NATIONAL EMERGENCY NUMBER ASSOCIATION

National Survey

1. For the State of: Washington

a) Contact Person: Ms. Chris Fischer, Directorof Communications

b) Name : Valley Communications Center

c) Address : 23807 98th Avenue South Kent,WA 98031

d) Phone: (206) 854-4320

e) Fax: (206) 859-5736

2. Does your state have minimum Telecommunicator Training Standards?NO

3. a. If the answer to question #2 is yes, are the standards;

• a) oMandated, oVoluntary, oLegislated Statute by Law oOther?
• b) Comments:
• c) b. When were the standards established? (date):
• d) c. Have they been revised or modified?
• e) d. Are you satisfied with the current status of your state’s minimumtraining standards?
• f) Comments if answer is no :

4. If the answer to question #2 is no, is your state considering, orin the process of establishing telecommunicator training standards? YES

• a) When is implementation anticipated? Projectedby 1998.
• b) Comments: Active committee working todetermine all aspects of the need to have legislation drafted.

5. Summarize the work plan and methodology used to accomplish the goalof establishing Minimum Telecommunicator Training Standards for your state:

6. How long did it take to establish state standards?

7. Was there any organized opposition?: Noneto-date.

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? Planis to place legislation under the State Criminal Justice Training Commission.

9. How are telecommunicator training costs funded?

a) oTelephone Tax or Surcharge oState Budget Appropriation oLocal GovernmentoOther

10. (a) How much money is dedicated to training: $ andhow often?;

• a) oMonthly oQuarterly oSemi-Annually oAnnually
• b) Other:
• c) (b) Does your state also assess other providers such as, *Subjectto legislative approval.
• d) Cellular? *YES
• e) PCS? NO
• f) Competitive Local Exchange Carriers? NO
• g) Mobile Satellite Service? NO
• h) If yes, and the legislation is separate from the telecommunicatortraining legislation, please attach a copy of that legislation.

11. Do your state standards include telecommunicator hiring or selectionstandards? NO, not in plan.

a) Comments:

12. List your State’s minimum telecommunicator training standards inorder to qualify for state certification. Stillbeing developed.

13. Indicate what areas of public-safety communications are includedin your state certification program; Subjectpassage of legislation.

• 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) oOther (NCIC) Hours required
• g)

14. Does your state have different telecommunicator training standardsfor call-takers and dispatchers? YES

a) If yes please explain:

15. Within what time frame must a new telecommunicator receive certification?One (1) year under plan.

16. Are there any “Grandfather Clause” provisions? YES,under plan.

a) If yes explain:

17. Does your state recognize telecommunicator training certificationsfrom other states? YES, under plan.

18. Do your state telecommunicator training standards exempt any ofthe following: NO, under plan.

• a) oPart-time Telecommunicators
• b) oFill-in Law-Enforcement, Firefighters, EMTs, etc.
• c) Comments :

19. Does your legislation contain any of the following provisions:

• a) oRequirement to administer and/or approve examinations
• b) oCertify Telecommunicators on a permanent or temporary basis
• c) oEstablish requirements for accreditation of telecommunicator trainingcourses
• d) oEstablish requirements for accreditation of telecommunicator training
• e) instructors
• f) oEstablish requirements for accreditation of telecommunicator trainingschools
• g) oEstablish procedures and requirements for continuing education
• h) oEstablish procedures and requirements for 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) oLaw 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) oOther

21. What subjects and how many hours are required as part of the minimumtraining curriculum; PROPOSED UNDER PLAN

• a) Subject Required Hours
• b) Interpersonal Communications 1.-2.
• c) Role of The Telecommunicator 2.
• d) The Communications Function 1.
• e) Telephone Techniques 0.
• f) 9-1-1 Operating Systems 2.
• g) Hearing Impaired Callers 0.
• h) Handling Hysterical & Suicidal Callers 0.
• i) Basic Radio Broadcasting Techniques 0.
• j) Law-Enforcement Terminology 6.
• k) Fire Service Terminology
• l) EMS Terminology
• m) Emergency Call Processing Guidelines: 20.
• n) Law Enforcement 0.
• o) Fire 0.
• p) EMS 0.
• q) Haz Mat Awareness
• r) Record Keeping Systems
• s) Telecommunicator Liability 2.
• t) Fire/EMS Scene Safety
• u) Officer Survival
• v) Simulations 4.-6.
• w) Please add any other subjects:
• x) Resource materials 1.-2.
• y) Stress management 2.
• z) EMD overview 2.

22. Do your training standards contain a requirement for the establishmentof Emergency Medical Dispatch Pre-Arrival Instruction Program? YES,under plan.

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? Still under discussion.70% being considered.

25. Does your state offer provisional certification?

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?:

27. Does your Minimum State Telecommunicator Training Program providecollege credit? Still under consideration.