By state

911 Dispatcher Requirements by State

The skills the hiring test measures are the same across the country — but whether you need a state certification, and who sets it, varies a lot. Pick your state to see who certifies telecommunicators there, what the state requires, and where to apply. Then practice the test itself.

Every state fact below is drawn from the official state body, statute, or administrative code, with a link to the source. Which pre-employment test an agency uses is set by that agency, not the state — always check the job posting.

California

California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)

Texas

Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE)

Florida

Florida Department of Health — 911 Public Safety Telecommunicator Program

New York

NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES)

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) — 911 Office

Illinois

Office of the Statewide 9-1-1 Administrator, Illinois State Police

Ohio

Ohio 9-1-1 Program Office (Department of Administrative Services)

Georgia

Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (Georgia POST)

North Carolina

N.C. 911 Board (Department of Information Technology)

Michigan

Michigan State 911 Committee (administered through the Michigan State Police)

New Jersey

Office of Emergency Telecommunications Services (OETS)

Virginia

Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)

Washington

Public Safety Telecommunicators Certification Board (State 911 Coordination Office)

Arizona

Requirements set by each agency

Massachusetts

State 911 Department (Executive Office of Public Safety and Security)

Tennessee

Tennessee Emergency Communications Board (Department of Commerce and Insurance)

Missouri

Missouri 911 Service Board (Department of Public Safety)

Indiana

Indiana Statewide 911 Board

Maryland

Maryland 9-1-1 Board (Maryland Department of Emergency Management)

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Office of Emergency Communications (Department of Military Affairs)

Colorado

Colorado 911 Resource Center

Minnesota

Emergency Communication Networks division, Minnesota Department of Public Safety

More states are being added. Don't see yours? The hiring test skills are national — start with the practice modules, and check your agency's posting for the exact requirements where you are.