Our Hiring and Training Process
Considering a career at Tillamook 9-1-1?
HIRING PROCESS
The typical selection process is described below but may vary.
Once the applications are received, qualified applicants will be asked to take a CritiCall assessment. This assessment evaluates your academic, listening, data entry and multi-tasking skills. If you are selected to proceed, the next step is a panel interview. The panel generally consists of a variety of personnel from Tillamook 9-1-1 and partner public safety agencies.
If selected to continue after the panel interview, you will then be asked to complete a personal history statement for a comprehensive background investigation as required by law. The background investigation may take over a month to complete. Upon successful completion of a background investigation, candidates will be invited to participate in a final interview with the Administrator. If selected, a conditional offer of employment contingent upon successful completion of the required Department of Public Safety Standards and Training medical exam, drug screening, and psychological screening evaluation will be presented to the successful applicant.
All Telecommunicators must be certified through the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. See link below regarding the State's standards.
DPSST Telecommunicator Minimum Standards
TRAINING
When you start at Tillamook 9-1-1, you will be assigned to a trainer. You will work the same shift as your trainer. Training is broken into two main phases, including a 3 week Basic Telecommunications Academy at the Oregon Public Safety Academy (Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST)), and one week covering Emergency Medical Dispatch/Emergency Fire Dispatch training. Successful completion of both training programs is required.
The first portion of training is designed to last 4-6 months. During this time, you work closely with your trainer. Each week is tailored to different topics such as geography of Tillamook County, District policies, radio/phone operation, and use of the law enforcement data system (LEDS).
During this second phase you still work with a trainer, but with a little more autonomy. This is where everything comes together and you get to refine your new skills.
Throughout your training process you may work a variety of shifts with multiple trainers. This allows you to experience different times of day and shows you a variety of call types and frequency of emergency calls.