How to become a 911 dispatcher in Georgia
In Georgia, 911 dispatchers are hired by city, county and regional 911 centers. The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) sets the statewide standards; the credential is Communications Officer certification. You must be at least 18.
Pay at the Atlanta Police Department E911 Communications Center
Each city and county sets its own pay.
Pay for this work across Georgia
Federal survey figures for public safety telecommunicators in Georgia, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from any one agency's pay scale above.
| People in this work | 3,480 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $31,820 |
| Median pay | $42,790 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $59,760 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 18
- Education: High school diploma or recognized equivalent (GED) or an approved college degree
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen (including repatriated or naturalized citizen) as of the date employment commences
- Application for POST certification must be on file with the Council before employment or appointment; it is valid for 18 months (Rule 464-14-.01)
- Fingerprint search of local, state and national files (Rule 464-14-.02(d))
- No conviction of a crime punishable by imprisonment in a state or federal prison, and no pattern of misdemeanors showing disregard for the law (Rule 464-14-.02(e))
- Good moral character as determined by investigation (Rule 464-14-.02(f))
- Examination by a licensed physician finding the candidate free of physical, emotional or mental conditions that would impair performance (Rule 464-14-.02(g))
- Must complete the 48-hour POST-approved Basic Communications Officer Training within the first 6 months of employment (part-time and full-time)
Source:[law.cornell.edu]
Hiring process
- Hired by a local government 911 agency (sponsoring agency)
- POST certification application filed online before employment
- Fingerprint/criminal history check and character investigation
- Medical examination by a licensed physician
- Agency training officer enrolls the new hire in Basic Communications Officer Training (POST application approved at least 30 days before the course)
- Complete the 48-hour course, including cognitive and performance testing, within 6 months of hire
Source:[gpstc.org]
Entrance exam
Basic Communications Officer Training cognitive and performance testing (GPSTC). The course includes 8 hours of cognitive and performance testing; completion leads to POST certification. No separate state licensing exam was found.[gpstc.org]
Required training
48 hours minimum, 1 weeks. Georgia Public Safety Training Center Basic Communications Officer Training: 48 course hours over one week, with some outside independent study; must be completed within the first 6 months of employment. Some GPSTC pages still describe it as a 40-hour program.[gpstc.org]
Pension and retirement
Georgia has no single statewide plan for local-government dispatchers; the City of Atlanta runs its own general employees' plans. Atlanta's current new-hire tier could not be confirmed from an official source.