Becoming a 911 dispatcher is an important job that requires specific skills to pull off successfully.
These skills include being calm under pressure, good memory skills, excellent typing skills, et cetera.
The article will explain the easiest ways to become a 911 dispatcher.
The report will also highlight the qualifications needed to get a dispatcher job. We will also disclose the average salary of 911 dispatchers.
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Qualifications Needed to Qualify for a 911 Dispatcher Job
You must possess a high school diploma to get a 911 dispatcher job. It is a compulsory requirement for every police dispatcher to have a high school diploma or a GED certificate.
Furthermore, you can only apply for these positions if you are eighteen and above.
If you are yet to graduate from high school or are in the process of getting your GED, you must complete one of these programs to be considered for a dispatcher position.
Maintain a clean criminal record because most 911 dispatcher jobs require that you possess a clean criminal record and, in some cases, may require that you give a lie detector test.
Being arrested for a minor offense might not stop you from becoming a 911 dispatcher.
Required Skills
You must acquire specific skills to ensure you can meet the stated requirements for the dispatcher job once it becomes available. These are some of those skills;
A 911 dispatcher must possess excellent typing skills. 911 dispatchers are often required to type relayed information very quickly and accurately.
Before you are employed as a 911 dispatcher, you must be able to demonstrate basic typing skills, which include speed and accuracy, as part of the application process.
You can easily prepare for this by practicing typing until you can type at least thirty-five words per minute with a ninety percent accuracy.
You can always practice your accuracy and typing speed by using a free online typing test.
To be a 911 dispatcher, you must have good knowledge of the local geography.
911 dispatchers must be knowledgeable about their local geography to properly assess and assign emergency response personnel and identify the location of callers.
If you identify where you want to work as a 911 dispatcher, study any maps of the local area you can find.
A library might be an excellent place to start. Learn the names of the neighborhoods, and gain a reasonable understanding of the basic layout of your location, including significant landmarks.
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How to Become a 911 Dispatcher
To become a 911 dispatcher, you might have to search online job sites for available 911 dispatcher positions.
If you’re lucky, you might come across some dispatcher positions on the site.
On some occasions, police departments might post employment opportunities for police dispatchers on some of these commercial job sites to attract a sizeable applicant pool.
Therefore, a very effective way to start your job search online is to perform an internet search that includes words such as police dispatcher job openings and the geographic region you hope to work in.
After finding an available 911 dispatch position, request the application by downloading it from the website or visiting the police department and filling it out.
Ensure you meet the minimum requirement. Job applications usually require information such as your contact information and background information.
They may also ask you about any criminal convictions. Therefore, you must answer all of the questions truthfully.
Take the police dispatcher exam. The police department will most likely ask you to take a written exam and other tests, such as typing and your knowledge of the local geography. Endeavor to come early on the day of the exam
- Read all of the exam instructions carefully
- Determine whether the instructions set forth how points are calculated
- Skip questions that you’re unsure of if the exam penalizes you for incorrect answers
- Attempt all questions if the exam does not penalize you for wrong answers.
- Be careful when answering the questions and try to finish the test within the allotted time.
911 Dispatcher Salary
The average salary for most 911 dispatchers is around $38,010. They earn about $22.19 per hour and sometimes work for long hours.
The 911 dispatcher job is quite demanding hence the need to be on your toes.
911 dispatchers sometimes earn up to $50,000 per annum. It all boils down to your negotiation skills and years of experience.
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Conclusion
There are easy ways to become a 911 dispatcher. These ways and more have been extensively covered in the article.
If you want to learn how to become a 911 dispatcher, this article is definitely for you.
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