Nassau County’s 911 call center, which is located in the Public Safety Center (PSC) in Westbury, serves the villages and towns of Long island. There are 38 911 operators in Nassau County’s 911 call center, which handles anywhere between 2,000 and 4,000 calls during an average day.
If you want to become a 911 dispatcher in Nassau County, you should expect to complete a number of steps:
 | Prepare for Employment in Nassau County |
 | Apply for Civil Service Examination |
 | Complete the Pre-Employment Process and Complete Initial Training |
Step 1. Prepare for Employment in Nassau County
Before applying for 911 operator jobs in Nassau County, you must ensure you meet the minimum requirements for employment, which requires a high school diploma and ONE of the following:
- Two years of satisfactory work experience; OR
- Two years of active military services with an honorable discharge; OR
- Two years of formal education from a regionally accredited (or New York State registered) college or university
Because attaining a 911 dispatcher job may be achieved through a formal education, you may choose to pursue an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a field related to emergency communications. In addition, a college degree may also prove beneficial when seeking more advanced positions within the field of emergency communications. Just a few of the programs often sought by 911 dispatchers include:
- Public Safety
- Communications
- Emergency Management
- Homeland Security
- Computer Science
There is a wide variety of degree programs in these fields, including:
- Associate of Applied Science in Public Safety and Emergency Management
- Associate of Arts in Communications
- Associate of Science in Homeland Security
- Associate of Science in Emergency Management
- Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management
- Bachelor of Science in Public Safety with a concentration in Homeland Security
Step 2. Apply for Civil Service Examination
The first step in the employment process for 911 dispatchers involves completing an application for examination, which may be obtained from the Nassau County Civil Service Commission.
You must include a certified bank check or money order (payable to Nassau County) with your application. Upon reviewing the date of the next examination for 911 operators, you must ensure that the Civil Service Commission receives your application on or before the last date of filing (by mail) or on the last date of filing if you are presenting the application in person at:
Nassau County Civil Service Commission
40 Main Street
Hempstead, NY 11550
Once the Civil Service Commission has obtained and approved your application for examination, you will receive a notice of admission. The Civil Service examination is designed to test your knowledge, skills, and abilities in spelling and in following directions.
You can expect to receive a notice of rating in the mail within 6 months of taking the exam.
Step 3. Complete the Pre-Employment Process and Complete Initial Training
If you are chosen as a candidate for a 911 dispatcher job, you must undergo a background investigation conducted by the Civil Service Commission, which includes drug testing and fingerprinting, as well as a medical examination, which includes a hearing test, a color vision test, and a speech test.
Upon being hired, you must also complete an initial training program of 200 hours, which is provided by the New York State Public Service Commission. You must complete this training within 12 months of being hired.