Over the years, people had asked me, “How do you become a dispatcher in NJ?” My answer… “Apply!” Well, that’s the simple answer. First of all, you have to ask yourself. “Where do you want to work?” We have towns, counties, state, federal, and private dispatch centers in NJ.
Competition for a dispatch position is fierce, how do you get an advantage? The answer is simple…. No matter where you want to work, they all require certifications! Get certified!
In reality, you have to understand how New Jersey Emergency Communications works. Outside of New Jersey, most if not all, Emergency Communication Centers are regionalized. Meaning if someone calls 911, an Emergency Call Center (PSAP), usually a county or state dispatch center, picks up the 911 call. These regionalized centers process and identify the type of call at which time they then transfer the call to the responsible dispatcher (police, fire, EMS).
However, in NJ, less than 10% of the Emergency Communication Centers are regionalized (Monmouth and Ocean Counties are examples of this). The rest of NJ areas have their own individual communication center. That said, a lot of Police Dispatch Agencies prefer someone who already has or is going to have their Basic 911 Officer and Emergency Medical Dispatch certificates. Reason… Time! It takes time to get trained and certified.
Approximately 80% of Emergency Communication Centers or Police Dispatch Agencies in New Jersey require two certifications - Basic 911 and Emergency Medical Dispatch. The Basic 911 is a 40 hours course and the Emergency Medical Dispatch is a 32 hours course. The remaining 20% of Emergency Communication Centers or Police Dispatch Agencies of require Basic 911.
You want to be a dispatcher in New Jersey? Get trained and certified now! We are here to help. We offer Basic 911, NJ EMD and CPR/BLS courses every month.
BONUS! Our Basic 911, NJ EMD and CPR/BLS certifications are nationally recognized. What does this mean? It means your credentials are good for any dispatcher position across the United States!
This 40-hours National Emergency Communications Institute (NECI) Basic 9-1-1 Officer Basic Communications course provides individuals with the basic knowledge, skills and experience to understand the functional operation of an emergency communications system. In addition, students learn the importance of the 9-1-1 Communications Officer’s role and responsibilities within the emergency communications system.
This course meets the following national 9-1-1 standards:
NECI Basic 911 Officer Course Content:
By the end of the course, the 9-1-1 Communications Officer candidates will received training and have been tested (written and practical) in the following subjects:
Note: State mandated minimum scores must be met or exceeded on both the final written and practical exercises before Basic 9-1-1 Communications certification is awarded.
This course is the state mandated 32-hours Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Program that all 9-1-1 Communications Officer candidates must complete and pass with a satisfactory score. The course is designed to provide police officers and dispatchers with the necessary information to function as an EMD Communications Officer. Please note that this course has prerequisites, see below for details.*
This program meets the following EMD national certification standards:
By the end of the course, the EMD Communications Officer candidate will have demonstrated knowledge and proficiency in the following course content areas to a measurable standard:
Note: State mandated minimum scores must be met or exceeded on both the final written and practical exercises before Communications certification is awarded.
*Prerequisites:
If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to serve you.
Phone: 201-446-3375
Email: info@psafetytraining.com
Please note there are NO refunds or exchanges once you are registered.