Northern College Emergency Services

Designed for current and aspiring disaster management professionals, Northern’s one-year Emergency Management graduate certificate will give you the comprehensive skills you’ll need to manage operations during a major catastrophe. Along with in-depth courses in disaster recovery, intelligence fundamentals, cybersecurity and AI, you’ll be immersed in a curriculum that has risk assessment, crisis communication, and legislative frameworks at its core.

And then—thanks to Northern’s Advanced Disaster Management Simulator (ADMS)— you’ll practice effective and holistic protocols for just about every imaginable disaster—all in a virtual 3D environment.

It all adds up to you claiming a leadership role alongside government agencies, community stakeholders, and private partners—in a dynamic industry that’s evolving with every new challenge we face.

In partnership with Laurentian University, Northern’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) degree will prepare you to thrive in a multi-disciplinary healthcare environment. It will also give you the critical expertise, problem-solving skills, and bedside manner that will allow you to intervene when patients need you most.

Northern’s Medical Laboratory Technician diploma will set you up with the knowledge and expertise you need to take charge of the lab.

Along with an overview of applied anatomy, physiology, microbiology and chemistry, you’ll learn specimen collection and processing. You’ll master the various tests and equipment used to measure vital signs. And you’ll develop the professional bedside manner that’s so critical for close patient contact. Thanks to comprehensive simulations in our state-of-the-art medical lab, you’ll get all the practice you need. Plus, you’ll get experience at various local laboratories as part of your placement. It all adds up to a smooth transition to the workplace, and a rewarding career in a hospital, research lab, private or public clinic, and beyond.

In just one year, Northern’s Personal Support Worker (PSW) program will have you out in the field, providing the vital long-term care that forms the backbone of community service and wellbeing. In the classroom—and in our state-of-the-art practice labs—you’ll develop a solid code of ethics, hone your communication skills, and master the medical terminology and care protocols you’ll need on the job. And—in a program that fosters awareness, sensitivity and respect for every individual’s unique needs—you will develop a polished approach. This will help you prepare for the close relationships you will develop. It all wraps up with a placement in a long-term care facility, and a valuable certificate that’s your gateway to a rewarding career.

Thanks to Northern’s two-year Practical Nursing (PN) diploma, you’ll be ready to start the healthcare career you’ve always dreamed of. You’ll learn about the diagnostic process and the role of education in promoting health and wellness. You’ll hone your communication and leadership skills. And—from minor scrapes to complex health challenges, and even palliative care—you’ll gradually develop a holistic approach to nursing. As a graduate, you will have developed the capacity to provide care and comfort patients with varying conditions at all stages of life. At every step along the way, you’ll practice new skills within our state-of-the-art training facility. And you’ll top it all off with an eight-week placement that marks the official start to your career as a caring and competent health care professional.

With Northern’s graduate certificate in Health Care Management, you’ll be ready to take on a leadership role in just about any healthcare environment.

Leveraging your existing credentials, this one-year program provides an overview of the complex management and delivery systems we rely on. And then—by fostering effective leadership and problem-solving techniques, you can optimize day-to-day operations and outcomes for all stakeholders.

You’ll master the core concepts of care— including ethics, safety, and patient rights. You’ll learn the fundamentals of anatomy, medical terminology, and the IT systems that operate in healthcare environments. And finally—before you go onto a career with a consulting firm, nursing home, hospital, clinic, or public health department—you’ll wrap up everything you’ve learned with a custom project that focuses on leadership in healthcare.

Northern’s Pre-Service Firefighter program is in a class of its own. And thanks to our state-of-the-art training facility and unique partnership with Timmins Fire Department, you’ll have access to all the infrastructure and equipment of a working fire station.

Plus—featuring a blend of labs, field placements, and vocational courses—you’ll graduate from this one-year program in peak performance and prepared to take on any challenge.

From rope rescues and breaking down doors to complex live-burn scenarios in our own burn building, the curriculum continuously tests your composure and stretches your adaptability.

You’ll work in confined spaces, strategize plans of attack, and function as part of a multidisciplinary team.

You can even practice as a volunteer firefighter in the real world. And finally, master all your new skills during an immersive six-week handson program featuring fire and rescue evolution training.