National Resource Center
PROJECT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL PUBLIC-SAFETYTELECOMMUNICATOR TRAINING STANDARDS
National Survey
1. For the State of: Utah
a) Contact Person: Christine Warren
b) Name :
c) Address : 1180 South 1500 East Salt Lake City, UT
d) Phone: (801) 583-0429
e) Fax:
2. Does your state have minimum Telecommunicator Training Standards?
a) YES
3. a. If the answer to question #2 is yes, are the standards;
- a) oMandated, þVoluntary, þLegislated Statute by Law oOther?
- b) Comments:
- c) b. When were the standards established? (date): January,1995
- d) c. Have they been revised or modified? NO
- e) d. Are you satisfied with the current status of your state’sminimum training standards? NO
- f) Comments if answer is no : Would like a mandatedminimum of 80 hours.
4. If the answer to question #2 is no, is your state considering, or in the processof establishing telecommunicator training standards?
- a) When is implementation anticipated?
- b) Comments:
- c)
- d)
5. Summarize the work plan and methodology used to accomplish the goal ofestablishing Minimum Telecommunicator Training Standards for your state: Acommittee of dispatchers, Supervisors, Police Officers, Firefighters,Paramedics was established. Built consensus with all associations andagencies.
6. How long did it take to establish state standards? Four (4) years.
7. Was there any organized opposition?: YES
a) If yes explain how it was overcome or dealt with: League of Cities & Counties.
8. What agency or regulatory board in your state is responsible foradministering state telecommunicator training standards? Peace OfficerStandards and Training (P.O.S.T.)
9. How are telecommunicator training costs funded?
a) þTelephone Tax or Surcharge þState Budget Appropriation oLocalGovernment þOther
10. (a) How much money is dedicated to training: $ and how often?;
a) oMonthly oQuarterly oSemi-Annually oAnnually
b) Other: Each County 9-1-1 agency is allotted a percentage of the 9-1-1 tax to be used forcall taker training.
c) (b) Does your state also assess other providers such as,
d) Cellular? Y N
e) PCS? Y N
f) Competitive Local Exchange Carriers? Y N
g) Mobile Satellite Service? Y N
h) If yes, and the legislation is separate from the telecommunicator traininglegislation, please attach a copy of that legislation.
11. Do your state standards include telecommunicator hiring or selectionstandards? YES
a) Comments: Good moral character, No felony convictions, U.S.citizen, Eighteen (18) years old and High School graduate or equivalent.
12. List your State’s minimum telecommunicator training standards inorder to qualify for state certification. Still in draft.
13. Indicate what areas of public-safety communications are included inyour state certification program;
- a) þCall Takers Hours required 40. Hours
- b) þLaw-Enforcement Dispatcher Hours required 40. Hours
- c) þFire Dispatcher Hours required 40. Hours
- d) þEmergency Medical Dispatch Hours required 24. Hours
- e) oEmergency Medical Technician Hours required
- f) þOther (NCIC) Hours required State BCI Test
- g)
14. Does your state have differenttelecommunicator training standards for call-takers and dispatchers? NO
a) If yes please explain:
15. Within what time frame must a newtelecommunicator receive certification? Requirement established by eachagency.
16. Are there any “Grandfather Clause”provisions? YES
a) If yes explain: Must submit application and pass a final exam with ascore of 80% or above.
17. Does your state recognizetelecommunicator training certifications from other states? Unknown.
18. Do your state telecommunicatortraining standards exempt any of the following:
- a) oPart-time Telecommunicators
- b) þFill-in Law-Enforcement,Firefighters, EMTs, etc.
- c) Comments :
19. Does your legislation contain any ofthe following provisions:
- a) þRequirement to administer and/orapprove examinations
- b) þCertify Telecommunicators on apermanent or temporary basis
- c) þEstablish requirements foraccreditation of telecommunicator training courses
- d) þEstablish requirements foraccreditation of telecommunicator training
- e) instructors
- f) oEstablish requirements foraccreditation of telecommunicator training schools
- g) þEstablish procedures and requirementsfor continuing education
- h) þEstablish procedures and requirementsfor recertification
- i) If yes, what are recertification requirements:
- j) þEstablish grounds for suspension or revocation of certificates
- k) oEstablish specific language or limits of liability for telecommunicators
20. What method/s are used to provide training;
- a) oLaw Enforcement Academy,
- b) oFire Academy,
- c) oEMS Board
- d) þUniversity or College
- e) oVocational Schools
- f) oThe APCO Institute 40 Hour Course
- g) þAccredited local government public-safety agency
- h) oOther Commercial Vendors
- i) þOther Local Agencies that meet the training requirements.
21. What subjects and how many hours are required as part of theminimum training curriculum;
- a) Subject Required Hours
- b) InterpersonalCommunications 0.
- c) Role of TheTelecommunicator 2.
- d) The CommunicationsFunction 3.
- e) Telephone Techniques 4.
- f) 9-1-1 Operating Systems 0.
- g) Hearing Impaired Callers 0.
- h) Handling Hysterical & SuicidalCallers 0.
- i) Basic Radio BroadcastingTechniques 3.
- j) Law-EnforcementTerminology 0.
- k) Fire Service Terminology 0.
- l) EMS Terminology 0.
- m) Emergency Call Processing Guidelines:
- n) Law Enforcement 6.
- o) Fire 4.
- p) EMS
- q) Haz Mat Awareness 2.
- r) Record Keeping Systems
- s) Telecommunicator Liability 4.
- t) Fire/EMS Scene Safety 0.
- u) Officer Survival 2.5
- v) Simulations 3.
- w) Please add any other subjects:
- x) Stress Management 2.
- y) Crime Classifications 6.
- z)
- aa)
22. Do your training standards contain a requirement for the establishmentof Emergency Medical Dispatch Pre-Arrival Instruction Program? YES
23. Do requirements for state certification contain any other provisionssuch as minimum education, minimum age, minimum typing skills, ride alongprograms, etc., YES
a) If yes, please explain: U.S. Citizen, Eighteen (18) years of age, HighSchool Diploma or equivalent, Good morale character.
24. If a test is required for certification what percentage or scoreconstitutes a passing grade? 80. %
25. Does your state offer provisional certification? Unknown
a) If Yes, how does someone qualify for provisional status?
26. How long after passage of legislation, did agencies have to be incompliance with the telecommunicator training requirements?: Eighteen (18)months
27. Does your Minimum State Telecommunicator Training Programprovide college credit? NO