The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center answers both non-emergency and emergency calls for Franklin County, Ohio, which is home to Ohio’s largest city, Columbus.
If you want to become a 911 dispatcher in Franklin County, you must complete the following steps:
 | Meet Minimum Requirements for Employment in Franklin County |
 | Apply for Employment as a 911 Dispatcher in Franklin County |
 | Complete Training |
Step 1. Meet Minimum Requirements for Employment in Franklin County
Although it is not a requirement to possess any formal education beyond a high school diploma in order to achieve a 911 dispatcher in Franklin County, individuals often choose to pursue a college education as to increase their chances of advancement in the field of emergency communications and achieve supervisory positions in the future.
There are a number of ideal college degree programs that will provide you with the skills and education necessary to excel in the field of emergency communications, including:
- Public Safety
- Emergency Management
- Homeland Security
- Criminal Justice
- Communications
For example, an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in emergency management likely provides you with knowledge in the following topics:
- Emergency Planning
- Disaster Response
- Technology in Emergency Management
- Crisis Intervention
- Terrorism in Emergency Management
Step 2. Apply for Employment as a 911 Dispatcher in Franklin County
Before applying for a job as a 911 operator, you must search the Franklin County Sheriff’s employment site for a list of open positions. All open positions can be applied for online by creating an account with a login and password. The job description will include all pre-employment testing that may need to be completed before achieving a job, including a background investigation, a drug screen, and a medical examination, among others.
Step 3. Complete Training
The Franklin County 911 Communications Center is equipped with some of the newest technology, including enhanced 911, automatic telecommunications device for the deaf (TTD) services, and a Language Line, which provides limited-English callers with immediate access to quality interpreters. All 911 dispatchers (communications technicians) in the Communications Center are supervised by uniformed deputy supervisors.
Ohio law states that all 911 operators are encouraged to complete at least 40 hours of instruction in topics such as:
- Communication skills
- Disaster planning
- Law, fire and EMS terminology
- Radio discipline
- Responder safety
- Telephone techniques