To become an Arizona 911 dispatcher, you must meet the state requirements and also possess the proper education and training that is requested.
The state of Arizona has a higher crime rate than the national average, especially in terms of crimes like robbery, theft, and murder, in addition to crimes that happen along the U.S./Mexican border. For this reason, Arizona is looking for qualified applicants to be employed as 911 dispatchers all over the state.
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Arizona 911 Operator Requirements
Remember that although some places of employment may hold similar standards for those that they hire, different cities will have requirements that are specific to them. Some similar requirements include:
- Learning road places and directions in the city of employment
- Be willing, and capable, to work weekends, nights, holidays, and evenings
- Be CPR certified prior to employment
- Sucessfully complete the Phoenix Fire Department Emergency Medical Dispatch within half a year of employment
Arizona 911 Operator Education
For potential applicants, one of the most important moves you can make for your career is to obtain a college education. The most beneficial degrees are the ones with the most coursework directly related to the profession. These majors include:
- Psychology
- Communications
- Computer Systems
- Criminology
Along with these degree programs, lessons in management, disaster management, and successful decision making can improve job prospects and long term job performance.
Desirable Arizona 911 Operator Qualifications and Abilities
Arizona 911 operators/dispatchers will benefit greatly from being able to handle stressful situations with accuracy and poise. Those looking to become 911 dispatchers should be able to:
- Having the ability to multitask in stressful scenarios
- Being able to make quick decisions that are within section regulations
- Having a strong knowledge of roads and landmarks in the cities that they work to provide the best possible directions to emergency response vehicles
- Having the ability to work with callers who are in potentially terrifying scenarios and lead them with confidence
A lot of the Arizona municipalities possess a demand for 911 operators. A few of these important regions are:
- Phoenix – Arizona’s biggest city.
- Tucson – Tucson is Arizona’s second biggest city. This mid-sized city is located in the southern half of the state.
- Mesa – Mesa is just another mid-sized city in Arizona, . Having a population of about 440,000 makes Mesa the third largest city in the state.
Arizona 911 Dispatcher Organizations
While working as a 911 operator it will be important to stay up to date with industry standards and protocol. For this reason, it is important to be aware of these emergency service organizations:
- The National Emergency Number Association
- The International Academies of Emergency Dispatch
- The APCO
Arizona 911 Dispatcher Salary
In the state of Arizona, 911 operators make a great living for the service that they provide to those in their communities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average 911 dispatcher brings home $43,230 per year.
911 Dispatcher Programs and Schools in Arizona
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Choose your area of study and receive free information about programs you are interested in. 911 dispatchers can benefit greatly from degrees in public safety, emergency management, homeland security, and criminal justice. Request information from multiple programs to make an informed decision on the best program and educational opportunity for you!