Sep 30, 2026 - Nov 03, 2026
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APCO’s Public Safety Telecommunicator 1, 8th Edition course for Career Instructors provides the foundation that state- and locally-certified instructors will need to teach the course to high school and career/technical learners, providing a solid foundation in the basic skills, knowledge, and abilities every successful public safety telecommunicator needs to meet the demands of this critical work.
The Career Instructors will join a class of actual telecommunicators from emergency communications centers and fully participate in the basic training course. This exposure will allow Career Instructors and telecommunicators to share ideas through discussion forums and master the material in a collaborative manner.
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. 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.
Upon successfully passing the final exam, Career Instructors will 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 Communication
- 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
Duration: Five weeks
Tuition: No charge
Revalidation Requirements:
APCO-certified Career Instructors are required to complete the Revalidation Quiz every two years to maintain certification. Complete information on the Revalidation process is provided as part of the Career Instructor Orientation course.