The National Academies of Emergency Dispatch (NAED) offers certification courses that train participants to effectively use priority dispatch systems. The proper use of sound protocol is an essential part of the quality of service that a 911 caller gets. The certification course for police dispatchers, developed by the NAED's curriculum boards, covers a number of concepts aimed at enabling police dispatchers to provide a professional response. The coursework is spread over three days and includes lectures, discussion, video and audio training and role-playing activity.
Morris County, New Jersey, offers a course dealing with emergency medical dispatch for police officers and others who would like such training. The state-approved certification course trains participants to prioritize calls for emergency assistance. It also provides training in emergency medical care before medical personnel arrives. Training is in the form of exercises and demonstrations. Morris County offers related courses in 911 telecommunication training, which is a prerequisite for the emergency medical dispatch course.
Those who work as public dispatchers in California must complete a basic dispatch course within a year of employment. The Napa Valley Criminal Justice Training Center course serves that need. The course is open to those who wish to pursue a career as a police dispatcher. The training is certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. The course provides training in areas such as criminal law, emergency telephone answering techniques, radio dispatching and radio codes.
Napa Valley College, in California, offers an academic program geared to those who want a career as a police dispatcher. This is the first such program in the state, according to the college. It includes 18 credit hours of study related to law enforcement dispatching. A basic dispatch course, such as the one offered by the Napa Valley Criminal Justice Center, is a prerequisite for this program. A course in community policing is another prerequisite.