National Resource Center
PROJECT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL PUBLIC-SAFETYTELECOMMUNICATOR TRAINING STANDARDS
National Survey
1. For the State of: Wyoming
a) Contact Person: Don Pierson, Director
b) Name : Wyoming POST Commission
c) Address : 1710 Pacific Avenue Cheyenne, WY 82002
d) Phone: (307) 777-7718
e) Fax: (307) 638-9706
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):1991
- d) c. Have they been revised or modified? NO
- 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: Post assumed leadership role, worked with state’s law enforcementagencies, gained their acceptance and concurrence, drafted legislationand it was passed without opposition.
6. How long did it take to establish state standards? One (1) year.
7. Was there any organized opposition?: YES
a) If yes explain how it was overcome or dealt with: Initially their was concern from localagencies regarding costs. Was overcome by education.
8. What agency or regulatory board in your state is responsible foradministering state telecommunicator training standards? Wyoming PeaceOfficer Standards and Training Commission.
9. How are telecommunicator training costs funded?
a) oTelephone Tax or Surcharge þState Budget Appropriation oLocalGovernment oOther
10. (a) How much money is dedicated to training: $Unknown and how often?;
- a) oMonthly oQuarterly þSemi-Annually oAnnually
- b) Other: The academy is responsible for the budget.
- 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? YES
a) Comments:
12. List your State’s minimum telecommunicator training standards inorder to qualify for state certification. Eighteen (18) years of age, Nofelony convictions, U.S. Citizen, High School diploma or equivalent, Fullbackground check.
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. Hours (inc. fire &EMS)
- c) oFire Dispatcher Hours required
- d) oEmergency Medical Dispatch Hours required
- 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? Two (2) years from date ofemployment.
16. Are there any “Grandfather Clause”provisions? YES
a) If yes explain: Initially, dispatchers with a minimum of three (3) years ofservice were covered, no longer applicable.
17. Does your state recognizetelecommunicator training certifications from other states? YES
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
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) þEstablish procedures and requirementsfor continuing education
- h) þEstablish procedures and requirementsfor recertification
- i) If yes, what are recertification requirements: 20 hours ofO.J. T. every two (2) years
- 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) þUniversity or College
- e) oVocational Schools
- f) oThe APCO Institute 40 Hour Course
- g) oAccredited local government public-safety agency
- h) þOther Commercial Vendors
- i) þOther Local agency In service schools, includes out of state.
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
- d) The CommunicationsFunction
- e) Telephone Techniques 6.5
- f) 9-1-1 Operating Systems
- g) Hearing Impaired Callers 2.
- h) Handling Hysterical & SuicidalCallers 3.
- i) Basic Radio BroadcastingTechniques 5.5
- j) Law-EnforcementTerminology
- k) Fire Service Terminology 4.
- l) EMS Terminology
- m) Emergency Call Processing Guidelines:
- n) Law Enforcement
- o) Fire
- p) EMS
- q) Haz Mat Awareness 4.
- r) Record Keeping Systems
- s) Telecommunicator Liability 3.
- t) Fire/EMS Scene Safety
- u) Officer Survival
- v) Simulations
- w) Please add any other subjects:
- x) Stress management 4.
- y) Crisis intervention 4.
- z) Ethics 4.
- aa) Intra & Inter departmentrelations 3.
- bb)
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? 70.%
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?: Two (2)years.
27. Does your Minimum State Telecommunicator Training Programprovide college credit? NO