degree before entering or advancing in this field, so Chemeketa's program is planned to make that transition as easy as possible. Chemeketa has agreements with Portland State University, where you might want to consider a bachelor's degree in Administration of Justice, and Western Oregon University, which offers degrees in Law Enforcement, Corrections, and Community Crime Prevention. For more information about transferring, see the staff in Counseling and Career Services, Building 2, as well as the counseling office at the university you plan to attend.

Getting Started

If you haven't been to Chemeketa recently, your first step should be a visit to the college. While there you can talk to an advisor and learn what the college can do to help you reach your goal. You can arrange a time to take the college's free placement tests, which will help determine whether or not you need to take some basic skills classes in mathematics, reading or writing before enrolling in the program.

For additional information about these programs, you may call:

Criminal Justice — 503.399.5110
Emergency Medical Technology — 503.399.2664
Fire Protection Technology — 503.399.6241

Updated October 2006 by the College Advancement Department.