Public Safety Communications (PST) 8 Courses FAQ

No, the update course is only for the Public Safety Telecommunicator (PST) 1, 7th Edition, U.S. version. PST Canada certificate holders are not required to update to PST, 8th Edition, at this time.

Yes, as long as your PST, 7th Edition, certification is current, you are eligible to complete the PST, 8th Edition, Update course from September 30, 2026, through September 26, 2028. The last update course will begin on September 6, 2028. We will not be offering a grace period.

No. Only current PST, 7th Edition, holders can attend the PST, 8th Edition, Update course. Students who completed a previous edition of PST must take the full PST, 8th Edition, course.

The PST, 8th Edition, Update course will begin September 30, 2026, and will be offered weekly through September 26, 2028. The last update course will begin September 6, 2028. We will not be offering a grace period.

The cost for current PST, 7th Edition, students to take the PST, 8th Edition, Update course from September 30, 2026, through September 26, 2028, is $129 for members and $159 for non-members. The last update course will begin on September 6, 2028. We will not be offering a grace period.

The PST, 8th Edition, Update course is a three-week, self-paced online course that should take about 2 hours to complete.

Yes. Students who successfully complete the PST, 8th Edition, Update course will earn two CDE hours.

Yes, you will be able to recertify your PST, 7th Edition, certification. However, you will be required to attend the PST, 8th Edition, Update course prior to September 26, 2028. The last update course will begin on September 6, 2028. We will not be offering a grace period. If not completed by that date, you will be required to attend the full PST, 8th Edition, student course at full registration price.

All current PST, 7th Edition, students must complete the PST, 8th Edition, Update course by September 26, 2028, to remain certified. The last update course will begin on September 6, 2028. We will not be offering a grace period.

If you do not complete the Update Course by this date, you will be required to take the full PST, 8th Edition, course at the full registration price to be certified in PST.

vNo. The PST, 8th Edition, Update course will have the same certification expiration date as your current PST, 7th Edition, certification.

For example: Your PST, 7th Edition, expires 3/17/27. You completed the PST, 8th Edition, Update course on 12/15/26. Your PST, 8th Edition, Update certification expires 3/17/27.

If you do not complete the PST, 8th Edition, Update course by September 26, 2028, then you will not be able to recertify your PST, 7th Edition, certification. You will be required to take the full PST, 8th Edition, student course at full registration price. The last update course will begin on September 6, 2028. We will not be offering a grace period.

No. The PST, 8th Edition, Update certification holds the same expiration date as your PST, 7th Edition, certification. You will still be required to recertify before your expiration date. Late/noncompliance fees/processes may apply.

No, the PST, 8th Edition, Update certification will have the same expiration date as your PST, 7th Edition, certification. You may need to take additional actions before your recertification is valid. Refer to the Recertification page to review all requirements for successfully recertifying as a PST.

You need to have completed the PST, 8th Edition, Update course by September 26, 2028, to remain current. The last update course will begin on September 6, 2028. We will not be offering a grace period.

No, the update course is only for the PST, 7th Edition, U.S. version. Those who completed the PSTC 7th Edition, student course and currently teach the Public Safety Telecommunicator (PST) 1, 7th Edition, Canada course at their agency are not required to update to PSTI 8th Edition, at this time.

Yes, as long as your PST, 7th Edition, Instructor certification is current, you are eligible to complete the PSTI 8th Edition, Update course from September 30, 2026, through September 26, 2028. The last update course will begin on September 6, 2028. We will not be offering a grace period.

No. Instructors who completed PSTI 6th Edition but not PSTI 7th Edition, will need to take the full PST, 8th Edition, student course, plus the PST, 8th Edition, Instructor course, or upgrade, if you are an existing instructor in another discipline, before they can recertify.

The PSTI 8th Update course will begin September 30, 2026, and will be offered weekly through September 26, 2028. The last update course will begin on September 6, 2028. We will not be offering a grace period.

The cost for current PSTI 8th Edition, Instructors to take the PSTI 8th Edition, Update course from September 30, 2026, through September 26, 2028, is $129 for members and $159 for non-members. The last update course will begin on September 6, 2028. We will not be offering a grace period.

The PSTI 8th Edition, Update course is a three-week, self-paced online course that should take about 2 hours to complete.

Yes. Instructors who successfully complete the PSTI 8th Edition, Update course will earn two CDE hours.

The PST, 7th Edition, manual will be available for purchase through March 31, 2027. We will not be offering a manual exchange. Any in-stock copies of the PST, 7th Edition, manuals should be used before September 30, 2027.

Starting October 1, 2027, agency instructors may only teach the PST, 8th Edition, using PST, 8th Edition, manuals.

PST, 7th Edition, agency courses will only be accepted for courses taught with an end date no later than September 30, 2027, and must be submitted via Submit Agency Classes in Training Central within ten days of the course end date.

Agency instructors who update to PSTI 8th Edition, before September 30, 2027, may teach both PST, 7th Edition, and PST, 8th Edition, if their certifications are current. The PST, 7th Edition, manual will be available for purchase through March 31, 2027. We will not be offering a manual exchange. Any in-stock copies of the PST 7 Edition manuals should be used before September 30, 2027.

PST, 7th Edition, agency courses will only be accepted for courses taught with an end date no later than September 30, 2027, and must be submitted via Submit Agency Classes in Training Central within ten days of the course end date.

Starting October 1, 2027, agency instructors may only teach the PST, 8th Edition.

You will be able to recertify your PSTI 7th Edition; however, it will expire on September 30, 2028, and we will only accept PST, 7th Edition, agency courses taught with an end date no later than September 30, 2027. They must be submitted via Submit Agency Classes in Training Central within ten days of the course end date.

You are required to attend the PSTI 8th Edition, Update course prior to September 26, 2028. The last update course will begin on September 6, 2028. We will not be offering a grace period.

Once you complete the PSTI 8th Edition, Update course, your expiration date will be two years from the date you submitted your PSTI 7th Edition, recertification.

All current PST, 7th Edition, Instructors must complete the PSTI 8th Edition, Update course by September 26, 2028, to remain current. The last update course will begin on September 6, 2028. We will not be offering a grace period.

No. The PST, 8th Edition, Instructor Update course will have the same certification expiration date as your current PST, 7th Edition, Instructor certification.

For example: Your PSTI 7th Edition, expires 3/17/27. You completed the PSTI 8th Edition, Update course on 12/15/26. Your PSTI 8th Edition, Update certification expires 3/17/27.

We will not be offering a grace period. If an instructor does not complete the PSTI 8th Edition, Update course and does not recertify by September 26, 2028, then he/she will need to take the full PST, 8th Edition, student course plus the full PST, 8th Edition, Instructor course or upgrade if an existing instructor in another discipline prior to teaching the PST, 8th Edition, at their agency. The PSTI 7th Edition, certification will expire on September 30, 2028.

Instructors recertified in PSTI 7th Edition, will only be able to teach PST, 7th Edition, until September 30, 2027. The PST, 8th Edition, Instructor Update course will have the same certification expiration date as your current PST, 7th Edition, Instructor certification. You will need to take the PSTI 8th Edition, Update course by September 26, 2028. The last update course will begin on September 6, 2028. We will not be offering a grace period. If you do not complete the Update Course by this date, you will need to take the full PST, 8th Edition, Student course and the full PST, 8th Edition, Instructor course, or upgrade if an existing Instructor in another discipline, prior to teaching the PST, 8th Edition, at your agency.

Prior to September 30, 2026, you may attend the PST, 7th Edition, student course plus the PST, 7th Edition, Instructor course (or upgrade if you are an existing Instructor in another discipline). Then you may update to PST, 8th Edition, Instructor from September 30, 2026, through September 26, 2028. The last update course will begin on September 6, 2028. We will not be offering a grace period.

The PST, 7th Edition, manual will be available for purchase through March 31, 2027. We will not be offering a manual exchange. Any in-stock copies of the PST 7 Edition manuals should be used before September 30, 2027.
Starting October 1, 2027, agency instructors may only teach the PST, 8th Edition, using PST, 8th Edition, manuals.

PST, 7th Edition, agency courses will only be accepted for courses taught with an end date no later than September 30, 2027, and must be submitted via Submit Agency Classes in Training Central within ten days of the course end date.

Starting October 1, 2027, agency instructors may only teach the PST, 8th Edition.

After September 30, 2026, you may attend the PST, 8th Edition, Student course plus the PST, 8th Edition, Instructor course (or upgrade if you are an existing Instructor in another discipline).

Career Instructors will only be able to teach PST, 7th Edition, until September 30, 2027. The PST, 8th Edition, Career Instructor Update course will have the same certification expiration date as your current PST, 7th Edition, Career Instructor certification. You will need to take the PST, 8th Edition, Career Instructor Update course at no cost to you by September 26, 2028. The last update course will begin on September 6, 2028. We will not be offering a grace period. If you do not complete the Update Course by this date, you will need to take the full PST, 8th Edition, Career Instructor course prior to teaching the PST, 8th Edition, at your institution.

The PST, 7th Edition, manual will be available for purchase through March 31, 2027. We will not be offering a manual exchange. Any in-stock copies of the PST 7 Edition manuals should be used before September 30, 2027.
PST, 7th Edition, course submissions will only be accepted for courses taught with an end date no later than September 30, 2027.

Starting October 1, 2027, Career Instructors may only teach the PST, 8th Edition, using PST, 8th Edition, manuals.

The PST, 7th Edition, manual will be available for purchase through March 31, 2027. We will not be offering a manual exchange. Any in-stock copies of the PST 7 Edition manuals should be used before September 30, 2027. APCO will accept PST, 7th Edition, course submissions for courses taught with an end date no later than September 30, 2027.

Starting October 1, 2027, agency instructors may only teach the PST, 8th Edition, using PST, 8th Edition, manuals.

Once you have updated to PST, 8th Edition,, you may purchase PST, 8th Edition, manuals through our website here:

• Agency Instructors
• Career Instructors