Healthcare and Emergency Professions at PCC
Discover 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.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Eye Technician | 12 months | Cascade & Hybird | $19 – $24/hr, $39k – $50k/yr | $13,000 | Credit, 1yr certificate | Direct patient contact | Not 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 |
| 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 | $22 – $30/hr, $46k – $62k/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.