Working out of the Augusta-Richmond County 911 Center as an emergency dispatcher you will act as a vital link between the public and emergency services including fire, medical, and police.
If you make it through the hiring process your salary will start at $25,600.55 per year, and last year in the Augusta-Richmond County area there were 160 professional emergency operators earning an average of $29,480 annually.
The purpose of this guide is to help you develop a successful application so as to become a 911 operator in Augusta:
 | Obtain Competitive Training and Education |
 | Apply with the City of Augusta |
 | On-the-Job Training |
 | Explore Career Options |
Step 1. Obtain Competitive Training and Education
As you begin researching how to become a 911 dispatcher in Augusta you will be up against other candidates who meet the minimum qualifications for this position: a high school education and at least a year of work experience dealing with the public.
Having a related college degree – available from three Augusta-based schools and a number of others online – can help you rise above the competition for 911 dispatcher jobs at the Augusta-Richmond County 911 Center. Consider the following:
- A Homeland Security degree, providing you with instruction on disaster management, terrorist psychology, and chain-of-command
- An Emergency Management degree, offering instruction on subject areas including disaster preparedness, technology, and large-scale communications
- A Psychology degree, with courses on disaster psychology, stress management techniques, and crisis intervention
- A Law Enforcement degree, providing you with knowledge about police communications and criminal procedures
Step 2. Apply with the City of Augusta
The city maintains a continuous recruitment process for 911 dispatcher jobs, so you can always apply for the Communications Officer I position, the official name for an emergency operator.
When you are satisfied with your 911 operator training and education credentials, you can get started with your online application by creating an account with the human resources department. Once your application is accepted and you are chosen to continue in the hiring process, you will face:
- Panel interview
- Background check
- Reference check
- Possible drug test
Step 3. On-the -Job Training
You will participate in on-the-job 911 dispatcher training after being hired. This 40-hour Basic Communications Officer (BCO) Training Course will earn you a BCO Certification, and includes training in areas such as:
- Telephone techniques
- Crisis intervention
- Georgia/National Crime Information Center (GCIC/NCIC)
- Emergency Medical Dispatch
- Terrorism and weapons of mass destruction
- Law enforcement dispatch
- Communication with impaired callers
- Fire and medical dispatch
Step 4. Explore Career Options
In an effort to make yourself attractive for promotions plus a more efficient life-saving dispatcher, you can always keep an eye out for local opportunities in Augusta. Relevant training and educational opportunities that will further your knowledge are offered by organizations such as: