How to become a 911 dispatcher in Oregon
In Oregon, 911 dispatchers are hired by city, county and regional 911 centers. The Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) / Board on Public Safety Standards and Training sets the statewide standards; the credential is Basic Telecommunicator certification (DPSST). At the City of Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications (BOEC), new hires start at $70,096 a year, rising to $111,238 after about 7 years.
Pay at the City of Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications (BOEC)
Each city and county sets its own pay. This is the official scale of the City of Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications (BOEC), the largest city's agency.
| Starting salary | $70,096 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $111,238 |
| Years to top | 7 |
| Scale effective | 2026-07-01 |
Entry trainee rate to the top Senior step; about 2 years of training, then yearly steps.
Source:[portland.gov]
Pay for this work across Oregon
Federal survey figures for public safety telecommunicators in Oregon, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from any one agency's pay scale above.
| People in this work | 1,110 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $53,750 |
| Median pay | $71,980 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $96,530 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Education: High school diploma, GED, or four-year post-secondary degree from an accredited institution (OAR 259-008-0011)
- Telecommunicators and emergency medical dispatchers must obtain DPSST basic certification within 18 months of employment unless DPSST grants an extension (OAR 259-008-0060); without it they cannot work in the certified role
- Basic certification: complete the DPSST Basic Telecommunicator Course (approximately 116 hours) and the Telecommunicator Field Training Manual, sign the telecommunications code of ethics, and hold current first aid and adult/child CPR
- Fingerprinted within 90 days of employment; must meet moral fitness standards; notify DPSST within five business days of an arrest (OAR 259-008-0011)
- Must demonstrate the academic skills to complete basic training (validated test administered by the hiring agency)
- Physical: corrected vision at least 20/30 (Snellen), distinguish red, green, blue and yellow, meet NENA hearing standard NENA-STA-007.2-2014; medical exam by a licensed health professional within 180 days before employment
- Emergency medical dispatchers: Basic EMD course (approximately 24 hours) plus EMD field training manual (OAR 259-008-0085)
- Largest-city agency (Portland BOEC) posts: at least 18 at hire, high school diploma or GED, type 40 net wpm with 90% accuracy, pass background and psychological assessment
Source:[oregon.public.law]
Hiring process
- Online application with supplemental questions (no resume needed for entry level)
- Typing test (40 net wpm, 90% accuracy)
- CritiCall test
- First interview (panel with a supervisor and a dispatcher)
- Second interview (training manager and training supervisor)
- Personal history questionnaire, background and reference check
- Psychological assessment
- Medical testing (vision, hearing, drug screening)
Source:[portland.gov]
Entrance exam
CritiCall (Portland BOEC pre-employment test). No separate state licensing exam was confirmed. BOEC's online CritiCall test covers memorization, map reading and reading comprehension.[portland.gov]
Required training
116 hours minimum, 3 weeks, paid. OAR 259-008-0085: the Basic Telecommunicator Course has sufficient hours to meet all Board-approved goals 'approximately 116 hours', plus the 2015 Telecommunicator Field Training Manual. Portland BOEC: trainees attend three weeks of classroom training at DPSST in Salem during the first year, after 12 weeks of in-house classroom training and on-the-job coaching.[portland.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) - OPSRP Pension Program, general service
- Benefit formula: 1.5% × years of retirement credit × final average salary (FAS = higher of the highest 3 consecutive years' average or 1/36 of last 36 months)
- When you can retire: Unreduced at age 65, or age 58 with 30 years of retirement credit; reduced as early as age 55
OPSRP covers members hired on or after August 29, 2003; vesting after 600 hours in each of five calendar years or reaching normal retirement age.
Source:[oregon.gov]