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CERTIFICATE OF DISTINCTION

The Certificate of Distinction is a program created by the Virginia APCO Training & Scholarship Committee to recognize the achievements of 9-1-1 Dispatchers across Virginia.  There are 5 categories of distinction, and dispatchers can be recognized in one or all of them. These categories are Fire Dispatch, Law Enforcement Dispatch, Training, Leadership, and the biggest of them is the 9-1-1 Distinction! Submissions are taken year-round and awarded at the Fall Conference for each category.

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Requirements

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To be eligible for recognition, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • ​Must be a current member of the Virginia Chapter of APCO (any membership category).

  • ​A completed packet must be submitted by September 1st for recognition in the same calendar year.

  • The packet must include copies of certificates or documentation showing the required criteria have been met.

  • The submission sheet must include the acknowledgement from the Supervisor, Manager, or Director confirming the applicant meets the specific requirements.

  • Members may only receive each certificate once.

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Categories

All training courses listed below refer to APCO Institute courses unless otherwise noted.

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FIRE
Certificate of Distinction in Fire Dispatch

 

Applicants must have 3​ of the following:

  • Fire Service Communications*

  • Fundamentals of Tactical Dispatch

  • Active Shooter Incidents for Public Safety Communications

  • Disaster Operations and the Communications Center

  • Surviving Stress

POLICE
Certificate of Distinction in Law Enforcement Dispatch

 

Applicants must have 3​ of the following:

  • Law Enforcement Communications*

  • Crisis Negotiations

  • Fundamentals of Tactical Dispatch

  • Active Shooter Incidents for Public Safety Communications

  • Surviving Stress

TRAIN
Certificate of Distinction in Training

 

Applicants must have 4 of the following:

  • Communications Training Officer*

  • Comprehensive Quality

  • Public Safety Telecommunicator, Instructor

  • Fire Service Communications, Instructor

  • Law Enforcement Communications, Instructor

  • Communications Training Officer, Instructor

LEAD
Certificate of Distinction in Leadership

 

Applicants must have 5 of the following:

  • Communications Center Supervisor*

  • Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL)

  • Communications Training Officer

  • Bullying & Negativity in the Communications Center

  • Customer Service in Today's Public Safety Communications

  • Staffing & Retention in the ECC

  • Comprehensive Quality

911
Certificate of Distinction in 9-1-1 Communications

 

Applicants must have 10 of the following:

  • Fire Service Communications*

  • Law Enforcement Communications*

  • Public Safety Telecommunicator*

  • Communications Center Supervisor*

  • Communications Training Officer*

  • Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL) OR Certified Public Safety Executive (CPE)

  • Communications Center Manager

  • Bullying & Negativity in the Communications Center

  • Crisis Negotiations

  • Cybersecurity Fundamentals for the ECC

  • Comprehensive Quality

  • Fundamentals of Tactical Dispatch

  • Active Shooter Incidents for Public Safety Communications

  • Disaster Operations and the Communications Center

  • Surviving Stress

  • ​Staffing & Retention in the ECC

Note: Instructor certificates will be accepted for any category in lieu on basic certificates. APCO does not require you to maintain the basic if you are an instructor.

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Packets can be submitted as one PDF file to Holly Williams. Any questions regarding the Certificate of Distinction can be emailed to Holly as well.

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