NATIONAL EMERGENCY NUMBER ASSOCIATION

NATIONAL EMERGENCY NUMBER ASSOCIATION

National Resource Center

PROJECT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL PUBLIC-SAFETYTELECOMMUNICATOR TRAINING STANDARDS

National Survey

1. For the State of: Pennsylvania

a) Contact Person: Frank Weges, PEMA 911 Coordinator

b) Name :

c) Address : P.O. Box 3321 Harrisburg, PA 17105-3321

d) Phone: (717) 783-8150

e) Fax: (717) 783-0427

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): 1990
• 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 : Could have morerestrictions

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: When basic 911 legislation was passed the state included a 40 HourAPCO training requirement. There was no formal work plan.

6. How long did it take to establish state standards? Three (3) 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? PennsylvaniaEmergency Management Agency.

9. How are telecommunicator training costs funded?

a) oTelephone Tax or Surcharge oState Budget Appropriation oLocalGovernment þOther Funding is a local responsibility.

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

• a) oMonthly oQuarterly oSemi-Annually oAnnually
• 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. APCO 40 Hour Basic Course orequivalency.

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 40. Hours
• e) oEmergency Medical Technician Hours required
• f) oOther (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? Not specified by law.

16. Are there any “Grandfather Clause”provisions? NO

a) If yes explain:

17. Does your state recognizetelecommunicator training certifications from other states? NO

18. Do your state telecommunicatortraining standards exempt any of the following:

• a) oPart-time Telecommunicators
• b) oFill-in Law-Enforcement,Firefighters, EMTs, etc.
• c) Comments : No exemptions
• 19. Does your legislation contain any ofthe following provisions:
• a) oRequirement to administer and/orapprove examinations
• b) oCertify Telecommunicators on apermanent or temporary basis
• c) oEstablish requirements foraccreditation of telecommunicator training courses
• d) oEstablish requirements foraccreditation of telecommunicator training
• e) instructors
• f) oEstablish 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) þFire Academy,
• c) oEMS Board
• d) þUniversity or College
• e) þVocational Schools
• f) þThe APCO Institute 40 Hour Course
• g) þAccredited local government public-safety agency
• h) þOther Commercial Vendors
• i) þOther Local in-house training programs that meet theequivalency.

21. What subjects and how many hours are required as part of theminimum training curriculum;

• a) Subject Required Hours
• b) InterpersonalCommunications 4.
• c) Role of TheTelecommunicator 1.
• d) The CommunicationsFunction 2.
• e) Telephone Techniques 3.
• f) 9-1-1 Operating Systems 3.
• g) Hearing Impaired Callers
• h) Handling Hysterical & SuicidalCallers
• i) Basic Radio BroadcastingTechniques 10.5
• j) Law-EnforcementTerminology 0.
• k) Fire Service Terminology 0.
• l) EMS Terminology 0.
• m) Emergency Call Processing Guidelines:
• n) Law Enforcement 4.
• o) Fire 4.
• p) EMS 4.
• q) Haz Mat Awareness
• r) Record Keeping Systems 1.5
• s) Telecommunicator Liability 2.
• t) Fire/EMS Scene Safety
• u) Officer Survival
• v) Simulations
• w) Please add any other subjects:
• x)
• 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., N0

a) If yes, please explain:

24. If a test is required for certification what percentage or scoreconstitutes a passing grade?

25. Does your state offer provisional certification? N0

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?: Within three(3) years of a County’s plan being approved.

27. Does your Minimum State Telecommunicator Training Programprovide college credit? NO