Whether you are beginning your journey as a telecommunicator or strengthening your foundational skills, APCO’s Public Safety Telecommunicator 1, 8th Edition course establishes the core knowledge, practical techniques, and critical thinking required to confidently manage emergency and non-emergency calls. You’ll develop communication, coordination, and decision-making skills essential to serve as the vital link between the public and emergency field response.
The 8th Edition reflects the evolving landscape of public safety communications, blending time-tested fundamentals with modern technological and workplace practices. You’ll explore everything from effective interpersonal communication and call processing to the integration of new and emerging technologies across agencies nationwide.
Attendees who successfully pass the final exam receive APCO Institute certification, demonstrating completion of a training course that meets and exceeds industry-accepted national basic training standards. Please visit our Standards webpage to review current standards.
Training modules include:
- Introduction to Your new Career
- Interpersonal Communications
- Call Processing
- Resource Awareness
- Telephony, TTY, & Relay Services
- Telematics & Collision Notification Systems
- Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) & Related Technologies
- Radio Technology
- Radio Communications Techniques
- Call Classification
- NIMS & Incident Command System
- Liability
- The Workplace & Workforce of Today’s ECC
- Work-Life Balance as a Telecommunicator
Schedule:
5 days, 8 consecutive hours per day for a total of 40 contact-hours.
CDEs Earned: 40
Recertification Requirements:
APCO certified PSTs must provide proof every two years of 48 hours (24 hours per certification year) of Continuing Dispatch Education (CDE). Complete information on the recertification process is provided at the conclusion of the Public Safety Telecommunicator 1, 8th Ed. course. Recertification requires ongoing continuing education.
Tuition: Payable in U.S. Funds
| Options | Term | Tuition | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Member | Member * | ||
| Co-Host | 5 days | $595 | $545 |
| Online | 5 weeks | $595 | $545 |
| Virtual | 5 days | $595 | $545 |
| Contract | 5 days | Contact us for pricing | Contact us for pricing |
* You must be a current Associate, Full or Commercial member to receive member discounts on all courses. Online members receive member discounts on online courses only.
** Virtual Classroom Requirements and Expectations
Late fee $25 (applied 10 days prior to course start date)
Tuition includes a comprehensive course manual and all certification fees.
Additional shipping fees may apply for international shipments.
Tuition for live courses does not include travel, lodging, meals or other costs. Online class tuition does not include web access fees or other local internet/web-related costs.
