Adult Education Programs Loyalton, CA | Our Programs | Sierra County Schools for Adults

All of the Career Technical Education (CTE) courses offered by Sierra County Schools for Adults are non-credit courses and will align with the Feather River College career pathway degree and certificate programs. We have taken the time to work with industry specialists to ensure that our courses are approved through the correct state and federal agencies, preparing all participants who complete our programs to master the skills required for immediate employment anywhere in the USA and its territories.

Upon completion, students are provided a certificate by the school that indicates the skills that were mastered and the hours spent on didactic instruction, lab skill-building, and internships. If there is a local, state, or federal examination that is required for licensure, we assist with the enrollment or registry to acquire the necessary documents to be work-ready. SCSA will also host the exams with industry proctors if possible. If the student’s goal includes transitioning to post-secondary education or an apprenticeship program, we provide a warm welcome to that next step on the career pathway.

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Program: Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

SCSA currently offers all levels of EMT training and certificates. All students complete the testing for the National Registry. Our classes are offered in Loyalton. Our EMS courses, curriculum, and instructors are certified by NorCal EMS and listed on the California EMS site as a registered training agency. We are also listed with the Workforce Alliance as an official location for all EMS training.

SCSA is also certified by NorCal EMS as an agency to provide continuing education units (CEUs) for all first responders and healthcare providers in EMS courses that we offer.

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (Basic), and Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) are the current courses we provide. They run on a varied schedule so that candidates can complete the series in a year’s time.

The National Registry for Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) has combined the psychomotor portion of the national registry testing procedures into the written exam; therefore, taking a second psychomotor portion is no longer necessary. (Effective January 2025)

We have two facilities that we can offer classes from: Downieville–105 School Street, Downieville, CA (at the Downieville School) and Loyalton — 605 School Street, Loyalton, CA (next to the old middle school). We are offering a blended format of online interactive for the didactic portion and in-person for the skills. All finals are given on a Saturday at the Loyalton location.

There is a clinical and patient contact component that is required and separate from the time in class that all participants are required to complete on their own time. The agencies we are currently contracted with for the clinical are Eastern Plumas Health Care (EPHC) in Portola and Enloe in Chico. It is the STUDENTS responsibility to ensure they reach out and connect with the agency they chose and complete the requirements prior to course completion.

Course: Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)

Prerequisites: Current CPR Card

Requirements: 95% attendance; 80% minimum on all formal assessments; minimum 12 hours prep reading prior to class; 84 hours didactic and skills instruction and testing

The Emergency Responder course is a basic-level course that prepares the EMR student to provide emergency pre-hospital assessment and care for patients of all ages with a variety of medical conditions and traumatic injuries. A valid CPR card is provided as part of the study of this course, as well as an introduction to emergency medical services systems, the roles and responsibilities of EMRs, anatomy and physiology, medical emergencies, trauma, and special considerations for working in the pre-hospital setting. This course is often a precursor to further education in the EMS, paramedic, and nursing fields. A certificate of completion from SCSA accompanies successful completion of the course. This level of training does not have a National Registry testing component.

Upcoming Class:

EMR Class: May 11th-June 6, 2026. Mondays and Thursdays 4:00pm-6:00pm. This is a hybrid course with all instruction online. June 6th will be the skills testing day. First time EMR’s will have lab practice days.

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Course: Emergency Medical Technician (Basic)

Prerequisites: Current CPR Card

Requirements: 95% attendance; 80% minimum on all formal assessments; minimum 15 hours prep reading prior to class; 24 hours of clinical and 10 ambulance patient contact; 170 hours didactic instruction; 42 hours of skills instruction on Saturdays

The Emergency Medical Technician Basic (EMTb) course prepares the EMT student to provide pre-hospital assessment and care for patients of all ages with a variety of medical conditions and traumatic injuries. Areas of study include an introduction to emergency medical services systems, the roles and responsibilities of EMTs, anatomy and physiology, medical emergencies, trauma, special considerations for working in the pre-hospital setting, and providing patient transportation. Candidates must have a current CPR card when registering for this course.

Upcoming Classes:

EMT Basic Course: January 26th–May 9th, 2026. Monday and Thursday 5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.; Saturday 9:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

EMT Refresher Course: Refresher Course: Blended Class: April 13th-May 9th, 2026. A portion of this class is virtual. The skills portion of this course is in person on Saturday, May 9th, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

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Course: Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT)

Prerequisites: Current CPR Card; Current EMT license

Requirements: 95% attendance; 80% minimum on all formal assessments; minimum 15 hours prep reading prior to class; 40 hours clinical and 15 ambulance patient contact; 170 hours didactic instruction; 42 hours of skills instruction on Saturdays

The Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) course prepares the AEMT student to provide pre-hospital assessment and care for patients of all ages with a variety of medical conditions and traumatic injuries. Areas of study include an introduction to emergency medical services systems, the roles and responsibilities of AEMTs, anatomy and physiology, medical emergencies, trauma, special considerations for working in the pre-hospital setting, and providing patient transportation.

The school provides the proctor for the psychomotor portion of the National Registry testing for AEMT, and it is the student’s responsibility to register and complete the written portion. That component can be taken at either school location in the computer lab.

Our EMS courses are accepted by Feather River College as part of the prerequisite classes for the CNA, LVN, and RN programs.

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Course: CPR

SCSA offers two CPR courses for healthcare professionals: the initial certification, which is four hours, and the two-hour recertification classes, which cover all of the required skills necessary for CNAs, LVNs, and in-home health providers. In addition, SCSA offers a community Heart Saver CPR/AED/First Aid class that is seven hours long and is renewed biannually.

REGISTRATION BY PHONE ONLY. Weekly CPR classes are being offered as needed by demand. Contact us for more information.

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Program: Paramedic Academy

We are currently in the advanced planning stages of opening a paramedic academy. This will be a 15-month program with full certification and licensure upon completion. Please stay tuned for further updates as we get closer to implementation.

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Program: GoTeach

Sierra County Schools for Adults, in partnership with Sierra Nevada Children’s Services (SNCS) and First Five Children’s Services, offers a three-year mentoring and coaching support program for new and current professionals in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) career pathway.

The purpose of this course is to provide multi-year support in a variety of ways for new recruits into ECE, giving them the opportunity to see if this is something they wish to pursue professionally. We also offer support to current professionals to improve and increase skills, provide feedback, provide stipends for additional education, assist with the licensing process, and many other items. Currently, GoTeach is in full swing in the Loyalton area, working with the local licensed providers.

We are expanding into the Downieville and Ridge areas of Sierra County and will be focusing on a different childcare provider population. We will be providing support and training to the license-exempt providers in an attempt to create a pool of child care providers in the area that does not currently exist.

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Program: Hospitality Industry Boot camps

SCSA has partnered with the Sierra County Visitors Bureau, several businesses, and the North/Far North Hospitality Industry Director to be able to offer two industry-vetted boot camps. Upon completion, the expectation is that the participants can effectively work the front-end part of the resort business as well as have a firm foundation in the 21st century skills that employers are requesting that all potential employee candidates possess and/or be able to work in any commercial kitchen safely and effectively. We modified the Guest Services boot camp to be Sierra County-centric, focusing on the activities and attractions that Sierra County has to offer visitors and tourists to our area. Participants have the ability to earn a variety of area-specific digital skill badges that become part of their resume and transfer to any employer in the hospitality industry.

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Course: Guest Services Boot camp

This is a five-day, 12-hour intensive boot camp focused on the 21st Century Skills curriculum. This boot camp fosters a wide variety of employability skills, including communication, self-awareness, empathy, and others. Daily lessons also emphasize and explore local knowledge from a “guest ambassador” standpoint. The course places a heavy emphasis on group discussions, activities, and role-playing from the perspective of a “front-line” guest service position in the hospitality industry.

Upon completion, the participant will receive a certificate from SCSA outlining the skills mastered in the boot camp and one or more ICAN industry certificate(s) for completed online courses completed concurrently. This boot camp will align with the Feather River College Culinary Arts degree program.

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Course: USDA Approved Butchery Course

In partnership with UNR Extension, Sierra County Schools for Adults will be offering a

40-hour certificated course in USDA harvesting processes and meat cutting.

Space is limited to 8 participants.

Participants will learn about the USDA regulations for harvesting and processing a variety of animals
How to develop a HASSP plan.
Knife and other safety procedures with a certificate of completion and skills mastered.
How to humanely harvest.
How to cut into primal cuts.
How to break down primal cuts into consumer-ready cuts.

Dates: December 1-5, 2025

Times: 8:30am to 5:00pm

Location: Sierra County Schools for Adults

605a School Street, Loyalton, CA 96118

Cost: $500

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Course: Culinary Arts Bootcamp

This is a 40-hour intensive hands-on culinary bootcamp focused on, and held over a five-day period. The course explores the fundamentals of a working kitchen, including knife skills, cooking methods, safety and sanitation, weights and measures, portioning and cost control, and more. Participants work alongside an experienced culinary professional to prepare and taste a wide variety of dishes. This course is intended to provide and/or refine fundamental skills required for entry-level employment in the culinary field.

Upon completion, the participant will receive a minimum of three industry certificates of mastery. This boot camp will align with the Feather River College Culinary Arts degree program.

Culinary signups are open and lists are being made for classes to begin in December 2025

Butchery: Students will learn butchery skills, including how to cut, filet, and wrap a lamb, a pig, poultry, and fish. (24 hours of instruction)
Culinary Bootcamp: Learn a wide variety of food preparation and cooking skills. Students who have completed this course will be taught the skills to be able to work as a prep chef in a commercial kitchen in California or Nevada.
Knife Safe: Learn safe handling skills and how to use knives properly and with confidence. Instructions include how to hold a knife, how to cut, and how to wash, dry, and properly maintain them. (12 hours of instruction)
ServSafe: Covers a variety of food safety topics, including personal hygiene, time and temperature, and cleaning and sanitizing in a commercial kitchen. (12 hours of instruction)
Menu Creation
Protein Prep
Plating

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