APCO Remote Learner Program: Comprehensive Details and Opportunities

The APCO Institute offers various remote learning programs designed to provide accessible and flexible training solutions for public safety professionals. Understanding the details of these programs, including online courses and virtual classrooms, is crucial for individuals and agencies seeking to enhance their skills and knowledge.

Goals of Certification

The NENA Executive Board formed a Certification Committee in 1992 to explore the development of a certification program for individuals involved in emergency number program management. After a thorough review of the certification process, the Executive Board approved the Committee's recommendation to go forward with the establishment of an Emergency Number Professional Certification Program. Candidates must first meet the eligibility requirements and submit an application. The next step is to sit for and pass the ENP exam.

Emergency Number Professional (ENP) Certification

Eligibility and Application

Candidates must meet specific eligibility requirements and submit an application to sit for the ENP exam. The application is evaluated by the ENP Certification Board, and candidates must accumulate a minimum of 10 points to qualify for the exam. Points are earned through various achievements, such as:

Completion of NENA's 9-1-1 Center Supervisor Program or Center Training Officer (CTO) Program: 3 points
Center Manager Certification Program (CMCP): 5 points
Other professional certifications: 1 point each

To register for the exam, candidates must submit the Eligibility Application to NENA and commit to testing during the selected testing period.

ENP Exam Details

ENP exams are scheduled four times annually (Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall) for a two-week period each. Candidates can search for available testing center locations online at prometric.com/nena.

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APCO Institute Training Options

The APCO Institute offers various training courses with convenient timings and methods. These include live training, online courses, and virtual classrooms. APCO has a 90% rule (attendees must attend 90% of a course) for all courses.

Live Training

APCO Institute offers live training at APCO headquarters, at the annual conference, in your region with you as a co-host, or under contract at your agency. Course length varies by class, generally from one and five days. with one hour for lunch, but this can vary depending on the hosting agency and instructor preference.

Co-Hosting

As a public-safety practitioner, you know what training is needed in your area. Serving as a co-host agency (or chapter) enables you to meet local training needs by inviting others from your area to attend a class taught by one of the Institute’s experienced instructors.

Contracting Classes

APCO Institute also offers agencies the option of contracting any of our classes. This allows any agency to schedule the class for their staff in-house. APCO will help you equip your agency for in-house training by certifying staff members as APCO Agency Instructors. Having in-house instructors who can teach specific APCO courses can result in significant savings of your scarce training dollars.

Online Courses

APCO Institute Online conducts courses via the Internet. These courses range from three to seven weeks to complete, requiring approximately 4-5 hours per week. Course modules and assignments are made available each Wednesday, and students must check in online by Friday of each week.

Accessibility

All courses are offered online with 24/7 access from any internet-enabled device. Course manuals are included in the tuition cost, with some courses using digital manuals. Certificates can be accessed and printed via APCO’s Training Central, an online resource that stores all training records.

Virtual Classroom

APCO Virtual Classroom courses are led online in real-time by APCO’s adjunct instructors and conducted in an interactive, engaging classroom online. Students are expected to be logged in and in attendance during the designated class dates and times.

Eligibility and Requirements

To be eligible for certification, students must commit to attending the scheduled course in its entirety to meet the necessary training hours requirement and must successfully complete the required coursework according to certification standards. Prior to the course start date, ensure that your computer meets system requirements for the WebEx platform where virtual classroom is conducted.

Course Completion

APCO Virtual Classroom courses are completed during the specified dates and time frames listed in the individual class registration description. Successful completion of the course and full payment are required to receive a certificate. Certificates can be accessed and printed via APCO’s Training Central.

Technical Requirements

The technologies used for virtual classes are optimized for desktop and laptop computers. Tablets or cell phones cannot be used for virtual classroom courses.

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Benefits of APCO Training Programs

Flexibility: Online courses offer the flexibility to work around a busy schedule, with 24/7 access to lessons.
Expert Instruction: Both online and virtual classroom courses are led by APCO Institute adjunct instructors.
Cost-Effective: Course manuals are included in the tuition cost, eliminating additional textbook expenses. In-house instructors can significantly reduce training costs.
Accreditation: APCO Institute is overseen, managed, and operated by industry experts with years of experience.

Specific Course Examples

Surviving Stress Online Course

APCO’s Surviving Stress online course addresses one of the most significant challenges in emergency communications: on-the-job stress. Learn the causes, signs and symptoms of stress, including strategies for both immediate intervention and long-term management. Students will gain practical tools to recognize and reduce stress in themselves and their colleagues.

Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL) Program

Take your management skills to the next level with APCO’s Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL) Program.

Continuing Dispatch Education (CDE)

Each issue of PSC magazine contains two continuing dispatch education (CDE) articles. Read the article and take the accompanying exam, available in the magazine and online, to earn continuing education credit.

Taking the CDE Exam Online

Enter “CDE article” in the search box, and click on “Public Safety Communications Magazine Article Exams,” then click on ”enroll me” and choose the name of the CDE to begin the exam. Answer the test questions online or on the quiz page from the magazine article.

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