How to Become a 911/Police Dispatcher

Police dispatchers send police and medical help to those in need.

When an emergency arises, the first thing most people do is call 911. The people on the other end of the telephone are police dispatchers. Being a police dispatcher is a highly stressful, yet extremely rewarding, job. Individual law enforcement agencies set their own hiring qualifications for this job; however, in most cases, employment as a dispatcher does not require a four-year college degree, but does require extensive training.

Instructions

1. Complete your high school education or pass the General Education Diploma tests.

2. Gain experience working in an office environment or study law enforcement at the college level. Not all law enforcement agencies require you to have work or post-secondary educational experience; however, it will likely increase your chances of being accepted for the next phase in the application process.

3. Apply to the law enforcement agency for which you wish to work. All law enforcement agencies use either 911 call dispatchers or dispatchers who communicate with the officers.

4. Pass any required examinations. Some agencies will require a medical examination and/or computer aptitude examination.

5. Appear for your interview. If you make it to the interview stage, you likely will be asked about your background and required to submit fingerprints for an official Federal Bureau of Investigations background check. A polygraph examination may also be scheduled.

6. Complete job specific training; this will happen after you have been offered a job. The agency will provide the training either in-house or through a local or state training program. The training period will vary by agency but usually takes three to six months to complete.

Tips & Warnings

• Study a foreign language while in high school as bilingual dispatchers usually earn more per hour.

• A felony conviction, as well as some misdemeanors, will prevent your from being employed as a police dispatcher.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Police, Fire and Ambulance Dispatcher
• City of Springfield: Police Dispatcher Trainee
• The City of San Diego: Police Dispatcher
• Florida Bureau of Emergency Medical Services