How to Become an Emergency Dispatcher

You hear the sirens every day. An ambulance races to the scene of an accident to care for the victims. What you do not see is the "behind the scenes" emergency dispatcher, who is responsible for sending the ambulance. This person is just as responsible in the giving of aid as the paramedics on board the ambulance. You can become an emergency dispatcher to help accident victims. Read on to learn how to become an emergency dispatcher.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Apply to become an emergency dispatcher. You must be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or GED.

2. Identify what training program your state accepts. Training is a requirement in most states.

3. Proceed with the hiring process by a check on your criminal background. Anyone having felonies on their record will not be able to become an emergency dispatcher.

4. Be available for weekend work, which is another requirement for becoming an emergency dispatcher. Most accidents occur on the weekends when people tend to be out on the town.

5. Meet the starting requirements and you may be selected to move forward in the screening process, which will consist of a polygraph test, psychological screen and a drug test.

6. Prepare to be tested. This includes a computer test for basic computer skills, performance assessment, background investigation and a panel interview.

7. Train with other selected candidates in a program to become an emergency dispatcher. Training consists of learning how to handle calls, determine a course of action, dispatch emergency personnel to the scene of the accident and other functions of the position.

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[911DISPATCHER]

on 1/14/2009 Some agencies (like mine) require Dispatchers to be 21 years of age, you must have a clean criminal history, you must be able to multi-task, and handle stress well. Becoming a Dispatcher is about alot more than working emergencies and accidents. Dispatchers work 24/7/365. Dispatchers not only work weekends, Dispatchers work holidays, and often work 8,10,or 12 hour shifts. I'd venture to say that emergency calls only make up about 10% of a Dispatchers work. The rest of the job is traffic stops, zone checks, complaints, random calls, bogus calls, clerical work, and more. This article doesn't provide very much information and appears to have been written by someone without much knowledge of the profession.