Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon Portland Community College

Healthcare and Emergency Professions at PCC

Student taking blood pressureDiscover your path in healthcare and emergency service careers, where every day is filled with opportunities to make a difference. PCC is proud to offer an array of exciting trainings and degree options tailored to suit your aspirations, whether you envision yourself working hands-on with patients, contributing behind the scenes, or finding your niche somewhere in between. Our training programs provide you with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in ever-growing career fields, in-demand employment, with opportunities for great pay and benefits. Your future begins here!

We offer a variety of financial resources and payment options to make your college journey affordable and accessible with Financial Aid*, Scholarships, Grants, Veteran’s Benefits and payment plans.

*Non-credit courses may not be Financial Aid Qualified, but other resources may be available.

Healthcare programs comparison chart

This chart is sortable: use the arrows in the headers to sort the columns.

Health care programs comparison chart
Program Program length
(not including
pre-reqs)
Campus Average
starting
salary
Estimated
cost*
Credit Patient
contact
Admissions
competition
Addiction Counseling 12 months Certificate
24 months Degree
Cascade $20 – $30/hr, $42k – $62k/yr, based on Certificate or Degree $12,000 for AAS degree,
$6,000 for certificate
Credit, 2yr AAS degree and one-year certificate Direct patient contact Not competitive, Open enrollment
Bioscience Technology 24 months for AAS degree
6 months for certificate
Rock Creek $22 – $25/hr, $46k – $52k/yr $11,000 for AAS degree,
$2,500 for certificate
Credit, 2yr AAS degree and certificate No patient contact Moderately competitive
Clinical Research 6 months Online via Climb Ctr $21 – $35/hr, $44k – $73k/yr $1,200 Non-credit certificate Some patient contact Open enrollment
Computed Tomography (CT) 12 months Sylvania $33 – $43/hr, $68k- $89k/yr $3,200 Credit, certificate Direct patient contact Limited Entry
Dental Assisting 9 months Vanport $24 – $29/hr, $50k – $60k/yr $10,000 Credit, certificate Direct patient contact Moderately competitive
Dental Hygiene 21 months Vanport $43 – $50/hr, $87k – $104k/yr $30,000 Credit, 2yr AAS degree Direct patient contact Highly competitive
Emergency Medical Services (EMT & Paramedic) 6 months for Career Pathway Certificate, 12 months for EMS-1 year certificate, 24 months for AAS degree. Cascade EMT $19 – $23/hr, $39k -$48k/yr, Paramedic $25 – $34/hr, $52k -$71k/yr, based on Certificate or Degree $16,000 for AAS degree, $1,600 for certificate Credit, 2yr AAS degree, and 2 certificates Direct patient contact Moderately competitive
Exercise Science 24 months for AAS degree
Less than 12 months for certificates
Sylvania $17 – $26/hr, $36k-$55k/yr $11,000 – $13,000 for AAS degree,
varies for certificates
Credit, 2yr AAS degree and 3 one-year certificates Direct patient contact Minimally competitive
Fire Protection Technology 24 month AAS degree, 6mo Certificate Cascade $23 – $44/hr, $48k-$92k/yr See Advisor Credit, 2yr AAS degree and 1 certificate Direct patient contact Moderately competitive
Functional Nutrition 12 months Online via Climb Ctr $20/hr – $30/hr, $41k-$62k/yr $6,000 Non-credit certificate, national certification option Direct patient contact Moderately competitive
Health Information Management 21 months Online via Cascade $21 – $27/hr, $44k-$56k/yr $13,000 Credit, 2yr AAS degree No patient contact Not Competitive. Guaranteed Admission Option
Herbalism Professional 9 months Online via Climb Ctr $57k – $65k/yr $3,000 Non-credit certificate, national certification option Direct patient contact Open enrollment
Medical Assisting 9 months Cascade, Sylvania & Willow Creek (Depends onTerm) $20 – $25/hr, $42k – $52k/yr $7,000 Credit, certificate Direct patient contact Moderately competitive, Guaranteed Admission Option
Medical Coder, AAPC 6 – 9 months Online via Climb Ctr $19 – $26/hr, $39k – $54k/yr, $3,190 Non-credit, Prepares for National Certification Exam No patient contact Open enrollment
Medical Laboratory Technology 21 months Cascade $22 – $38/hr, $45k – $79k/yr, $14,000 Credit, 2yr AAS degree Limited patient contact Moderately Competitive
MRI Technologist 9 months Sylvania $40 – $52/hr, $83k – $108k/yr $5,000 Credit, Certificate Direct patient contact Highly competitive
Nursing 18 months Sylvania $95k – $106k/yr $11,000 – $13,000 Credit, 2yr AAS degree Direct patient contact Extremely competitive
Ophthalmic Medical Technology 21 months Cascade & Hybird $19 – $24/hr, $39k – $50k/yr $13,000 Credit, 2yr AAS degree Direct patient contact Not Competitive
Optician Assistant Training 1 term Climb Ctr $18 – $23/hr, $37k – $47k/yr $1,119 Non-credit, verification of successful completion Direct patient contact Not Competitive
Patient Access Specialist 6 months Climb Ctr $17 – $21/hr, $35k – $42k/yr $1,599 Non-credit, verification of successful completion Direct patient contact Not competitive, Open enrollment
Pharmacy Technician 6 months Fully Onlie or Hybird? $18 – $23/hr, $37k – $48k/yr $3,140 Non-credit, verification of successful completion Direct patient contact Moderately competitive
Phlebotomy Tech 6 months Climb Ctr $18 – $21/hr,, $37k – $44k/yr $2,999 Non-credit, verification of successful completion Direct patient contact Highly competitive
Radiography 24 months Sylvania $32 – $40/hr, $66k – $83k/yr $17,000-$18,500 Credit, 2yr AAS degree Direct patient contact Highly competitive
Sterile Processing Technician 3 months Climb Ctr $18 – $25/hr, $38k – $52k/yr $1,498 Non-credit, verification of successful completion No patient contact Moderately competitive
Veterinary Technology 7 Term, 21 months Rock Creek $17 – $23/hr, $35k – $48k/yr $12,500 Credit, 2yr AAS degree Direct patient contact Moderately competitive
Yoga Teacher (Ayurveda Yoga Health Advisor) 12 months Climb Ctr $18 – $25/hr, $37k – $52k/yr $2,800 Non-credit certificate, national certification option Direct patient contact Not competitive, Open enrollment

*Estimated cost may not include textbooks or additional fees based on credential requirements.