Pasadena City College Partners with City and Pasadena Unified for First-Responder Training Program

Starting this fall, students and local residents aiming to serve as first responders will have a new educational training program in Pasadena.

Thanks to a partnership with Pasadena City College, the Pasadena Fire Department, and the Pasadena Unified School District, aspiring firefighters and EMTs will be able to take courses alongside professionals at the City’s fire training center.

“We are thrilled to partner with the City of Pasadena Fire Department and PUSD on this critical EMT training program,” said Dr. José A. Gómez, Superintendent/President of Pasadena City College. 

“This initiative not only provides our students with valuable career opportunities but also strengthens our community by ensuring that we have skilled professionals ready to respond to emergencies.”

The partnership is designed to create a pipeline from high school, college, and the community to careers as paramedics and firefighters, addressing the critical shortage of qualified first responders in the region. 

Participants will receive comprehensive training that prepares them for entry into the workforce, enhancing Pasadena’s emergency response capabilities.

“The launch of this EMT and fire training partnership is a significant step forward for our city,” said Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo. “It reflects our commitment to investing in the future of our youth and ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents.”

The courses are open to all adults, and many of the courses offered at the new training site are also open to students from local high schools, including PUSD, through concurrent enrollment. The site will also offer career exploration events, community outreach fairs, and field trips for local students and community members.

The partnership particularly aligns with PUSD’s Law and Public Service Academy at Pasadena High School, the Health Careers Academy at Blair High School, and existing dual enrollment courses on health education, first aid, and emergency response offered at PUSD high schools. This new initiative enhances the existing career technical education pathway and provides students with a unique opportunity to directly explore careers in emergency medical services.

“This initiative is a fantastic opportunity for our students to gain experience and a head-start in their careers,” said Dr. Elizabeth Blanco, superintendent of PUSD. “We are proud to be part of a partnership that expands career technical education opportunities for our students and prepares them to enter careers as paramedics, firefighters, and health care professionals.”

The coursework offered at the new center will include topics such as emergency services, fire protection, emergency medicine, building construction, and safety and survival. 

PCC instructors will blend classroom teaching, hands-on skills, and clinical experience, providing students with foundational knowledge and skills in the emergency medical field. It is designed to prepare students to certify as California State Emergency Medical Technicians and to create pathways to careers as paramedics, firefighters, and health care professionals.

“We are excited to work with PCC and PUSD on this initiative. By training the next generation of EMTs and paramedics, we are building a stronger, more resilient emergency response team that can better serve our community,” said Chad Augustin, chief of the Pasadena Fire Department.

Courses start with PCC’s fall 2024 semester, which begins August 26. More information about admission and registration is available on the PCC website. High school students can also contact their school counselors for information about enrolling.

The partnership program will be located at the Jefferson campus on East Villa Street as part of the City of Pasadena’s lease of the PUSD property, which expires in 2027.

Since 1924, Pasadena City College (www.pasadena.edu) has provided the San Gabriel Valley with a high-quality, innovative learning environment that inspires student success. Our academic programs encompass a variety of degrees, transfer programs, certificates of achievement, and occupational skills certificates that challenge students and support progress toward their goals. PCC is consistently one of the top colleges in the state for transfers to the CSU and UC systems.