Fire Service Communications

This Fire Service Communications course is offered through a partnership with the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO). In this course, taught by a certified APCO instructor, students will learn how to answer calls for Fire Service and properly prioritize responses. Students will also develop the knowledge and skills needed to convey proper pre-arrival instructions to callers and manage fire resources. This course provides an overview of fire service communications including organizational structure, fire behaviour, fire apparatus and terminology, computer-aided dispatch, hazardous materials and the National Incident Management System. This is a PASS or FAIL course that also offers the opportunity to be certified by APCO. APCO certification requires students meet the following criteria: Receive an overall passing course grade, meet APCO attendance requirements, 70% or better on the practical exam, and achieve at least 80% on the final written exam. Upon successful completion, students will be eligible to receive a certificate of completion from the APCO Institute. Upon successful completions student are eligible to write the NFPA Telecommunicator Level I and II certification exams (cost of NFPA certification not included in program tuition).