If you have been searching for how to become a 911 dispatcher in New Jersey or a 911 operator in New Jersey, we have compiled some important information.
911 emergency communication services are provided in the state through private medical centers and public agencies. New Jersey has several “stand-alone” dispatch centers.
New Jersey 911 Dispatcher Training
New Jersey public safety operators in New Jersey must complete a basic training course, which includes the following topics (and more that are not listed):
- Overview of the Police Function
- Radio Broadcasting Processes and Rules
- Telecommunicators Legal Issues
- Interpersonal Communications
- Summary of the EMS Function
- Overview of the Fire Function
All 911 operators in New Jersey must complete yearly, in-service training that follows initial certification. This training includes an 8-hour plan approved by OERS and designed by the PSAP (local) to enhance 911 New Jersey services.
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New Jersey 911 Operator Education
Many who have chosen to pursue education to become a 911 operator in New Jersey have can pursue a certificate or a college degree in one of the following areas:
- Public Safety
- Emergency Management
- Homeland Security
- Psychology
- Communications
- Computer Science
- Criminal Justice
An Associate’s degree and or Bachelor’s degree may help 911 operators manage numerous crisis scenarios that occur. Issues can frequently come up that will need to be dealt with by a mature and practiced individual with preferably the following skills:
- Disaster Response and Recovery
- Emergency Planning for Businesses
- Hazard Planning and Mitigation
- Supervision and Management
Minimum requirements for employment in New Jersey as a dispatcher will include: being able to communicate effectively in English and Spanish, including understanding, speaking, and writing.
Discover 911 dispatcher programs in New Jersey that are a match for you!
New Jersey’s Working Dispatch System
911 operators working for the New Jersey State Police may work through one of six dispatch centers:
The ODU North: which is situated in Totowa, and is a focused Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) that contains forty-six trained public safety telecommunicators (911 dispatchers).
The ODU South: located in Williamstown, and is a Public Safety Answering Point that features thirty-one trained Public Safety Telecommunicators.
The ODU Central: which will be situated in West Trenton, and is a focused Public Safety Answering Point that features forty-two skilled Public Safety Telecommunicators.
Operational Dispatch Turnpike Region: The ODU Turnpike Region, which is situated in Cranbury, and functions as the communications hub, and is staffed with twenty Public Safety Telecommunicators.
Operational Dispatch Parkway: The ODU Parkway, which is situated in Woodbridge, and is a communications hub that’s staffed with twenty-six Public Safety Telecommunicators.
(As well as the state’s working dispatch centers, a number of the biggest dispatch centers are located within police departments throughout the state).
New Jersey 911 Dispatcher Salary
People in New Jersey who serve their communities as 911 dispatchers take home a well-earned living for their contribution. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average 911 operator in the state earns $44,090 per year.
911 Dispatcher Programs and Schools in New Jersey
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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!