AMERICAN HEART PROGRAM

LifeForce USA is a BLS Community Training Center of the American Heart Association, New Jersey Region. The American Heart Association strongly promotes knowledge and proficiency in BLS, ACLS, and PALS and has developed instructional materials for this purpose. Use of these materials in an educational course does not represent course sponsorship by the American Heart Association, and any fees charged for this course do not represent income to the Association.

BLS (Basic Life Support) for Health Care Providers and Professional Rescuers-On Campus

This course will provide training for adult, child, and infant CPR. Learn one and two rescuers CPR, rescue breathing, and skills for conscious and unconscious choking victims.

• Participants will also learn how to use barrier devices and AED.
• All participants will receive an American Heart Association card valid for 2 years.
• Participants must be at least 16 years old

Offered:  9/28

Cost: $115

Heartsaver Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) / Automated External Defibrillation (AED)-On Campus

The Heartsaver CPR/AED course consists of the following skills: CPR for adult, child, and infant victims; first aid for conscious and unconscious choking victims; use of AED; and the use of barrier devices. This course is intended for lay-rescuers, workplace programs, fitness professionals, teachers and coaches, and babysitters, etc. This course fulfills the CPR/AED requirement of Personal Training Certification.

All participants will receive an American Heart Association card valid for 2 years.

Participants must be at least 16 years old.

Offered:  10/13

Cost: $115

Hsi adult first aid

The HSI Adult First Aid helps students develop Basic First Aid knowledge, skills and the confidence to respond to various medical emergencies. The program is an excellent choice for both the community and workplace setting, and conforms to the 2020 AHA and ARC Guidelines Update for First Aid.    

This course teaches how to recognize signs and symptoms of and care for many various musculoskeletal injuries, wounds, and sudden illnesses.  The topics that will be covered and skills practiced for include:    

• Soft tissue injuries  –  Open and Closed wounds.    
• How to prevent and/or care for infection and shock.    
• Special situations, such as impaled objects, and injuries to the head and face.    
• Burns  –  Heat, chemical, and electrical.    
• Musculoskeletal injuries  –  Bone fractures, joint and muscle sprains, and dislocations.    
• Injuries to the chest, abdomen, and pelvis.    
• Sudden illness  –  Diabetic emergencies, seizures, stroke, and heart attack.    
• Poisoning, bites, and stings.    
• Heat and cold related emergencies.    
• Bloodborne pathogens.    
• Spinal Injuries –  Movement of injured person when necessary    

This course is intended for individuals who are not healthcare providers or professional rescuers but desire, or are required, to be certified in basic emergency medical care.    

Upon successful completion of the course, an HSI Adult First Aid certification card will be issued. The card will contain an access code for a digital book and app on your mobile devices.    

Offered:  11/16

Cost: $115

Available Classes

public safety & emergency services

Mercer County Community College offers a full complement of programs to start you on your path to a career in Public Safety. Our Public Safety programs make us a leader in the region for education, training and state certifications for public safety careers.

New Jersey State Certification Programs 

• Emergency Medical Technician: Certification though the NJ Department of Health after passing the NREMT exam
• 9-1-1 Basic & Emergency Medical Dispatcher: Certification through the NJ Office of Telecommunications 
• Firefighter: Certification through the NJ Division of Fire Safety.  For more information, visit: https://dftc.mccc.edu/
  • (Students must belong to a volunteer, career or industrial fire department) 
• SORA (Security Officer Registrtion Act): Certification issued by NJ State Police (NJSP)        

Associate Degree Programs

• Fire Science Technology Degree (coursesheld  at the Mercer County Fire Academy)
  • Associate in Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.): https://mccc.edu/fire/ 
• Criminal Justice Degree (courses held at the MCCC West Windsor Campus)
  • Corrections option - Associate in Science Degree (A.S.): https://mccc.edu/crj/
  • Law Enforcement option - Associate in Science Degree (A.S.): https://mccc.edu/crj/  

Emergency medical technician (EMT) - Basic

National REgistry EMT Certification Exam Prep (hybrid) 

Spring 2027 Registration opens Monday, November 2, 2026 @ 11:00 am.

ONLY COMPLETE application packets will be reviewed in the order they are received. Applicants who submit incomplete application packets will lose their place in the queue, and must resubmit it. Please refer to "Application & Registration Process" below, and note that note seat availability is limited as class size is mandated by State law.

Offered by:
Mercer County Fire Academy
Penn Medicine Princeton Health

This hybrid Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-Basic) course combines assigned coursework, self-study, interactive lectures, hands-on simulation labs, and clinical rotations.

Students will learn:

• Human anatomy & physiology
• Pathophysiology
• Patient assessment techniques
• Management of medical and trauma patients
• Administration of limited medications
• Care considerations for special patient populations

⚠️ Important: This is a 225-hour + 10 hour hospital time, labor-intensive course. Successful completion requires meeting the minimum competency levels outlined in the National EMS Educational Standards.

Upon successful completion, students are eligible to sit for the National Registry EMT Certification Exam. 

Instructor:

Barbara Vaning
EMS Coordinator, Mercer County Fire Academy

📧 Email: barbara.vaning@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Course Location:

Dempster Fire Training Center
350 Lawrence Station Rd.
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 

Eligibility: 

• Minimum age: 16 years old to register for the course and take the exam
  • EMT certification issued at 18 years old with HS Diploma or GED 

Application & Registration Process:

Step 1: Download and COMPLETE the following prior to Step 2

• Hospital Time Clearance Form

• Health Care Provider-Level BLS Certification
  You must hold a current Health Care Provider-Level BLS Certification that remains valid for the full duration of the course.

Step 2: Upload the following documents

• Hospital Time Clearance Form 
• Health Care Provider-Level BLS Certification

Online Application Form will be available HERE on Monday, November 2, 2026 @ 11:00 am.

ONLY COMPLETE application packets will be reviewed in the order they are received. Applicants who submit incomplete application packets will lose their place in the queue, and must resubmit it. Please refer to "Application & Registration Process" below, and note that note seat availability is limited as class size is mandated by State law. 

Step 3: Students will receive a decision within approximately 7–10 business days. Accepted students will be sent a form to complete registration. Full payment is required at the time of registration. Waitlisted students will also be notified of their status.

Note for Sponsored Students: If your tuition is being paid by an employer or organization you may indicate this on the form.

Attendance & Coursework:

• Attend ALL sessions

  • The student and parent/guardian where appropriate acknowledge that they are aware of the expectation of 100% attendance for this course as required by the State of NJ, have reviewed the schedule, and they intend to attend all course sessions listed.

  • If a student misses a class, a make-up session will be scheduled at the availability of the instructors. Students understand they must attend the first make-up session following their missed class. There may be a fee associated with make-up sessions to compensate the instructors for their additional time required. 

• Maintain minimum 20 hours/week of online coursework.

Supplies (not included in course cost):

• Stethoscope
• B/P Cuff
• Penlight
• Required textbook (purchase link will be emailed to student after registration)

Cost: $2,100 (does not include cost of textbook, supplies, or exam)

Date/s:

• Spring: 1/4/27 - 5/19/27

Time/s:

• Summer: 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m
• Fall: 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
• Spring: 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Schedule/s: Spring 2027

Registration Process: Please have the following ready and available prior to Step 1 -

• Current BLS Card
  • You must hold a current Health Care Provider-Level BLS Certification that remains valid for the full duration of the course.
    A student shall not be permitted to attend a session, including hybrid didactic, without proof of a valid CPR certification recognized by the Department. Proof of certification shall be retained within the student file. 
  • List of approved BLS Certifications: CPR Approved Certifications 5_3_2024.pdf 
• EMT Number

Step 1: Click on the following link to complete your application -  MCCC EMT Refresher: (A, B, and/or C) Course Application

Step 2: Complete registration and payment online at - MCCC Online Registration

The following are the required Refresher classes for NJ EMTs. Each Refresher is approved for .8 CEUs.

Location: Class meets at Dempster, Mercer County Fire Academy, 350 Lawrence Station Road, Lawrenceville, NJ - 08648

Schedule: Fall 2026

EMT REFRESHER A - Airway Assessment and Management

COMPETENCIES  

Station 1:  

Student can identify proper application and use of:  

• Oral airway (adult, pediatric, infant patients)  
• Nasal airway (adult patients)  
• Suction airway (adult, pediatric, infant patients)  
• One-rescuer BVM ventilation (adult, pediatric, infant patients)  

Station 2: 

Student can properly:  

• Place O2 cylinder into service (safely and without leaks)  
• Assist ALS with CPAP (apply device to patient's face, connect circuit to CPAP generator)  
• Assist ALS by assembling the nebulizer, connecting to oxygen regulator, use of local protocols  
• Demonstrate use of nasal cannula, non-rebreather, simple and Venturi tasks  

Station 3:  

Student shall perform the following properly:  

• Size up scene, perform primary and secondary assessments, obtain vital signals  
• Prepare verbal and written patient care report  

Scenario Skills Evaluation:  

• One shall be a pediatric patient and one shall be an adult patient  
• Team of two or three EMTs  
• Proper equipment and realistic scenario describing the circumstances of the patient's injury/illness. 

Cost: $100

Offered: Click on the "Available Classes" button below and enter “NCEMT" in the course code field.

EMT Refresher B - Medical Assessment and Management  

COMPETENCIES  

Station 1:  

Student can identify proper application of:  

• CPR for adult, pediatric and infant patients in accordance with the 2010 AHA Emergency Cardiovascular Care guidelines  
• CPR using a mechanical CPR device in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines  

Station 2:

Student can identify proper application and use of:  

• Patient-assisted medications (nitro, epi-auto injector, meter dose inhaler, aspirin, glucose)  
• A medical patient assessment  

Station 3: 

Student shall appropriately demonstrate assisting with:  

• Abnormal cephalic delivery and a complicated delivery
• Post-delivery care  

Scenario Skills Evaluation:  

• One shall be a pediatric patient and one shall be an adult patient  
• Team of two or three EMTs  
• Proper equipment and realistic scenario describing the circumstances of the patient’s illness  
• Properly perform a complete patient assessment, including vital signs and HPI, to critically decide on appropriate patient management using oxygen administration, airway adjuncts and patient prescribed medication  
• CPR  
• Properly and safely transfer a patient to a carrying device (i.e., stair chair, flexible stretcher, blanket, etc.), then to a stretcher, and finally loaded and secured within the ambulance 

Cost: $100

Offered: Click on the "Available Classes" button below andenter “NCEMT" in the course code field.

EMT Refresher C -  Trauma Assessment and Management 

COMPETENCIES  

Station 1:  

Student shall correctly determine when and how to perform pediatric immobilization (commercial device, in car seat–intact and compromised)  

Station 2:  

Student shall properly perform:  

• Securing a trauma patient via standing backboard, using C-collar, spider straps, quick clips, cravats  
• Helmet removal  
• Securing, lifting and moving the adult and special population geriatric patient  

Station 3:  

Student shall perform the correct management technique for:  

• Closed soft tissue injury (RICES), open soft tissue injury, open chest wound, open abdominal wound, impaled object, burns, tourniquets  
• Stabilizing injuries using rigid splints, air splint, vacuum splint, traction splint, MAST  

Station 4: 

Student shall perform the correct technique and verbalize the correct indications for:  

• Spinal immobilization using a vest-style device and C-collar  
• Rapid extrication  

Scenario Skills Evaluation:  

• One shall be a pediatric patient and one shall be an adult patient  
• Team of two or three EMTs  
• Proper equipment and realistic scenario describing the circumstances of the patient’s injuries  
• Properly perform a complete patient assessment, including vital signs and HPI, to critically decide on appropriate patient management using O2 administration (proper device), airway adjuncts, splinting, bandaging and movement from a carrying device (i.e., stair chair, flexible stretcher, long board, vest-type device, scoop-style stretcher, etc.) to securing on a stretcher, and properly loading the patient into the ambulance

Cost: $100  

Offered: Click on the "Available Classes" button below and enter “NCEMT" in the course code field.

Available Classes

NECI 9-1-1 basic dispatcher

9-1-1 Officer National Certification prep. & exam

This National Emergency Communications Institute (NECI ) 9-1-1 Officer Basic Dispatcher national certification (40 hours) course will provide students with basic skills and knowledge in public safety communications needed to work as a Basic 911 Dispatcher. Students must successfully pass a written exam and practical exam in order to receive certification. This course is approved by the State of New Jersey Office of Telecommunications Services. Attendance at all sessions is MANDATORY. 

Prerequisites & Requirements :  

• Must be a minimum of 18 years of age to register and take this course.
• HS diploma or GED. 

Cost: $400

Offered: Click on the "Available Classes" button below 

Course Days & Times: 

 Note/s:

• Texbook will be provided. 

Location: Class meets at Dempster Fire Training Center, 350 Lawrence Station Rd., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648  

emergency medical dispatcher

(Required for any dispatcher who will answer 9-1-1 medical calls)

This course is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Emergency Medical Dispatch National Standard Curriculum (32 hours). This course is designed to provide dispatchers with the necessary information and skills to function as an EMD. This course will provide students with the secondary level of certification that is required for any officer or dispatcher who will answer 9-1-1 medical calls. Students will gain knowledge and skills to be an Emergency Medical Dispatcher. Students must successfully pass a written exam and practical exam in order to receive certification. Attendance at all sessions is MANDATORY.

Prerequisites & Requirements :  

• Must be a minimum of 18 years of age to register and take this course.
• All students must obtain a BLS Care Provider Level CPR card prior to the start of the class and must maintain same throughout the course and certification process.
• 911 Basic Dispatcher Certification or enrollment in NECI 911 Basic Dispatcher course the week of 5/13/25.
• HS diploma or GED. 

Cost: $375

Offered: Click on the "Available Classes" button below 

Course Day & Times: 

Note/s:

• Texbook will be provided

Location: Class meets at Dempster, Mercer County Fire Academy, 350 Lawrence Station Rd., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648  

Available Classes

Community Health Worker- Remote 

Prerequisites: H.S. Diploma or equivalent

A clear understanding of written and spoken English.

This 144-hour Community Health Worker (CHW) program is designed to prepare students to serve as a liaison between communities, health care systems, and state health departments. This course will assist workers in achieving competency in addressing the needs of high-risk or at-risk populations (those with multiple chronic conditions, premature birth), identifying and addressing social determinants of health, reducing hospital readmissions and emergency department (ED) over usage, and providing direct services.

14.4 CEU

Class will be held on Tuesday and Thursdays from 2/17-4/14

Cost $2,355

Available Classes

Fire Protection Inspector ICS

instructor-led, remote

This program will consist of 120 hours covering the administrative, plan review, and inspection requirements for passive and active fire protection systems; use and occupancy classification, fire-rated assemblies, and means of egress for Class II and Class III structures.

Offered: Fall

CEUs: 12.0

Cost: $1,650 (does not include textbook/s or exam/s)

Textbook/s: IRC, IBC, IMC, IFGC ( https://shop.iccsafe.org/) and NFPA 13, NFPA 72 ( https://www.nfpa.org/)  

Fire Protection Inspector HHS

instructor-Led, remote

Prerequisite: Fire Protection Inspector ICS

This course covers advanced fire protection requirements pursuant to the Uniform Construction Code with a specialty in high-rise and hazardous structures (HHS): Fire Protection Inspectors HHS are authorized to review plans and carry out field inspection activities for structures in classes 1, 2, and 3.

Offered: Spring

CEUs: 6.0 

Cost: $825 (does not include textbook/s or exam/s)

Textbook/s: IRC, IBC, IMC, IFGC ( https://shop.iccsafe.org/) and NFPA 13, NFPA 72 ( https://www.nfpa.org/)  

Available Classes

Security Officer Training 

All contract security personnel in New Jersey must complete   SORA (Security Officer Registration Act) certification. The process must be finished within   30 days.

✔️  SORA Certification Steps

Eligibility Requirements

You must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a valid government-issued photo ID
• Pass a criminal background check (no disqualifying convictions) 

How to Get Certified

Step 1: Complete Training

• Enroll in a   24-hour SORA Initial training course  (click on the " Available Classes " button below to register)
• Confirm the course is running about 1 week before it is scheduled to start and then proceed to the next steps 

Step 2: Register with NJ State Police

• Apply online:   https://eapps.njsp.org
• Use a   desktop/laptop with Microsoft Edge
• Create an account and submit the   “unarmed” application
• Pay the   $75 non-refundable fee  (credit or debit card required)

➡️ You’ll receive a   6-digit Application ID  (required to schedule your fingerprinting and valid for 30 days) 

Step 3: Schedule Fingerprinting

• Schedule your appointment with   IdentoGO  (link provided in your application, in step 2)
• Select   “unarmed” certification
• Pay the fingerprinting fee at your appointment

Note: A valid government-issued photo ID is required at each step of the process

Security officer initial training (sora-new jersey)

Launch your career as a certified security officer with our comprehensive 24-hour Security Officer Initial Training course, fully aligned with the New Jersey Security Officer Registration Act (SORA). This program delivers essential legal, ethical, and operational instruction to prepare you for the real-world demands of the security profession.

Throughout the course, you’ll gain a clear understanding of the security officer’s role, legal authority under SORA, professional conduct and ethics, incident response procedures, public safety responsibilities, and the laws governing private security services.

Upon successful completion, you will meet the mandatory SORA training requirement and be equipped with the knowledge and skills to perform your duties professionally and responsibly. Whether you are new to the field or looking to strengthen your credentials, this course provides a solid foundation for success in New Jersey’s security industry.

Course Completion Requirements

To pass, you must:

• Attend all sessions
• Actively participate in class discussions and practical exercises
• Pass exam/assessments (minimum score: 70%)
• Demonstrate an understanding of SORA regulations and security procedures

Certification & ID Card

• You'll receive a Certificate of Completion  after passing
• Once all steps are complete (training, application, fingerprinting), you'll get an email from NJSP when your  digital SORA ID   card is ready 

Offered: Click on the  "Available Classes"  button below,  then enter  “NCSFY"  in the  course code  field.

Cost: $395 (does not include Application or Fingerprinting fees)

Textbook: n/a

Requirement/s: See above

Available Classes