You should also check the full job title listing from DOL to see what other jobs might perform similar tasks. Most agencies require an applicant to be at least 18 years old, although some agencies have cadet or trainee dispatcher positions beginning at 16 years old. Most also require that you are a U.S. citizen. Most agencies require the applicant to have a high school education, and some require some college or junior college courses. In this case, they will accept only those applicants who are already full-time employees at a public safety agency.
Most agencies have a standard recruitment, application and screening process for dispatchers.
To start the process, an applicant fills out the necessary forms indicating the personal information, job history and skills. Applicant Screening The applications are evaluated and those meeting the qualifications are asked to take written test. Some states have devised standardized tests for public safety dispatchers, while agencies in other states use commercially available tests that help determine an applicants skills. These tests do not test specific dispatching knowledge. Instead, they focus on certain key skills that agencies find help insure success as a dispatcher.