Editing Dispatcher (section)

==Training and employment==
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Employment as a dispatcher does not usually require a level of education higher than a [[high school diploma]], but many that work in the field hold liberal arts degrees. Employers prefer candidates with computer and [[clerk|clerical]] skills, [[communication]] skills, and the ability to work fast under pressure.<ref name=ooh /> 

Candidates for employment as public safety dispatchers may be required to pass written, oral, or performance tests and are governed by state or local regulations. Public safety dispatchers may also have to obtain [[Professional certification|certifications]] and attend additional training before or after they are employed by state or local governments to dispatch for police, fire, or emergency medical services. The level of training required for these dispatchers is typically the most extensive in comparison to other dispatch positions.<ref name=ooh />

A standard certification requirement for public safety dispatchers is Terminal Operator certification for access to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation ([[FBI]]) [[National Crime Information Center]] (NCIC) database system. Access to this database system often allows additional access to the state-level system comparable to NCIC which allows public safety dispatchers to access motor vehicle registration and drivers license information as well as wants or warrants by various law enforcement agencies both statewide and national.

In addition to certifications, specialized training is also required or appropriated to public safety dispatchers. As public safety dispatchers are the first contact made between the public and emergency services, public safety dispatchers need to be able to extract a vast array of information out of the caller. Such specialized training for 911 dispatchers can include: suicide intervention, hostage negotiation, bomb threats, tactical dispatching (for SWAT teams), domestic violence and domestic and foreign terrorism countermeasures.  Many are also trained as [[emergency medical dispatcher]]s, able to give first aid instructions to victims or families prior to EMS arrival.

According to the [[Bureau of Labor Statistics|United States Bureau of Labor Statistics]], 266,000 people were employed as dispatchers in 2004.<ref name=ooh />  In addition, it is expected that a number of current dispatchers will either transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force, which will result in an increase of openings.<ref name=ooh />