Training & Continuing Education
Portage Fire is built on the principle that great firefighters are made — not born. From day-one academy training through state-recognized officer certifications, every member sharpens their craft on duty, on the job, and at our own facilities.
01 / A Department Built on Training
The Portage Fire Department maintains instructors in every specialty of firefighting and Emergency Medical Services. We provide on-duty training to crews to maintain continuing education, and our firefighters seek additional education locally and nationally throughout the year. Our training mission extends beyond our own department — we participate in the local career fire academy serving 10 different departments across Northwest Indiana.
02 / Two Tracks, One Standard
Every Portage firefighter trains on two parallel tracks throughout their career: Emergency Medical Services and Fire Service. Each has its own certification standards, recurring requirements, and pathways to advanced credentials.
EMS Training
Every member of the Portage Fire Department is a certified paramedic — which means every member is held to the highest pre-hospital medical standards in the state. We invest in their ongoing education accordingly.
Fire Service Training
From recruit academy through senior officer certification, Portage firefighters train on company-level, department-level, and state-recognized programs to advance their skills and prepare for promotion.
03 / Emergency Medical Services Training
With every member required to become a certified paramedic, the bar for ongoing EMS education at Portage Fire is high — and the department backs it up with monthly in-house training.
The 80-Hour Requirement
Each Portage firefighter completes a minimum of 80 hours of EMS continuing education every two years to maintain paramedic certification with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. This is the floor — many members go well beyond it through advanced courses, specialty certifications, and instructor training.
Monthly EMS Recertification Classes
The department offers monthly training and recertification classes for the three core medical certifications every paramedic must keep current:
- ★ ACLS
- ★ PALS
- ★ BLS
ACLS
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support — high-acuity cardiac and stroke care, including advanced airway, dysrhythmia recognition, and post-arrest management.
PALS
Pediatric Advanced Life Support — emergency assessment and treatment of critically ill infants and children, including pediatric arrest and respiratory emergencies.
BLS
Basic Life Support — high-quality CPR, AED operation, choking management, and team-based resuscitation. The foundation of every prehospital response.
04 / Fire Service Training
Fire service training at Portage happens at three levels — company, department, and state certification. Each level builds on the last:
Company Training
Daily drills run by company officers — hose work, ladders, search drills, equipment checks. The repetitive baseline that keeps skills sharp shift to shift.
Department Training
Monthly all-hands training events — multi-company drills, structure fire scenarios, technical rescue evolutions, vehicle extrication, and special operations.
State Certification
Indiana-recognized certification courses delivered in-house, advancing members through the official career ladder from Firefighter I/II to senior officer ranks.
State Certification Classes Offered In-House
Portage Fire delivers a wide range of Indiana state-recognized certification courses on department time and at department facilities — saving members from having to take time off to attend regional academies. Available certification courses include:
Driver Operator — Pumper
Pump theory, hydraulics, water supply, and emergency vehicle driving for engine apparatus — the certification required to operate a Portage fire engine on emergency response.
Driver Operator — Aerial
Aerial apparatus operation, stabilization, positioning, and tactical aerial deployment. The advanced apparatus certification for operating ladder trucks safely on the fireground.
Fire Officer 1
Entry-level officer certification covering supervision, human resources fundamentals, community awareness, administration, inspection, investigation, emergency service delivery, health and safety.
Fire Officer 2
Advanced officer training — building on Fire Officer 1 with management, incident command, budgeting, and broader administrative responsibility.
NIMS
National Incident Management System — the standardized incident command framework used at every level of public safety, from local response to federal disaster operations.
Instructor 1
Indiana fire service instructor certification — qualifies members to deliver fire service training to other personnel within their department and regionally.
Instructor 2
Advanced instructor certification — extends Instructor 1 capabilities for those developing curriculum and teaching at higher organizational levels.
And Many More
Additional certification offerings rotate based on departmental needs and member career pathways. Talk to the Training Division about upcoming classes.
05 / Where Our Training Happens
When manning allows, many of Portage Fire’s state certification classes are held at the MAAC Foundation in Valparaiso — Northwest Indiana’s premier public safety training campus, featuring multi-story burn buildings, advanced rescue props, and classroom facilities purpose-built for fire and EMS education.
See current and upcoming classes at the MAAC Foundation →
Our In-House Training Is Department-Only
While we partner closely with the MAAC Foundation and other regional training organizations, the Portage Fire Department’s in-house training is not open to personnel from outside the department. Members from other agencies who are looking for Indiana state certification classes should consult the official state training portal.
Find available Indiana certification training on the Acadis Portal →
06 / Becoming an Instructor
Portage Fire actively develops its own instructors. Members who teach get paid for it, build their professional resumes, and shape the next generation of firefighters — including the recruits coming through our 11-week fire academy.
★ The Instructor Pay Program
Members who serve as instructors earn overtime pay for all teaching time — that’s straight 1.5× compensation for time spent in front of the classroom or on the training ground. Instructors also earn points toward a $500 annual instructor stipend, paid in addition to their regular compensation.
The instructor pathway is one of the most popular routes for members looking to deepen their expertise, build a teaching portfolio, and earn extra income. Many of our most respected senior officers came up through instructor ranks.
07 / The Regional Career Fire Academy
Portage Fire dedicates significant resources to the local career fire academy — a regional partnership involving 10 different fire departments in Northwest Indiana. Together, these departments share instructors, facilities, and curriculum to develop recruit firefighters across the region.
This regional commitment means Portage instructors don’t just teach our own members — they teach the broader Northwest Indiana fire service. It also means our recruits train alongside firefighters from other departments, building lasting professional relationships that pay dividends on mutual aid incidents for the rest of their careers.
08 / Training in Action
A look at Portage Fire training across disciplines — from extrication and saw work to forcible entry, EMS scenarios, and live structure exercises:
09 / Frequently Asked Questions
How much continuing education do Portage firefighters complete?
Because every member of the Portage Fire Department is required to be a certified paramedic, each firefighter completes a minimum of 80 hours of EMS continuing education every two years to maintain paramedic certification. This is in addition to ongoing fire training, company-level drills, and state-certification courses throughout the year.
Does Portage Fire offer ACLS, PALS, and BLS classes?
Yes. The Portage Fire Department offers monthly training and recertification classes in ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support), PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support), and BLS (Basic Life Support) — provided to every member to maintain their paramedic certification.
What fire service certifications can I earn at Portage?
Portage Fire delivers a range of Indiana state-recognized certification courses in-house, including Driver Operator Pumper, Driver Operator Aerial, Fire Officer 1, Fire Officer 2, NIMS, Instructor 1, Instructor 2, and many others. Course offerings rotate based on department needs and member career pathways, and we’re working to bring all state-level certifications in-house.
Do I get paid to train?
Yes. Department-led training happens during your normal work shift — you’re paid your regular rate to attend. When members serve as instructors, they earn overtime pay (1.5× rate) for all teaching time, plus points toward a $500 annual instructor stipend.
Does Portage train recruits from other departments?
Yes. Portage Fire is a partner in the regional career fire academy, which serves 10 different departments across Northwest Indiana. Our instructors teach across this regional partnership, which means our recruits train alongside firefighters from neighboring departments throughout their academy experience.
Can outside firefighters attend Portage in-house training?
No. Portage Fire’s in-house training is reserved for our own department members. Firefighters from other agencies looking for Indiana state certification training should consult the Acadis Portal for available statewide classes, or visit the MAAC Foundation for regional offerings.
Is training mandatory, or can I do extra outside the department?
The department provides extensive in-house training that meets all certification and recertification requirements. Many members also seek outside education locally and nationally — conferences, advanced specialty courses, and instructor development programs — throughout the year. The department supports both pathways, and continuing education is part of the culture.
Become a Better Firefighter Here.
Top-tier training, paid paramedic school, instructor pay, state certification pathways, and a department culture that puts continuous learning at the center of the profession.
View Our Hiring Process →