Firefighters are courageous, resilient, and dedicated to protecting lives. With Oakton College’s Basics of Fire Fighting Certificate, you’ll gain the skills to join these everyday heroes.
This 12-credit program provides a solid foundation in fire behavior, prevention and safety principles. Prepare to meet firefighter requirements and thrive in a challenging yet rewarding career. With hands-on training, you’ll develop problem-solving skills, physical strength, and teamwork—key traits of successful firefighters.
The courses in this certificate can also be applied towards the Fire Science Technology Certificate and the Fire Science Technology A.A.S.
The Basics of Fire Fighting is a great place to begin your journey in this field.
Firefighting offers a purposeful career with excellent benefits and career advancement opportunities.
There are six requirements for participation in the clinical component of the EMT program:
1. Confidential Medical History Form (PDF) (79 KB)
2. Health Career Physical Examination Report (PDF) (94 KB)
3. Tuberculosis (TB) Skin Test or Blood Test
4. Documentation of Vaccination or Immunity: MMR & Varicella
5. Hepatitis B Vaccine Status or Signed Declination Form (PDF) (69 KB)
6. Flu Vaccine (except summer session)
Download Medical Requirements for the EMT Program (PDF) (266 KB)
Enrolling at Oakton College can save you thousands of dollars and help you earn more over the course of your career. Our tuition is among the lowest in the region, and we offer many ways to bring your costs down even more.
99 percent of Oakton students graduate without debt.
To help you get there, you can apply for a scholarship, which you don’t have to pay back. We award $12 million in scholarships annually. Financial Aid includes grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance that can reduce your costs of attending college.
We offer payment options that give you control over how you pay. Pay all at once or spread your payments over the course of the semester.
Learn more about your options for paying for your education
Spencer Kimura, Chair
Chair, Fire Science Technologies
M.S. National Louis University
Executive Fire Officer
Chief Fire Officer
Chief Training Officer
MIFireE
skimura@oakton.edu
847.635.1827
Office: P253, Skokie
Aref Abdellatif
EMT Coordinator
aabdellatif@oakton.edu
847.376.7890
Office: B206, Skokie
Mike Doocy
Paramedic Coordinator
mdoocy@oakton.edu
847.376.7887
Office: B206, Skokie
Meet our part time faculty:
Peter Chiodo
Lecturer
pchiodo@oakton.edu
847.635.1910
Office: B206, Skokie
Pete Goss
Lecturer
pgoss@oakton.edu
847.635.1910
Office: B206, Skokie
Drew Smith
Lecturer
dsmith@oakton.edu
847.635.1910
Office: B206, Skokie
EMS Advisory Committee One
IDPH EMS Region IX
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital EMS
EMS System Advisory Committee
Margaret Drag, RN, BSN, Paramedic
Paramedic Program Director
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
David Hassard, MD
EMS Medical Director
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
Robyn Mazzolini, RN, BSN, TNS
EMS System Coordinator
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
Delilah Mendez, RN, BSN, MPH, TNS
Manager, Trauma Department and Outpatient Clinic
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge
EMS Advisory Committee Two
IDPH EMS Region X
Prime Healthcare Saint Francis Hospital
EMS System Advisory Committee
Sara Van Dusseldorp, NRP, CCP LI, NCEE
Paramedic Program Director
St. Francis Hospital
Jeremy Lott, DO
EMS Medical Director
St Francis Hospital
Ex-Officio Members:
Ruben Howard II, Ph.D.
Dean of Business and Career Technologies Division
Oakton College
Spencer Kimura, MS., EFO., CFO., CTO., MIFireE
Fire Science Program Chair, Professor
Oakton College
Fire Advisory Committee
Matt Matzl, Fire Chief
Des Plaines Fire Department
Paul Polep, Fire Chief
Evanston Fire Department
Tony DeRose, Fire Chief
Glenview Fire Department
Barry Liss, Fire Chief
Lincolnwood Fire Department
Ralph Ensign, Fire Chief
Morton Grove Fire Department
Robert McKay, Fire Chief
North Maine Fire Department
Mike Nystrand, Fire Chief
Northfield Fire Department
Martin C. Feld, Fire Chief
Niles Fire Department
David Schweihs, Fire Chief
Northbrook Fire Department
Jill Ramaker, MScTRM, Executive Director
Northeastern IL Public Safety Academy
Jeffrey Sorensen, Fire Chief
Park Ridge Fire Department
Jeffrey Hoeflich, Fire Chief
Skokie Fire Department
Brian Lambel, Fire Chief
Wilmette Fire Department
John Ripka, Fire Chief
Winnetka Fire Department
Ex-Officio Members:
Ruben Howard II, Ph.D.
Dean of Business & Career Technologies Division
Oakton College
Spencer Kimura, MS., EFO., CFO., CTO., MIFireE
Fire Science Program Chair, Professor
Oakton College
Licensure Requirements: Each state and territory has different licensure and certification requirements. Oakton has researched and/or contacted state licensing authorities to confirm that the program meets the educational requirements leading to professional licensure. Other licensure requirements may include professional certification exams, background checks, years of work experience, fingerprinting, etc.
Licensure information is reviewed and updated on this site in June of each year. Licensure information is reviewed and updated on this site in June of each year. As of June 1, 2023, we have determined that individuals that successfully complete Oakton’s Emergency Medical Technician Basic and Paramedic Program curriculum:
Meets the education requirements leading to licensure/certification in these states and U.S. Territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin
Does NOT meet the education requirements For licensure/certification in these states and U.S. Territories: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington
We have not made a determination if the program curriculum meets the requirements for licensure/certification in these states and US Territories: American Samoa, California, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming
If you intend to practice in any state other than Illinois, you should contact the appropriate licensing agency to independently verify whether Oakton’s program satisfies the educational requirements for licensure in a particular state before beginning Oakton’s program. Be aware that state licensure requirements may change from time-to-time and that states may have conditions for licensure in addition to educational requirements.
