How Do I Get Hired As A Dispatcher In The US?
Emergency responders are crucial to keeping American citizens safe, protected and ensuring they get access to medical attention or care when needed.
A 911 dispatcher, also known as a fire or police dispatcher, is part of the equation of emergency (and non-emergency) responders who work in cities and rural communities. Dispatchers are the go-between for citizens who call 911 and the police, fire, and ambulance services that help people in need every day.
Suppose you are considering a job as a 911 dispatcher, which requires patience, customer service and computer skills, organization, and the ability to keep calm under pressure. If this is a job you can see yourself doing, you might be wondering where to start looking for an open position and what you can do to increase your chances of getting hired.
Fear not. We tell you how best to get hired as a 911 dispatcher in the US and the steps you need to take first.
What Does A 911 Dispatcher Do?
A police and fire dispatcher answers 911 calls and obtains the particulars of the emergency from the caller. Therefore, a dispatcher must have excellent recall and relay information in great detail to emergency services to avoid mix-ups or delays.
It is also the dispatcher's job to be calm, provide information and clear directives to people in fear or dire circumstances while obtaining the required information to inform and dispatch emergency services. Without complete, detailed information about the situation, emergency responders could be attending to a dangerous situation.
When you consider all of this, it is easy to see that a 911 dispatcher is a quick-paced and busy job, but it is also fulfilling to be a part of something so important when it is a career objective.
What Training Does A 911 Dispatcher Get?
Once you are hired as a dispatcher, you likely go through a thorough training program. You may be expected to complete courses in:- Telecommunications
- Domestic Violence
- CPR/First Aid/AED
- Critical Incident Stress
- Terrorism
- Suicide Intervention
You may also be required to train with the National Emergency Number Association or NENA, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials or APCO, and the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch or NAED.
How to Become A 911 Dispatcher
To become a 911 dispatcher in the US, you must be at least 18 years old, and an American citizen or legally work in the United States (some agencies require citizenship). You must have a high school diploma or equivalency. However, a college degree or diploma may give you a better chance at being hired.For potential 911 dispatchers looking to be hired into the field, there is a great deal of emphasis on applicants who have customer service experience, especially in a position where multitasking was required.
Before applying for a 911 dispatcher role, you may need to pass a civil service test. This is ultimately the choice of the city or community in which you want to work. Once your application is accepted and you move onto the next hiring phase, you will need to pass a background check, psychological test, and drug test. In the midst of this is a test called by various names, including the CritiCall test. It is administered in most states, and it can evaluate your abilities as a dispatcher, including written skills, typing skills, reading comprehension, memory, attention to detail, reasoning, and more. The test can be tailored by any city's dispatching department, so it can vary from city to city.
To be successful in your job search, you need to prepare for the role before and during your application period.
How to Get A Dispatcher Job
When you have applied for a 911 dispatcher job, you want to be successful, so how do you go about doing as much as you can to do so?The first step is to determine the skills you will need to perform all of the tasks of being a 911 dispatcher. As a 911 dispatcher, you will need to receive incoming calls and make notes from the information you are receiving while exchanging information with emergency services personnel. This requires the ability to remain calm and to carry on even through high pressure and stressful situations.
A dispatcher job requires shift work, and you will have to adapt to working long shifts while maintaining composure and professionalism.
As with any job, when you are called for an interview and testing, you should be as prepared as you can be. As a dispatcher job will include some form of dispatch test, like the CritiCall test, you will give yourself an advantage over other applicants by enlisting an online test tutor's services, like Police Test Tutor.
Police Test Tutor offers online test preparations for many different emergency services, including a CritiCall Dispatch Package that includes practice tests based on the actual tests given to dispatcher applicants across America. With over 50 simulated 911 calls and 1550 practice questions, buying the package will prepare you for success on the CritiCall and Perfex test.
Your Success
If becoming a 911 dispatcher is your career goal, the best thing you can do to set yourself up for success is to follow a career plan from start to finish. Once you have at least a high school diploma or GED and obtained customer service experience, you can start the application process to become a 911 dispatcher.Once you have landed an interview, you will need to study to ensure your success. When a city or community hires dispatchers, the competition is fierce, and to gain an edge over the other candidates, choosing an online test preparation package is your key.
Police Test Tutor is constantly updating information and questions, so the CritiCall Dispatch Package will be current and accurate, meaning you are getting the best information you need for getting a dispatching job. Check out their website or sign up here.