Training to be a 911 dispatcher

Training summary

You will be paid for all training.  You will also be paid for work while on probation.

Training includes:

• 7 weeks in person classroom with weekly exams
• 12-weeks on the job phone training
• A practical test on live calls
• 12-week police radio training
• Practical test on police radio

After training you'll be working but on probation. Probation is 6-months.

Classroom (7 weeks)

First phase of the training program is a 7-week classroom course. 

Topics include:

• call-taking
• radio dispatching for police
• dispatching fire personnel
• answering medical calls

You will be tested on what you have learned every week.  At the end of the 7-week in-person classroom course, you will also take a final exam covering all course materials.  If you can't successfully complete the examination process you will not pass on to on the job training.

On the job phone training

The second phase is call-taking,

You will work with 3 trainers, one each month, they will provide you with live training in taking calls.  Each 12-week segment consists of three 4-week rotations. The 4-week rotations requires you to work different hours, including nights.  You will be rated daily and are expected to show improvement on a regular basis.

Training to work the police radio

The third phase is using the police radio. 

You sit in very close proximity with your trainer.  Training to work the police radio requires you to listen and understand police radio language and type while speaking.  You will be rated daily on your performance.

Final on the job exam

At the end of each phase, you will be evaluated on your performance by a supervisor.  If you pass the exam, you will be able to process calls and use the radio by yourself. 

Then you start a 6-month probation period.