Public Safety

How to become a 911 Dispatcher

From no experience: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there

3–6 months

Typical pay

$42k–$58k

Starting from

No experience

The steps

1. 1

   Pass the entry testing

   Typing speed, multitasking assessment, hearing test and a background check.

   2–4 months

2. 2

   Complete academy training

   Paid: call taking, radio protocol, CAD systems and stress management.

   2–4 months

   Course that covers thisTruck Dispatching, Start a Freight Dispatch BusinessUdemy · around $19.99 →
3. 3

   Get EMD certified

   Emergency medical dispatch — the pre-arrival instructions you give on the phone.

   EMD certification

   Course that covers thisCPR/AED Awareness Course: Save Lives with ConfidenceUdemy · around $19.99 →
4. 4

   Work through probation

   Sitting with a trainer on live calls until you are released to a console.

   6–12 months

Course links are Udemy affiliate links — we earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Licences and exams named above are issued by state boards and certifying bodies we have no relationship with; we list them because they are what the job actually requires.