PORTLAND, Ore. – As Oregon’s health care system continues to grapple with workforce shortages and increasing demand for timely care, Oregon Health Authority officials say new investments in training programs are critical to strengthening the state’s emergency response capacity.
In its 2025 statewide needs assessment, the agency identified persistent challenges, including worker burnout, limited access to care in rural communities, and barriers such as transportation and childcare that prevent many from entering or remaining in health care careers.
To help address those gaps, Portland Community College has been awarded nearly $1 million through the Healthy Oregon Workforce Training Opportunity (HOWTO) Grant Program. The funding will support scholarships for students pursuing Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training through next fall.
“This investment tackles one of Oregon’s most urgent health workforce needs: ensuring communities can count on trained emergency responders when seconds matter,” said Janeen Hull, dean of PCC’s Healthcare and Emergency Professions Pathway. “By reducing financial barriers and providing wraparound support, we’re helping more Oregonians complete training and move into family-wage jobs that strengthen community health.”
Approximately $420,000 of the grant is earmarked for tuition and educational support, funding scholarships for up to 100 EMT students statewide. PCC is expected to train a significant share of those participants, with plans to graduate between 21 and 30 new EMTs over the next year. Current cohorts include spring–summer students, fall accelerated students, and those who completed winter-term coursework.
The initiative also introduces a new EMS training pathway focused on advancing health equity. In addition to covering tuition and fees, the program offers career coaching, outreach services, language assistance, and support for transportation and childcare—efforts aligned with OHA’s focus on reducing real-world barriers to workforce participation.
Several ambulance providers have partnered with the program to offer hands-on training and employment opportunities, including Metro West Ambulance, Bay Cities Ambulance, Medix Ambulance Service, Woodburn Ambulance, Umpqua Valley Ambulance, Pacific West Ambulance, and Pioneer Ambulance. Some students may be eligible for employment while still completing their training. The program is set to run through June 30, 2027.
PCC’s EMT certificate program consists of 12 credits and can be completed either over two terms or through an accelerated one-term option. Graduates are eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians exam and apply for Oregon licensure.
In 2024, 87% of PCC EMT students passed the national certification exam, resulting in 253 newly licensed EMTs entering Oregon’s workforce.
Program outcomes—including enrollment, retention, completion rates, and licensure success—will be tracked and reported to the Oregon Health Authority as part of the grant requirements.
More information about PCC’s Emergency Medical Services Program is available on the college’s website.
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