All EMTs are certified by the State of Oregon. The City of Portland does not take applications in advance of an open recruitment. Applications are only available during the active recruitment process. They do not anticipate opening their recruitment for the position of firefighter before 2002. The goal of Portland Fire's Training and Safety Division is to make sure firefighters have the skills and strength to perform their jobs and not hurt themselves in the process.
Training begins when a firefighter is first hired.
In alignment with the Bureau's goals to diversify the work force, Portland Fire's Training and Safety Division designed the Trainee Program, which works to develop the skills of underrepresented classes and help bring them into the Fire Bureau. The goal is to certify these candidates as EMT Basic, bring them up to the strenuous physical fitness level required and involve them in public service, such as installing smoke detectors for citizens.