Training for emergency dispatchers
Public safety telecommunicators in 911 call centers are needed in local agencies, which are actively seeking qualified applicants. As a police, fire and emergency medical services dispatcher, you play a critical role and are the first point of contact with the public in emergency situations.
The Public Safety Telecommunication Certificate program at St. Petersburg College gives you the expertise to perform this job and fill the job gaps in Pinellas County.
Partners
SPC is partnering with Pinellas County Safety and Emergency Services and several local public safety agencies to provide this six-week training, which also covers the state-mandated certification testing fee.
This academic program prepares you for the following careers. All job data is provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Public Safety Telecommunicators
Salary Data
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area Average
Florida Average
Projected employment for Florida
2023 Employment
5,500
2033
5,970
Percent Change
9
Projected Job Openings
620
Public Safety Telecommunication Postsecondary Adult Vocational Certificate
PST-PSAV
Effective Beginning Catalog Term: Fall 2019 (565)
The requirements shown below are valid beginning Fall 2019 (565). Course content may have changed to reflect new developments or improvements, even if the overall program structure has not. Current students should visit My SPC and view My Learning Plan to see specific degree requirements for their effective term.
Program Summary
This program offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the Law, Public Safety and Security career cluster; provides technical skill proficiency, and includes competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of the Law, Public Safety and Security career cluster. The purpose of this program is to prepare students for employment as a dispatcher: police, fire, ambulance (SOC 43-5031). The content includes, but is not limited to, ethics and the role of the telecommunicator; standard telecommunication operating procedures; relationship to field personnel; understanding of command levels; typical layouts of message centers; use of performance aids; overview of emergency agencies; functions and terminology; use of correct words and grammar; communications equipment, functions and terminology; types of telecommunication equipment; malfunctions and maintenance agreements; proper and correct telephone and dispatching procedures and techniques; cooperation and reciprocal agreements with other agencies; federal, state, and local communication rules; emergency situations and operating procedures; emergency medical dispatch procedures; employability skills; leadership and human relations skills; and health.
Graduation Requirements
-Successful completion of SPC Public Safety Telecommunications ProgramAcademic Pathways
The Academic Pathway is a tool for students that lists the following items:- the recommended order in which to take the program courses
- suggested course when more than one option exists
- which semester each course is typically offered
- if the course has a prerequisite
- courses that may lead to a certificate (if offered in the program)
Please verify the Academic Pathway lists your correct starting semester.
Program Leadership Information
Florida CIP Code
0743039900 - Public Safety Telecommunication
Federal CIP Code
43.0399 - Homeland Security, Other.
Admission Requirements
Students applying to this program need to:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be a high school graduate or its equivalent (GED)
- Be a U.S. Citizen or be a permanent registered alien (some agencies may require US citizenship)
- Not be a convicted felon (A background check will be conducted through the Pinellas Police Applicant Screening Service.)
- Be free of addictions to alcohol or other controlled substances. (Employing agency will request certification under oath)
- Be free of any physical or mental defect or disease that might impair one to perform his/her duties per F.S. 401.465(d)3.
- Possess basic computer keyboarding knowledge
- Employing agencies will require a typing test for speed and accuracy, minimum 25 words per minute
- Successful completion of CritiCall Public Safety Dispatcher Testing