APCO Institute is the only not-for-profit educational institute that serves the unique needs of the public safety communications industry. Because APCO Institute is a not-for-profit educational institute, we have the ability to bring you affordable options and certification, such as our train-the-trainer programs and in-house training, that traditional for-profit training businesses can't or won't.

APCO Institute is overseen, managed and operated by industry experts with years of experience. Through our membership, we stay current with industry issues, needs and standards. Because our members all work in their respective communications agencies each day, their needs and concerns drive the activity of APCO Institute.

You will find something for everyone in your communications function, from front-line basic training to supervisory and management tools and certification; we even offer technical testing. By becoming a part of the APCO Institute family you will be making decisions for tomorrow, not just for today.

Our beginnings…
In August 1987, at the 53rd Annual APCO Conference in Baltimore, MD the APCO Executive Council voted to create a not-for-profit educational subsidiary dedicated to serve the needs of the public safety communications industry. It was decided that this educational subsidiary would be called the APCO Institute. On October 1, 1988, APCO Institute officially opened its doors.

The Institute's initial course offering was the APCO 80-hour Basic Telecommunicator Training Program. The 80-hour Basic Telecommunicator Training Program was the first ever national training program developed specifically for the public safety communications industry. This was closely followed by the APCO Institute 40-hour Train-the-Trainer course.

Our basic telecommunicator training course has gone through several updates since 1988. It is now called Public Safety Telecommunicator I (PST1), 6th Edition and each year over 5,000 telecommunicators receive basic telecommunicator training through this course alone.

APCO INSTITUTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

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