EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATOR TRAINING
On September 1, 2019 Texas House Bill 1090 officially recognized and reclassified Emergency Telecommunicators as First Responders in the State of Texas. The State of Texas made history by becoming the first state in the country to recognize and reclassify its Emergency Telecommunicators as First Responders. Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1090 into law on June 10, 2019.
9-1-1 Telecommunicators receive specialized training in order to handle a broad range of potential call types in the PSAP. Texas requires all law enforcement Telecommunicators to complete a 40-hour Basic Telecommunicator training course prior to taking TCOLE’s licensing exam within their first year of employment. In addition, Telecommunicators must complete several hours of “field training” before receiving their Basic Telecommunications Certification from TCOLE.
The Texas Department of Public Safety also requires all PSAPs performing law enforcement functions to attend 24 hours of training on the Texas and the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications Systems (TLETS/NLETS) within their first 6 months of employment. CCECD offers this, and additional training in: Law Enforcement Dispatch, Fire Service Dispatch, Emergency Medical Dispatch, Communication Training Officer, Basic Spanish, Ethics, Crisis Communications and more to assist Telecommunicators with advancing to intermediate and advance certification levels.
Telecommunicators are required complete 20 hours of continuing education training every two years or TCOLE training cycle in order to maintain their Telecommunicator license. Seasoned Telecommunicators have an opportunity to progress from a Basic Proficiency Certificate to an Intermediate Proficiency Certificate, Advance Proficiency Certificate and a Master Proficiency Certificate. For more information visit the TCOLE website.
In order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, all call-takers must attend training on Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at least once every six months. This training provides familiarity with the equipment, and keeps them abreast of changes in technology.
CCECD also offers training from various organizations such as the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) and the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) that specialize in issues affecting public safety.
CCECD is committed to assisting each Public Safety Answering Point it serves with continuing education training for the professional development of their 9-1-1 Telecommunicators.
TCOLE Training Cycle
TCOLE Training Cycle Ends
Sexual Assault & Family Violence Investigator Course for Telecommunication Professionals (TCOLE #3267) The true first responders in any emergency are the telecommunication professionals, whose primary objectives are to respond to calls appropriately, and ensure victim and officer safety. The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Investigator Course for Telecommunication Professionals (SAFVIC for TCPs) is designed to provide 911 call-takers across the state with the tools they need to effectively identify and facilitate sexual assault and family violence calls. Topics Include: Statistics and History of Sexual Assault and Family Violence Dynamics of Family Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, and Human Trafficking Special Topics: Family Violence & Sexual Assault Against People with Disabilities and/or Adults Later in Life, Family Violence & Sexual Assault in the Military, and Violence in Immigrant & Tribal Communities Understanding Victims & Safety Planning Best Practices for Handling Sexual Assault and Family Violence Calls State and Federal Laws Participants will be eligible for 8-hours of TCOLE credit upon successful completion of the course. Training hours will be reported by TMPA. SAFVIC for TCPs - Course Registration Portal
A comprehensive Communications Training Officer (CTO) Program is essential for developing confident, competent telecommunicators, improving caller outcomes, and reducing organizational liability. The APCO Institute Communications Training Officer (CTO) Course provides agencies with the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to develop, implement, and maintain a structured, consistent one-on-one training program. Designed to prepare Communications Training Officers for their critical role, the course equips participants with the skills to effectively coach, mentor, and evaluate new hires through standardized on-the-job training. Upon successful completion, CTOs will be prepared to build, support, and sustain a comprehensive agency training program while promoting consistency in instruction, documentation, performance evaluation, and recordkeeping. Participants also receive printed versions of the essential forms and documentation required to administer a comprehensive CTO program. The APCO Institute CTO Course has been updated to reflect current industry best practices. The curriculum incorporates the foundational principles of the industry-recognized San Jose Model and aligns with APCO ANS 3.101.3-2017: Core Competencies and Minimum Training Standards for Public Safety Communications Training Officers, ensuring agencies receive a modern, standards-based approach to developing effective Communications Training Officers. Topics Include: The Communications Training Officer: roles and responsibilities in performance management and training CTO program building blocks Preparing, motivating and communicating with trainees Training the adult leader Documentation in the CTO program Tracking and evaluating trainee performance Liability The CTO and the future of the workplace Course resources include templates for the daily observation report (DOR), task list, trainee tracking form and standardized evaluation guidelines.