First Responders: Public Safety & Emergency Response
Career Pathway
Start prepping NOW for your dream job or work-anywhere trade skills!
Build a Strong Foundation in Public Safety and Emergency Response …and More
Do you have a desire to help others? Have you dreamed of helping people live healthier, safer lives? Be the hero in someone’s life by considering a career as a First Responder. The new First Responders: Public Safety & Emergency Response pathway will allow students to develop the skills needed for a career as a firefighter, EMT, or police officer, and many others. Jobs in these rewarding fields are in high demand in Ventura County and beyond! This pathway is a great opportunity to explore these careers while preparing you for college or training programs.
What You'll Learn
From 9th grade upward, enroll in A-G approved courses to start preparing for your career in the public safety & emergency response industry. Classes include:
- CTE Concentrator First Responders (Year 1)
- CTE Capstone First Responders (Year 2)
What You’ll Do
Take what you’re learning in the classroom into the real world and experience for yourself all that awaits you in the public safety & emergency response industry. Immersive and insightful experiences include:
- First Aid and CPR certification
- Field trips and job shadows to local police, fire, and EMT facilities and college programs
- Hands-on emergency response skills development
Who You Can Be
Kickstart your career path with top-tier academic instruction and industry-leader insights. The First Responders Pathway prepares you for potential careers such as:
- Firefighter
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) / Paramedic
- Police Officer
- Social Worker
Industry Average Wages: $60,000-$75,000+/Year
Projected Industry Growth: 10%-16%
What You Need to Know
VUSD’s First Responders Pathway provides students with the essential knowledge needed to prepare for a career in law enforcement, fire service, and/or emergency medical services. Courses include subjects such as analyzing and interpreting criminal codes, crime scene investigation, as well as Incident Command Systems, fire service / suppression, and First Aid/CPR certification.
The First Responders pathway is located at Buena High School and consists of two sequenced year-long courses, a concentrator followed by a capstone. This pathway is open to students from all VUSD high schools, space permitting, and transportation to BHS can be provided if needed.
This course includes regular collaboration with the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, Ventura Police Department, Ventura County Fire Department, local ambulance services agencies, Ventura County Probation Agency, and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
Once you have gained the skills and knowledge in this pathway, there are many options for your next steps after high school - some you can even begin pursuing before you graduate!
1 Year
Basic Law Enforcement Academy Certificate - Ventura College
Emergency Medical Services - Paramedic Studies Certificate - Ventura College
Medical Assistant Certificate - Ventura College
Fire Fighter I/II Certificate - Oxnard College
2 Year
Associate in Science for Transfer, Administration of Justice - Ventura College
Associate in Science, EMS Paramedic Studies - Ventura College
Associate in Science, Fire Technology - Oxnard College
4 Year
Bachelor of Science, Nursing - California State University Channel Islands
Bachelor of Science, Criminology & Justice Studies - California State University Northridge
Bachelor of Science, Forest & Fire Sciences - Cal Poly San Luis Obispo