National Resource Center
PROJECT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL PUBLIC-SAFETYTELECOMMUNICATOR TRAINING STANDARDS
National Survey
1. For the State of: Virginia
a) Contact Person: William Flink
b) Name : Virginia Department of Criminal JusticeServices
c) Address : 805 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219
d) Phone: (804) 786-1521
e) Fax: (804) 371-8981
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) þMandated, oVoluntary, þLegislated Statute by Law oOther?
- b) Comments:
- c) b. When were the standards established? (date): 1989
- d) c. Have they been revised or modified? YES
- e) d. Are you satisfied with the current status of your state’sminimum training standards? YES
- f) Comments if answer is no :
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:Advisory group and subject experts developed current performanceobjectives and model lesson plan. Public participation and advisorygroup with State Board approval, established training regulations.
6. How long did it take to establish state standards? One and one half (1.5)years.
7. Was there any organized opposition?: NO
a) If yes explain how it was overcome or dealt with:
8. What agency or regulatory board in your state is responsible foradministering state telecommunicator training standards? VirginiaDepartment of Criminal Justice.
9. How are telecommunicator training costs funded?
a) oTelephone Tax or Surcharge þState Budget Appropriation þLocalGovernment oOther
10. (a) How much money is dedicated to training: $ Unknown and how often?;
- a) oMonthly oQuarterly oSemi-Annually þAnnually
- b) Other:
- c) (b) Does your state also assess other providers such as,
- d) Cellular? NO
- e) PCS? NO
- f) Competitive Local Exchange Carriers? NO
- g) Mobile Satellite Service? NO
- 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? NO
a) Comments:
12. List your State’s minimum telecommunicator training standards inorder to qualify for state certification. See legislation
13. Indicate what areas of public-safety communications are included inyour state certification program;
- a) oCall Takers Hours required
- b) þLaw-Enforcement Dispatcher Hours required 40. Hour (60 O.J.T.)
- c) oFire Dispatcher Hours required
- d) þEmergency Medical Dispatch Hours required
- e) oEmergency Medical Technician Hours required
- f) þOther (NCIC) Hours required
- 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? Twelve (12) months.
16. Are there any “Grandfather Clause”provisions? YES
a) If yes explain: For the law enforcement dispatchers employed prior toJuly 1, 1989 in the position of law enforcement dispatcher.
17. Does your state recognizetelecommunicator training certifications from other states? YES, subject toevaluation.
18. Do your state telecommunicatortraining standards exempt any of the following: NO
- a) oPart-time Telecommunicators
- b) oFill-in Law-Enforcement,Firefighters, EMTs, etc.
- c) Comments :
19. Does your legislation contain any ofthe following provisions:
- a) oRequirement 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) þEstablish requirements foraccreditation of telecommunicator training schools
- g) oEstablish procedures and requirementsfor continuing education
- h) oEstablish procedures and requirementsfor recertification
- i) If yes, what are recertification requirements:
- j) oEstablish 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) þLaw Enforcement Academy,
- b) oFire Academy,
- c) oEMS Board
- d) oUniversity or College
- e) oVocational Schools
- f) oThe APCO Institute 40 Hour Course
- g) oAccredited local government public-safety agency
- h) oOther Commercial Vendors
- i) þOther EMD & NCIC
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 0.
- d) The CommunicationsFunction 0.
- e) Telephone Techniques 0.
- f) 9-1-1 Operating Systems
- g) Hearing Impaired Callers 0.
- h) Handling Hysterical & SuicidalCallers 0.
- i) Basic Radio BroadcastingTechniques 0.
- j) Law-EnforcementTerminology 0.
- k) Fire Service Terminology
- l) EMS Terminology
- m) Emergency Call Processing Guidelines:
- n) Law Enforcement
- o) Fire
- p) EMS
- q) Haz Mat Awareness 0.
- r) Record Keeping Systems
- s) Telecommunicator Liability 0.
- t) Fire/EMS Scene Safety
- u) Officer Survival
- v) Simulations
- w) Please add any other subjects:
- x) Stress management 0.
- y)
22. Do your training standards contain a requirement for the establishmentof Emergency Medical Dispatch Pre-Arrival Instruction Program? NO
23. Do requirements for state certification contain any other provisionssuch as minimum education, minimum age, minimum typing skills, ride alongprograms, etc., NO
a) If yes, please explain:
24. If a test is required for certification what percentage or scoreconstitutes a passing grade? 100% successful completion ofperformance objectives.
25. Does your state offer provisional certification? NO
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?: Date ofenactment, (1989).
27. Does your Minimum State Telecommunicator Training Programprovide college credit? NO