The Guilford Metro 911 (also referred to as simply GM 911), is the single point of contact for all 911 emergency communications in Guilford County and City of Greensboro area. The Guilford Metro 911, which is located in Greensboro, serves as the first point of contact for individuals who need to reach emergency responders 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you want to become a 911 dispatcher in Guilford County and Greensboro, you must complete a number of necessary steps:
 | Prepare for Employment in Guilford County |
 | Apply for Employment in Guilford County |
 | Complete Pre-Employment Process |
 | Complete 911 Dispatcher Training |
911 dispatchers in the Guilford Metro 911 dispatch 911 calls to the following departments in Guilford County:
- Greensboro Fire
- Greensboro Police
- Guilford County Emergency Management
- Guilford County EMS
- Guilford County Fire Department
- Guilford County Sheriff
Guilford Metro 911’s Communication Center handles about 700,000 calls per year.
Step 1. Prepare for Employment in Guilford County
Before applying for a job as a 911 dispatcher, you must ensure you meet Guilford Metro 911’s minimum requirements for employment:
- You must have excellent hearing and clear speech and verbal skills.
- You must have good customer service skills.
- You must possess a high school diploma or GED.
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You must be a United States citizen.
- You must have no felony convictions.
An excellent way to prepare for a career in emergency dispatching is by completing an associate or bachelor’s degree program. Although programs in emergency communications do not yet exist, completing a course of study in one of the following programs is common for individuals who want to pursue 911 operator jobs:
- Emergency Management
- Public Safety
- Communications
- Homeland Security
- Criminal Justice
Step 2. Apply for Employment in Guilford County
Before applying for employment, you make take a typing test, at no cost, which can be taken at any North Carolina Division of Employment Security Office. You must pass the typing test by typing with a speed of at least 35 wpm. Your application will not be considered if you haven’t passed the typing test.
To qualify for employment as a 911 operator in Guilford County, you must first complete an application packet, which includes the following forms:
- City of Greensboro Equal Opportunity Questionnaire
- Authorization and Release to Obtain Information Sheet
- Application Check-Off Sheet
Note: Applications for 911 operators in the Guilford Metro 911 are accepted year-round.
You may submit your application to:
Human Resources Department
City of Greensboro
P.O. Box 3136
Greensboro, NC 27402
Step 3. Complete Pre-Employment Process
If you are contacted as a candidate for a 911 operator job, you must successfully complete the pre-employment process, which includes:
- A vision test and hearing test
- A preliminary screening test that assesses error recognition, information identification, categorizing information, and information recall, followed by four hours of onsite observation
- A panel interview
- Criminal background investigation
- Psychological screening
- Drug screening
- Medical evaluation by a licensed physician
- Fingerprinting
Step 4. Complete 911 Dispatcher Training
Before you begin work as a 911 dispatcher with the Guilford Metro 911, you must spend at least 6 weeks at an onsite rookie school.
The rookie school includes a combination of classroom work and hands-on training. You can expect the program to include homework, quizzes, tests, and a final exam.
During training, you can expect to receive the following certifications through the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch as an Emergency Communications Specialist:
- Emergency Telecommunicator
- Emergency Medical Dispatch
- Emergency Fire Dispatch
You will also be required to obtain CPR certification and certification through the Division of Criminal Information, a 12-hour state certification.
Upon completion of rookie training, you will undergo an on-the-job training program with a certified Communications Training Officer (CTO). You must train with your CTO until you have completed this portion of the training program, which can take up to 18 months.