New hires are assigned to an experienced Telecommunicator where they learn, first-hand, the skills necessary to be a Public Safety Telecommunicator. The typical trainee spends about nine weeks on a supervised training program where they rotate through all shifts before being released to their permanent shift and continue to develop their skills. Overall, new hires receive a minimum of 400 hours of training during their first year.
All telecommunicators regularly receive continuing education in a variety of call-taking and dispatching topics. Some of these include CPR, Emergency Medical Dispatching exercises and protocol practice, assisting the suicidal caller, domestic violence calls, active shooter incidents, and many more.
Certifications
Each trainee receives certification in the use of the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System (MULES) from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and as a Public Safety Telecommunicator from APCO International. Trainees also become certified as Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMDs) through the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch and obtain certification in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
Audrain County Joint Communications makes no claim of affiliation or association with the above organizations other than the use of their respective certification programs. All logos and/or trademarks belong to their respective owner(s) and are used here for information purposes only.
