Florida is the third largest employer of 9-1-1 operators in the United States. With over 6,000 operators throughout the state, it is estimated by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity that this number will continue to grow through the end of the decade.
In October 2012, Florida passed a new law requiring any person that works as a 9-1-1 Telecommunicator to be certified. This law now requires candidates to take 232 hours of classroom training and pass a state certification exam in order to be eligible for certification. Once the test is passed, a candidate needs to apply to the State of Florida for their certification.
Palm Beach State College offers a local 911 Public Safety Telecommunicator Academy that meets or exceeds the requirements set by the State of Florida. In this program, you will learn:
- 10 Codes and Signals
- Operational Skills
- Hostage Negotiations
- Active Shooter and many other topics
You will also be able to sit in a real 9-1-1 communcations center as part of your academy training. The academy is instructed by local Public Safety and 9-1-1 professionals with many years of combined experience.
For further information on the programs offered at Palm Beach State College, click here.