Announcements

Join us for the next event in APCO’s Summit Series — the Wellness & Workforce Summit, taking place February 18-19, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona. This event builds on previous wellness and staffing summits to advance the conversation around workforce sustainability in public safety communications. Visit the website to view the program and learn more.

APCO is proud to announce the final approval of APCO ANS 3.103.3-2025 Minimum Training Standards for PSTs on October 31.

This milestone represents a major update to the standard, which APCO first published in 2010 and last revised in 2015. The new version reflects the realities of modern emergency communications, where telecommunicators must navigate advanced technologies and increasingly complex operational demands.

The Evolving Role of AI in ECCs
October 29 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET
Sponsored by Hexagon
Register

Transforming Incident Response and Enhancing Mutual Aid
November 5 | 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
Sponsored by FirstNet, Built with AT&T
Register

The call for speakers is now open for APCO 2026! We’re inviting dynamic speakers, industry experts and thought leaders to submit presentation proposals for one of our 11 professional development tracks. Learn more and apply to become a speaker now!

October 29 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET
1 CDE | Free for members; $59 for non-members
Sponsored by Hexagon

AI is here. Is your agency ready? AI for emergency communications centers (ECCs) is no longer a concept of the future. It’s here, transforming how ECCs operate, leading to faster response times and improved decision-making. But it’s only the beginning. Discover the role of AI today, and where it’s headed, so your agency can be prepared.

October 15 | 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET
1 CDE | Free for members; $59 for non-members
Sponsored by Aviat Networks

Join Aviat Networks for an in-depth webinar exploring how virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) technology enhances mobile public safety routers. Whether you’re managing fleet connectivity or designing resilient public safety networks, this session will provide actionable insights into how VRF supports enhanced security with the flexibility and control needed in today’s mobile environments.

We are thrilled about last week's historic passage of the Enhancing First Response Act (S.725) by the U.S. Senate. This legislation directs the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reclassify public safety telecommunicators as “protective service” occupations in the federal government’s catalog of occupations, the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC), correcting their current miscategorization as “administrative/clerical” workers and recognizing the lifesaving nature of their work. This is the first time that reclassification legislation has passed a chamber of Congress.

Introducing the next event in APCO's Summit Series: the Wellness & Workforce Summit. We've opened a call for speakers and are looking for dynamic speakers, facilitators and thought leaders to share real-world insights and fresh perspectives on wellness, staffing, recruitment, retention and culture in emergency communications. Whether you’re a frontline telecommunicator, supervisor, director, trainer or industry partner, we want to hear from you! Selected speakers will receive complimentary registration. Submit your proposal by October 3.

Want to get involved with the planning for APCO's Annual Conference & Expo? Apply to chair the conference committee for APCO 2027, taking place in Anaheim, California, on July 25 - July 28, 2027. Please submit your complete nomination to Patricia Giannini Henry at henryp@apcointl.org. The deadline for submission is December 1, 2025. 

Please note that a scheduled system update for APCO’s online course platform will occur on Thursday, September 11, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. During this time, the site will be in maintenance mode, and students will not have access. Please plan accordingly. 

Answering the Call for Help: Supporting 9-1-1 Telecommunicators Before and After Traumatic Calls
September 4 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET
Free for members; $59 for non-members | Worth 1 CDE
Sponsored by Versaterm

AI Threats and New Solutions for Connecting Stalled 9-1-1 Calls
September 18 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET
Free for members; $59 for non-members | Worth 1 CDE

APCO is offering a no-cost solution to help emergency communication centers (ECCs) address staffing shortages through the Career Instructor Program (CIP).

CIP provides certified educators with free training in APCO’s Public Safety Telecommunicator (PST) 1, 7th Edition course. These educators can then teach the course to high school or college students, producing industry-certified, work-ready telecommunicators.

ECCs are encouraged to partner with local schools to take advantage of this opportunity. A Student Recruitment Toolkit is available to support outreach and engagement efforts.

The APCO conference is behind us, but we still have plenty of educational opportunities coming this Fall! Register now for the AI Summit, taking place October 7-8 in Orlando. 

This event will explore the transformative role of AI in emergency communications. Whether you're just beginning to explore AI or you’ve already integrated it into your operations, this summit will offer valuable knowledge, networking and a vision for the future of emergency communications. 

APCO 2025 is just days away, but there’s still time to register online! We have registration options available for every schedule — join us for one day or the entire conference! Register today and join us in Baltimore next week.

Registration is now open for the next in the APCO Summit Series - the AI Summit. Join us October 7-8 in Orlando, Florida, to explore the transformative role of AI in emergency communications. The AI Summit will bring together public safety professionals, technology leaders and innovators to examine how AI is reshaping the 9-1-1 landscape.

Maximize your professional education experience at APCO 2025 with session recordings. For $100, you'll get access to all 132 professional development sessions at APCO 2025. Earn CEU credits and experience all the education offered during the conference whether you are attending in person or unable to join us this year.

Maximize your professional education experience at APCO 2025 with session recordings. For $100, you'll get access to all 132 professional development sessions at APCO 2025. Earn CEU credits and experience all the education offered during the conference whether you are attending in person or unable to join us this year.

APCO’s online training has moved to a new and improved platform. As of May 28, all new courses can be accessed at https://www.training-apcointl.org. Your training records will not be disrupted and remain accessible on APCO’s Training Central.
 
If you’re currently enrolled in a course on APCO's existing training site, your access will not be affected. However, if you need to download certificates from courses taken prior to May 28 (including recertification, Illuminations, etc.), please do so before July 15. Questions? Contact us at Institute@apcointl.org.

The APCO Institute is offering a newly updated pre-conference course at APCO’s Annual Conference & Expo: 

• Staffing and Retention for the ECC, 2nd Edition 

The two-day course takes place on July 25 - 26 in Baltimore, and you don't have to attend the conference to register. 

The course is open to both APCO members and non-members and is worth 16 CDEs. The cost to attend the course is $360 for APCO members and $410 for non-members. Pre-registration is required.

Only one week remains to apply for the next APCO Certified Public-Safety Executive (CPE) Program, which begins in July. CPE is designed for emergency communications leaders who want to reach their full potential by enhancing their leadership skills, strategic thinking and professional growth. Apply by May 15.    

APCO is now accepting working group members to revise the standard, Best Practices for ECCs When Processing Vehicle Telematics Calls from Telematics Service Providers. This revision seeks to identify best practices and operational requirements for ECCs to receive and process vehicle-initiated telematics calls.

We are looking for individuals with training, technical and operational knowledge to participate in the revision of this standard. Sign-up by May 31.

Happy NPSTW! We appreciate the lifesaving work you do every day of the year, but especially this week! We encourage all of you to celebrate and honor yourselves, your co-workers, your bosses and your employees all week long.

There's still time to enter our NPSTW contest, and vote for your favorite entries. And let us know how you are celebrating this week!

Registration is now open for APCO 2025, taking place July 27-30 in Baltimore! Check out the professional development sessions and be sure to take a look at the special events featuring our inspiring keynotes. Register by June 30 for the best rate. We hope to see you there!

We want to hear about a technology that your ECC implemented to improve operations and directly benefit your fellow employees and the communities you serve. Nominate your agency for an APCO Technology Leadership Award. The deadline is April 1.

For National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week 2025, we are asking you what music, song, band or even dance move describes your agency. Are you feeling those “Good Vibrations,” or do you want to “Shake It Off”? Is your crew more the Drifters, Rascal Flatts or Coldplay? Or maybe you like to blend genres like Beyoncé?

To enter the contest, just send us your answer and explain why it describes your shift or agency. Check out the current entries and vote for your favorites. Winners will receive a $150 gift card or sponsored lunch for your agency.

Join us March 18-19 in Washington, DC for a special event with the Public Safety Broadband Technology Association. This two-day event will cover the innovations and evolutions in public safety communications. There will be public safety subject matter experts, end users and technology innovators discussing the importance of 4.9 GHz and artificial intelligence (AI).

Last week APCO announced the recipients of its inaugural 9-1-1 Impact Awards, who will be honored during an awards reception in Washington, D.C. The 9-1-1 Impact Awards replace the Public Safety Communications Leadership in Policy Awards to encompass a wider range of eligible recipients. The 2025 award winners are:

The APCO Institute is offering a one-week, in-person Agency Instructor course from March 31 to April 4 at APCO Headquarters in Daytona Beach, FL. This course provides agencies with the opportunity to certify their own instructors, allowing them to deliver APCO courses directly to their team. Bringing training in-house can help agencies reduce both new-hire and in-service training costs.

This course is designed for those looking to become agency instructors in the following disciplines:

• Communications Training Officer (CTO)
• Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD)  
• Fire Service Communications (FSC)
• Law Enforcement Communications (LEC)
• Public Safety Telecommunicator (PST)  
• FSC Canada
• PST Canada

The cost to attend the course is $510 for APCO members and $560 for non-members. The deadline to register is March 17. 

APCO, in partnership with IWA Technical Services, Inc., is offering two new courses this spring:

• General Communications Technician (GCT), Level 1
  April 28-30 | 24 CDEs
• Line Antenna Sweep (LAS)
  May 1-2 | 16 CDEs

These certifications will not only validate your skills but also signal to employers your commitment to quality and continuing education in this fast-evolving field.

If you haven't registered already, the early bird registration rate for the 9-1-1 Wellness Summit ends soon! Register by Friday, January 31 to save $50. Join us for sessions ranging in topic from optimizing sleep, building a peer support team, getting unstuck from trauma while at the console and much more.

Nominations are now open for APCO’s Emergency Communications Center Awards and Technology Leadership Awards! APCO presents awards to public safety communications personnel who have demonstrated the highest levels of personal and professional conduct and performance in the line of duty. Nominations are due by April 1.

APCO scholarships are now open for applications! Funds can be used for APCO's leadership programs or professional development courses. Submit your applications by the deadlines below:

• CPE Scholarship: Deadline - February 15
• RPL Scholarship: Deadline - March 1
• General scholarship: Deadline - April 1

Over the last several years, APCO has prioritized offering new resources and programs to help emergency communications centers (ECCs) face staffing and retention challenges. Today, we are excited to introduce our new Student Recruitment Toolkit, which will assist you in recruiting directly from local secondary and post-secondary schools!

The toolkit features a variety of resources for you to access, from case studies of ECCs who have had success with student training and recruitment programs, to resources for reaching out to students, schools and educators, to social media and email copy and graphics for you to utilize.

APCO, in partnership with IWA Technical Services, Inc., is offering two new courses this spring: 

General Communications Technician Level 1 — April 28 - 30, 2025 | 24 CDEs

Line Antenna Sweep — May 1 - 2, 2025 | 16 CDEs

Taking GCT-1 and LAS training can be a significant boost for your career in telecommunications, especially in land mobile radio (LMR) and in building communications systems.

Thursday, January 16 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET
Worth 1 CDE |  Free for members; $59 for non-members

As the severity and frequency of 9-1-1 outages increase, it’s more important than ever for emergency communications centers to receive timely and actionable information about the scope and impact of outages. This webinar will begin with a brief overview of the Federal Communications Commission’s outage notification requirements, followed by a panel discussion from 9-1-1 professionals on the growing impact of outages on 9-1-1 operations and strategies to mitigate their effects.

Speakers: Alison Venable, Government Relations Counsel, APCO International; Aimee Chase, Metro Administrator, Metro Communications, Sioux Falls; and Anne Camaro, Executive Director, Nashoba Valley Regional Dispatch District.

APCO is accepting applications for the 2025 Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL) Program. This online professional development program provides emergency communications professionals with essential management skills to advance their careers. Graduates join an esteemed network of RPL alumni. Programs start monthly – the next one begins in January. 

This week, APCO International entered into a landmark partnership with Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) to deliver APCO’s industry-leading training to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This strategic partnership goes beyond a traditional training agreement, representing a comprehensive approach to knowledge transfer, professional development and support of Saudi Arabia’s public safety infrastructure.