REQUIRMENTS TO BECOME A PBCFR COMMUNICATOR
- Must be 18 years old or older
- Graduation from high school or an equivalent recognized certification
- Minimum one (1) year of experience in emergency dispatching (Communicator III ONLY)
- Valid State of Florida Department of Health (DOH) Certification as a 911 Safety Telecommunicator
- Must abide by PBCFR Professional Appearance Standards (https://discover.pbcgov.org/pbcfr/PDF/ProfessionalAppearanceStandards.pdf)
- Necessary Special Requirements: Must obtain valid certifications in Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD), CPR and Teletypewriter (TTY) Text Telephone within 11 months of hire.
- Preference for Experience With: Customer service (handling customer problems/concerns); using CAD.
- Desirable Experience: Associate's Degree in Emergency Medical Services/Fire Science/Communications/related field; current EMD/CPR certifications; trilingual (English/Spanish/Creole).
To receive an e-mail notification of an upcoming job listing, submit a "Communicator Interest Card" HERE.
NOTE: Failure to submit the required certifications with the application will result in disqualification from the selection process. Be sure to follow the application instructions included in the job advertisement.
All employees of Palm Beach County may be required to work before, during and/or after a natural or man-made disaster or hurricane.
In accordance with Affirmative Action requirements of Sec. 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and provisions of the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990, the County provides reasonable accommodation. If you need a reasonable accommodation for interviewing or initial
employment, please notify the Palm Beach County BCC Human Resources Department.
EO/AA Employer M/F/D/V; (DFWP)
CALL TAKER BENEFITS
- Starting Salary of $59,331 (Including built in OT). Top out - $92,095 (Including built in OT)
- State of Florida Retirement System
- Deferred Compensation - tax deferred savings program
- Health Care Insurance
- Hospitalization
- Major Medical
- Dental
- Vision Care
- Paid Vacation & Sick Leave
- Life Insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement Program - 100% reimbursement for a grade of "C" or better.
- Promotional Opportunities
- 36 hour / 48 hour Work Weeks
COMMUNICATOR III BENEFITS
- Starting Salary of $72,558 (Including built in OT). Top out - $123,248 (Including built in OT)
- State of Florida Retirement System
- Deferred Compensation - tax deferred savings program
- Health Care Insurance
- Hospitalization
- Major Medical
- Dental
- Vision Care
- Paid Vacation & Sick Leave
- Life Insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement Program - 100% reimbursement for a grade of "C" or better.
- Promotional Opportunities
- 36 hour / 48 hour Work Weeks
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What exactly does a Communicator do? - Performs specialized shift work receiving emergency calls from the public and dispatching the appropriate emergency vehicle and/or personnel to the scene of the emergency. Responsible for accurate, rapid and effective receipt and transmission of primarily emergency information over a complex and varied communications system. Provides Basic Life Support (BLS) instructions including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to the emergency callers. Uses Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system for geographic research and recordkeeping purposes.
2. What is Shift work and how does it work during Hurricanes? - As a PBCFR Call Taker or Communicator, you will work 12‑hour shifts—either 7am–7pm or 7pm–7am. The center operates 365 days a year, including holidays and weekends. All Palm Beach County employees may be required to work before, during, and after natural or man‑made disasters, including hurricanes. During hurricane activations, employees may be assigned to the EOC from before the storm arrives until after it passes, which can span multiple days.
3. Am I required to type fast? - There is no typing speed requirement right now, however typing is a necessary skill for our fast-paced environment.
4. If I'm in the middle of PST class, can I still apply? - No. You must submit your PST certification at the time of application in order to be considered for the position. Once a listing has closed, submitted applications cannot be changed, and documents can not be added/updated.
5. Where can I get the PST? -The 911 Public Safety Telecommunicator training program consists of at least 232 hours. In Palm Beach County, the program is offered through the local community college. The Florida Department of Health PST website provides a full list of approved programs statewide; visit the site and scroll to the “Training Program” section for details. (https://www.floridahealth.gov/licensing-regulations/regulated-professions/911-public-safety-telecommunicator-program/); (https://palmbeachstate.smartcatalogiq.com/current/catalog/degrees-and-certificates/career-certificate-program-ccp/public-safety-telecommunications-ccp/)