Career Pathways

WILDLAND FIRE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
This less than one year certificate will provide high school students and industry people the opportunity to gain the skills equivalent to "guard school", preparing them for entry jobs in the fire fighting industry. The courses will be offered in winter term, at hours convenient for high school seniors and those already employed, so they will be ready for employment in spring.

WHAT IS A CAREER PATHWAY?
A career pathway is a series of connected educational programs, with integrated work experience, on-the-job training, and support services, that enables students to combine school and work and advance over time to better jobs and higher levels of education and training. Career pathways target jobs of importance to local economies. They are designed to create educational "stepping stones" for advancement of workers and jobs seekers, particularly those stuck in low-wage jobs, and a supply of qualified workers for employers. As such, career pathways help to ensure that investment in education and training pays off in enhanced economic development. - From Davis Jenkins, University of Illinois at Chicago

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Regional Employment Projections from OLMIS (Oregon Labor Market Information System) indicate a 21.6% increase for Fire Fighters for Crook/Deschutes/Jefferson Counties from 2006-2016. Although the statistics do not differentiate Wildland and Structural needs, COCC's Wildland short-term certificate serves the needs for the East Slope Training Region within the Pacific Northwest Coordinating Group (PNWCG). The curriculum is based on the national group and their standards, National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG).

The certificate was not only approved by NWCG and PNWCG, but the Certificate Advisory committee consisting of members from the regional fire agencies, National Wildfire Suppression Association, Wildfire Risk Management, Deschutes National Forest, and GFP Enterprises Wildland Training.

GET STARTED
Click to view the COCC Wildland Fire CareerPathways Roadmap.

CERTIFICATE BRIEFS 
Wildland Fire Science Degrees and Certificates info