Find Standards

To establish the core competencies and minimum training requirements for the Quality Assurance Evaluator (QAE), this standard was developed in recognition of the growing need for consistent and effective oversight within public safety communications. The QAE role emerged as agencies sought dedicated professionals to assess telecommunicator performance, support quality improvement initiatives, and ensure accountability in service delivery. This standard was created through a collaborative process that engaged high-performing incumbent QAEs, whose expertise and real-world experience informed the knowledge, skills, and abilities identified as essential to the role. Its purpose is to provide agencies with a clear and consistent framework for training and professional development, while allowing flexibility for agency-specific practices and operational needs.

This APCO standard identifies the minimum training requirements for both new and veteran Public Safety Telecommunicators. This position is typically tasked with receiving, processing, transmitting, and conveying public safety information to dispatchers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and emergency management personnel. This document seeks to define training in certain knowledge and skills for the Agency to provide to Telecommunicators.

This standard is intended to equip industry stakeholders, both individuals and agencies, with the tools and perspectives necessary for a proactive approach to detecting and mitigating the stress related challenges of the job of the Public Safety Telecommunicator.

This cybersecurity training standard addresses training for ECC staff, including public safety telecommunicators (PSTs), supervisors, ECC management and ECC administration. It also addresses training for personnel who are not in professional technical positions, but who are privileged users with administrative privileges allowing them to handle some technical tasks such as application installation, operating system updates, application administration, database management or system administration.

This standard identifies the core competencies and minimum training requirements for the Public Safety Communications Manager/Director. This position is typically tasked with managing and directing all aspects of a public safety communications center, while effectively utilizing leadership skills, resources, and partnerships in order to successfully provide emergency communications service.

This standard identifies the core competencies and minimum training requirements for Public Safety Communications Center Instructor, herein referred to as Instructor. This position is typically tasked with the delivery of training within the communications agency.

This standard identifies the core competencies and minimum training requirements including radio, computer-aided dispatch and GIS systems for Technicians. Technology is critical to the administration of public safety communications. There is a need to provide a consistent foundation for the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to fulfill this critical function.

This standard identifies the core competencies and minimum training requirements for Public Safety Communications training coordinators. This position is typically tasked with the planning, development, coordination, implementation, and administration of training within the agency.

This standard identifies the core competencies and minimum training requirements for Public Safety Communications Supervisors. This position is typically tasked with managing daily operations, performing administrative duties and maintaining employee relations. This position provides leadership and guidance to employees in order to achieve the agency’s mission, while providing service to the public and emergency responders.

This standard identifies the core competencies and minimum training requirements for Public Safety Communications Training Officers (CTO). This position is typically tasked with on-the-job training of agency employees on the essential duties and tasks of a Public Safety Communications Telecommunicator.