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Everything you need to know about

9-1-1 CAREERS

911 Operator Careers and Dispatch Jobs

Careers as 9-1-1 Communicators are both exciting and rewarding.  The job can be challenging at times but most days you get to leave the communications centre feeling like you've made a difference.  

What does a 9-1-1 operator do?

 When a citizen dials 9-1-1 they are transferred to the nearest Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) or Central Emergency Reporting Bureau (CERB).  Depending on local 9-1-1 structure, the person that answers the call will typically answer the call with "9-1-1, Do you need Police, Fire or Ambulance?" 

Once the call type is identified, the caller is transferred to the appropriate communications centre:  Police, Fire or Ambulance.  In most cases, the PSAP is operated by the local police department.  That means that the 9-1-1 communicator and the police communicator are one in the same.

The 9-1-1 operator who answers the call will use a stringent set of protocols to ask questions and determine a response to the incident.  After the response is identified, the call information can be dispatched to the responding units.     

how much do 9-1-1 operators make?

There is a broad spectrum of wages for 9-1-1 Operators.  In the U.S., 9-1-1 Operators generally make $10-$20 USD per hour.  9-1-1 Operators in Canada typically make between $30-$40 per hour. 

There are also additional factors involved in salary.  Some centers have a wage ladder wherein employees receive annual pay increases for the first 5 - 10 years of employment.  Other centers have a brief training or probationary period with restricted wages, and then all employees make the full wage as they do the same jobs.   

It is also worth noting that most 9-1-1 Communications Centers require additional staffing on an ongoing basis and that means there is the opportunity for Communicators to work overtime shifts at a premium rate.

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9-1-1 Emergency and Call Centre Communications program at Durham College
  • 2 year diploma program
  • Canada's only english-speaking 2 year diploma in 9-1-1 Communications
  • Experiential learning opportunities
  • Labs offer simulations using computer-aided dispatch technologies
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www.durhamcollege.ca

WE WISH YOU THE BEST ON YOUR UPCOMING TESTS AND INTERVIEWS!


Email

911Professor@shield-institute.ca
  • Home
  • CritiCall Test
  • Perfex Test
  • Typing Test
  • Interviews
  • Applications
  • 9-1-1 Skills Testing
    • Online Testing Tips
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Memory Techniques
    • Speech Skills
  • 9-1-1 Careers
  • Typing Tutorial
  • 9-1-1 BLog