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911 and Public Safety Communications

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Become an essential first responder in the fast-paced world of 911 dispatch. Communications professionals require a unique set of skills to navigate high-pressure situations, supporting members of the public and emergency personnel during stressful situations.

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Home / Learn / Programs List / 911 and Public Safety Communications
Credential
Ontario College Certificate
Duration
One year or less
Start Date(s)
September (Fall)
Locations
Belleville
Online
Open to
Domestic Students

Find your career

Graduates will find opportunities working in a range of public safety professions, including:   

  • Police, fire and EMS telecommunications  
  • OnStar, crisis centre, security, hospital, CAA and taxi dispatch  
  • Crisis centre telecommunications  
  • Alarm monitoring stations   
  • Transit fleet, transport company and lifeline medical dispatch 

Is it for you?

Have you got what it takes? You may be well suited to a career in public safety communications if you:   

  • Have excellent communication skills  
  • Are empathetic and compassionate   
  • Remain calm under pressure  
  • Are good at multitasking  
  • Want a career where you can make a difference

How you'll learn

Experiential learning 

Prepare for a successful career in the public or private sector as public safety personnel with a well-rounded program that focuses on developing fundamental skills in communication, triage and de-escalation while providing unique experiential and hands-on learning opportunities.  

  • In less than a year, learn the fundamentals of call and conflict management, crisis intervention and de-escalation to handle emergency calls with confidence, preparing you for a range of rewarding careers that make a real impact on your community. 
  • Learn strategies for communicating with diverse groups of people in emergency and non-emergency situations, implementing a range of perspectives related to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. 
  • Discover how to process calls in compliance with the industry standards for police, fire and medical emergencies using industry technologies, telecommunications systems, hardware and applications. 
  • Explore techniques for mental health crisis management. 
  • Develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, problem solving and multitasking. 
  • Gain proficiency in map reading skills using available physical and advanced digital resources to provide navigational direction to emergency responders. 
  • Review strategies for effective personal health and wellness in the public safety call taking and dispatching environment. 
  • Experiential learning components include job shadowing in the workplace and scenario-based learning that uses a CAD simulator, telematic systems and current industry technologies.  

Flexible learning that fits your life  

Semester one and the first half of semester two are offered online. Students will then complete their program studies with three in-person courses at the Belleville campus. For more details about the courses and delivery options, please see below. 

Courses

NSCS1002 Call and Conflict Management 1

Course description not available

NSCS1003 Crisis Intervention and Trauma Informed Care

Course description not available

NSCS1004 Foundations of Emergency Management

Course description not available

NSCS1001 Health and Stress Management

Course description not available

NSCS1000 Public Safety Telecommunications

Course description not available

NSCS1005 Call and Conflict Management 2

Course description not available

NSCS1010 Equipment Operations and Systems Management

Course description not available

NSCS1007 Ethics and Law of Emergency Communication

Course description not available

NSCS1009 Experiential Learning

Course description not available

NSCS1008 Interpersonal and Interprofessional Skills

Course description not available

NSCS1006 Mental Health and Public Safety

Course description not available

*Courses subject to change.

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Admission requirements

Required academic preparation 

  • OSSD/OSSGD or equivalent with courses at the general, advanced, (C), (U) or (M) level, AND 
  • Grade 12 English (C) level or equivalent 

OR 

Prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR) 

Do you have work experience or other types of non-credentialed learning? Through Loyalist’s PLAR program, applicants and current students may be eligible to receive academic credit for relevant educational, work and life experiences. 

Costs

Approximate costs (2024 – 25) 

  • Domestic Tuition: $2,722.08 
  • Full-Time Ancillary Fees:* $1,367 
  • Total: $4,089.08 

Additional costs, such as supplies, travel and parking, may be incurred during workplace visits, etc.   

*Fees related to programs that are less than or greater than two semesters will be adjusted accordingly. Fees are subject to change. Please visit the Tuition and fees page for a list of the many services, activities and items included within the ancillary fees, and the related policies. 

Paying for college 

At Loyalist College, we believe that cost should never be a barrier to your success. We’re here to help you navigate the costs of college and connect you with a variety of financial aid programs, resources and donor-supported awards. Explore paying for college.

A room filled with people sitting down at desks wearing headsets. Fourteen blue graphic circles are in the lower lefthand corner of the image.

Further study

Pathways and university transfer 

What’s next? Build on the knowledge and skills you learned at Loyalist by continuing your academic journey. Return to Loyalist to complete a second diploma or a post-graduate program in as little as a year, or receive credit recognition for your Loyalist studies when pursuing a degree at a university. Explore pathway opportunities.  

 

A 911 and Public Safety Communications certificate provides a strong foundation to continue your studies in the emergency response field.

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