DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — APCO Institute, the non-profit training subsidiary of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International, announced today the creation of its Hurricane Relief Training Assistance Program.
APCO Institute recognizes that turnover and the resulting need to train new hires is going to be a continuing concern for APCO International member agencies in communities devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. APCO Institute also realizes that these agencies may have limited ability to send students off-site for basic training.
In an effort to assist those agencies in providing quality new-hire training, APCO Institute is offering each eligible APCO-member agency one free tuition voucher for its Institute Online Public Safety Telecommunicator 1, 6th Edition (PST1, 6th Edition) Instructor course - a $509 value. Completion of this course will allow each eligible agency to have one trained, APCO Institute certified Instructor on staff who can teach the PST1, 6th Edition basic training course in-house or regionally
anytime the need arises.
PST1, 6th Edition is the first basic training course certified by APCO International as meeting and exceeding the APCO Project 33 Revised Minimum Training Standards for Public Safety Telecommunicators (2004). APCO Project 33 training standards are widely recognized as the national industry standard for basic telecommunicator training.
“APCO Institute exists to serve the training needs of the public safety communications industry, with a special emphasis on the training needs of APCO International member agencies,” APCO Institute Director Candice Solie said. “APCO Institute is pleased to offer this training assistance. It is truly an honor to be able to assist our member agencies in their time of need.”
Agencies interested in participating in the Hurricane Relief Training Assistance Program may download a Training Voucher Request Form at http://www.apcointl.com/institute/forms_information.htm. For APCO International membership information, visit http://apcointl.org/membership. For information on APCO International’s other hurricane relief efforts, visit www.apcointl.org.
About APCO Institute
APCO Institute, a subsidiary of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International, is the premier organization addressing educational and certification needs of public safety communications agencies. The Institute offers a selection of affordable training and educational resources for public safety communicators throughout the United States and in the international arena. Instructional offerings range from first-line basic training to supervisory, and communication center management courses, technical testing, agency and agent certification, and Web Seminars addressing current public safety communications issues. APCO Institute offers several training options including certification programs through traditional classroom instruction and APCO Institute Online internet-based training. APCO Virtual College, a cooperative effort between APCO Institute and the Institute for Emergency Preparedness (IEP) offers a degree program in Public Safety Communications. APCO Virtual College is an internet-based distance learning academic program designed for, and directed specifically toward individuals in the public safety communication. For more information, visit www.apcoinstitute.org.
About APCO International
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International is the world’s oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to the enhancement of public safety communications. APCO International serves the professional needs of its 15,000 members worldwide by creating a platform for setting professional standards, addressing professional issues and providing education, products and services for people who manage, operate, maintain and supply the communications systems used by police, fire and emergency medical dispatch agencies throughout the world. For more information, visit www.apcointl.org.