Alabama Training and PSAP Standards Committee Survey

Purpose: The purpose of this survey is to establish a training baseline for the State of Alabama that reflects the level of training at each agency that employs Telecommunicators, whether as call processors only or a combination of call processing and the dispatching of law, fire or Emergency Medical Services. It has been long established that the quality of employees and their development through training and education are major factors in determining long-term efficiency, retention, reduced supervision and production of an agency. The information in this survey will provide the Committee with the information needed to establish a statewide training program at little or no cost to our agencies and establish a database for statistical purposes. Confidentiality: Data contained in the response and all documentation provided therein, become the property of the Committee and the data will be held in confidence in accordance to Alabama State public record statutes. No information is requested that would be considered proprietary. Every effort will be made to hold the data in confidence however the Committee is under no obligation to maintain the confidentiality of the data in violation of State law and accepts no liability for the release of such information.

1) Name of Agency: ________________________________________________________

2) Location of Agency (include mailing and physical address, please): ________________________________________________________________________

3) Number of full time employee(s): _________

4) Number of part-time employee(s): ________

5) What functions does your center perform? Check ALL that apply:

☐ 9-1-1 call processing ☐ Non-emergency call processing ☐ Law enforcement dispatch ☐ Fire dispatch ☐ EMS dispatch

If other, please explain: ________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

6) What training is currently conducted for call processors? How soon after hiring does this training take place? Check ALL that apply.

_____ Basic Telecommunicator Course (PST or other) ____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ CPR ____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ EMD ____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 100-Intro to Incident Command ____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 200-ICS for Single Resources & Initial Action Incidents ____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 300-Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents ____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 400-Advanced ICS Command & General Staff-Complex Incidents ____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 700-An Introduction ____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 701-Multi-agency Coordination System ____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 800-National Response Framework ____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ NCIC/ACJIC Certification ____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Geography Exercise/GIS training/Map reading ____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Fire Ride-along ____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ EMS Ride-along ____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Law Enforcement Ride-along ____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Mock calls/ Scenarios/Drills ____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ TTY

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months _____ Telephony Systems Training

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ TERT Certificate of Training

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months _____ PS Communications Radio 101

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

7) What training is currently conducted for law dispatchers? How soon after hiring does this training take place? Check ALL that apply.

_____ Basic Telecommunicator Course (PST or other)

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ CPR

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ EMD

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Law Enforcement Dispatch Course

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 100-Intro to Incident Command

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 200-ICS for Single Resources & Initial Action Incidents

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 300-Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 400-Advanced ICS Command & General Staff-Complex Incidents

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 700-An Introduction

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 701-Multi-agency Coordination System

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 702-Public Information Systems

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 703-Resource Management

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 704-Communications & Information Management

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 706-Intrastate Mutual Aid

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 800-National Response Framework

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ NCIC/ACJIC Certification

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Geography Exercise/GIS training/Map reading

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Fire Ride-along

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ EMS Ride-along

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Law Enforcement Ride-along

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Mock calls/ Scenarios/Drills

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ TTY

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Supervisor Course

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Communications Training Officer Course

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Radio Systems Training

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Telephony Systems Training

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Telecommunicator Instructor Course

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Communications Training Instructor Course

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ EMD Instructor Course

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months _____

TERT Certificate of Training

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ PS Communications Radio 101

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

8) Training currently conducted for fire dispatchers only: How soon after hiring does

this training take place? Check ALL that apply.

_____ Basic Telecommunicator Course (PST or other)

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ CPR

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ EMD

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Fire/EMS Dispatch Course

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 100-Intro to Incident Command

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 200-ICS for Single Resources & Initial Action Incidents

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 300-Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 400-Advanced ICS Command & General Staff-Complex Incidents

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 700-An Introduction

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 701-Multi-agency Coordination System

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 702-Public Information Systems

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 703-Resource Management

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 704-Communications & Information Management

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 706-Intrastate Mutual Aid

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ FEMA/NIMS 800-National Response Framework

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ NCIC/ACJIC Certification

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Geography Exercise/GIS training/Map reading

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Fire Ride-along

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ EMS Ride-along

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Law Enforcement Ride-along ____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Mock calls/ Scenarios/Drills

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ TTY

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Supervisor Course

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Communications Training Officer Course

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Radio Systems Training

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Telephony Systems Training

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Telecommunicator Instructor Course

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ Communications Training Instructor Course

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ EMD Instructor Course

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ TERT Certificate of Training

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

_____ PS Communications Radio 101

____ 0-6 months ____ 6-12 months ____ After 12 months

9) How many fully certified employees do you have in the following range for years of experience? Provide a count for ALL that apply:

____1-3 years

____3-6 years

____6-12 years

____12-15 years

____15+ years

10) List of Certifications of your employees: Check ALL that apply:

_____ CPR

_____ EMD

_____ NCIC/ACJIC Certification

_____ TERT Certificate of Training

_____ PST

_____ POST (Peace Officer Standards & Training)

Other

11) Number of Certified Trainers/Instructors in Agency and courses they can train (such as PST/Telecommunicator, CPR, EMD, NCIC/ACJIC, etc). FEMA courses are not reflected because they can be acquired on-line or through State/FEMA instructors.

Name ________________________

Phone ________________________

Email ________________________

Class: _____ Basic Telecommunicator Course (PST or other) _____ CPR _____ EMD _____ NCIC/ACJIC Certification _____ Geography Exercise/GIS training/Map reading _____ Fire Ride-along _____ EMS Ride-along Fire Dispatch Course _____ Law Enforcement Dispatch Course Law Enforcement Ride-along Mock calls/ Scenarios/Drills TTY _____ TERT Certificate of Training

_____ PS Communications Radio 101 _____ Supervisor Course _____ Training Officer Course

_____ Radio Systems Training

_____ Telephony Systems Training

Name ________________________

Phone ________________________

Email ________________________

Class: _____ Basic Telecommunicator Course (PST or other) _____ CPR _____ EMD _____ NCIC/ACJIC Certification _____ Geography Exercise/GIS training/Map reading _____ Fire Ride-along _____ EMS Ride-along

Fire Dispatch Course _____ Law Enforcement Dispatch Course Law Enforcement Ride-along Mock calls/ Scenarios/Drills TTY _____ TERT Certificate of Training _____ PS Communications Radio 101 _____ Supervisor Course _____ Training Officer Course

_____ Radio Systems Training

_____ Telephony Systems Training

Name ________________________

Phone ________________________

Email ________________________

Class: _____ Basic Telecommunicator Course (PST or other) _____ CPR _____ EMD _____ NCIC/ACJIC Certification _____ Geography Exercise/GIS training/Map reading _____ Fire Ride-along _____ EMS Ride-along Fire Dispatch Course _____ Law Enforcement Dispatch Course Law Enforcement Ride-along Mock calls/ Scenarios/Drills TTY _____ TERT Certificate of Training _____ PS Communications Radio 101 _____ Supervisor Course _____ Training Officer Course

_____ Radio Systems Training

_____ Telephony Systems Training

12) Do you have a Training Coordinator/Manager? _____ Yes _____ No

If yes, please provide contact info: ____________________________________

_________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

13) How many assistants / CTO’s does your Coordinator have? ______

14) How many years of experience does your Training Coordinator have? ______

15) Level of training for 911 call-processors in your agency and the number of

personnel trained at that level (Provide a # for each level.): _____ Beginner (little or no formal classroom training/OJT)

_____ Intermediate (formal classroom including OJT in live environment)

_____ Advanced (Intermediate level plus at least 5 years of experience)

16) Level of training for dispatchers in your agency and the number of personnel

trained at that level (Provide a # for each level.):

_____ Beginner (little or no formal classroom training/OJT)

_____ Intermediate (formal classroom including OJT in live environment)

_____ Advanced (Intermediate level plus at least 5 years of experience)

17) Do you have and conduct CEU/CDE requirements? _____ Yes _____ No

18) What type of training scenario/environment do you envision?

_____ True academy with brick and mortar classrooms, dorms, etc.?

_____ All online courses?

_____ Regional “borrowed” classrooms?

_____ Mix of all three above?

_____ Other suggestion:

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

19) How should it be paid for?

_____ Initial training by agency/individual, CEUs by state agency or vice versa?

_____ Scholarships, incentives?

_____ Assumption of no- to low-cost training for agencies?

_____ Other suggestions:

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

20)

A. How soon should a new employee be certified?

Within _______ months of hire.

B. Should an employee be recertified?

_____ Never; once trained, always trained?

_____ Recertification through CEUs?

_____ Recertification test?

_____ Recertified every _____ years.

_____ Other suggestions:

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

21) Should training be tailored to agency or generic for new hires and specialization by

agency for specifics to their jurisdiction:

_____ Basic operator for everyone regardless of actual job duties?

_____ Discipline-specific (i.e. call-taker, law enforcement, fire, EMD)?

_____ Accept NENA, APCO, PowerPhone, etc. courses or develop them?

_____ Other suggestion:

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

22) Who is the certifying/enforcing/validating party for your training? How?

_____ Employee’s organization; in-house?

_____ State agency?

_____ Quality Assurance programs?

_____ Efficacy/pertinence of training material?

_____ Other suggestion:

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

23) Should operators be licensed, certified, registered, or other?

_______________ _____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

24) Grandfathering? Transferring from another state with standards or providing

automatic certification for employees with more than _____ years of experience?

_____Grandfather under a different designation?

_____Past experience count?

_____Should everyone initially test for certification?

_____Other suggestion:

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Please supply a contact and contact information in the event that the Committee needs to contact your agency for clarification of the data. Thank you for assisting the Committee in this important and vital effort to bring professionalization to our employees by providing training that brings every agency to the same level of service to our citizens. Name: __________________________________________

Contact number: ________________________________

Email: __________________________________________