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A 'stack' of pending calls means:

Calls received and entered in CAD but not yet dispatched because no units are available

Calls that have been completed and archived

Test calls

Calls forwarded to other agencies

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: APCO PST1 Exam

40 hours

Minimum Course Length

APCO ANS 3.103.2 / PST1 course catalog

~80%

Typical Pass Score

APCO Institute final exam

2 years

Certification Cycle

APCO Institute

48 CDE

Recert Hours Required

APCO Institute (24/year)

~$30

Recertification Fee

APCO Institute

7th Ed.

Current PST1 Curriculum

APCO International

ANS 3.103.2

Aligned Training Standard

APCO International

APCO PST1 is the foundational certification for 911 Public Safety Telecommunicators. It is delivered through a minimum 40-hour APCO Institute course aligned to APCO ANS 3.103.2 (Minimum Training Standards for Public Safety Telecommunicators) and ends with an instructor-administered multiple-choice final exam (commonly an ~80% pass score). Certification is valid for two years and is recertified with 48 hours of Continuing Dispatch Education (CDE) — 24 hours per certification year — plus a recertification fee of about $30. The current curriculum is the PST1 7th edition and covers role and ethics, telecommunication technology (CAD, radio, ANI/ALI, NG911), call processing, specialty/medical/fire/law calls, NIMS plain-language radio guidance, ADA/HIPAA/Title VI liability, ICS-100, COOP, APCO/NENA ANS 1.107.1 QA, and CJIS cybersecurity awareness.

Sample APCO PST1 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your APCO PST1 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Within the public safety system, the Public Safety Telecommunicator (PST) is best described as:

A.A clerical support role that records calls for sworn personnel

B.The first 'first responder' who receives the call and coordinates the response

C.A technician responsible only for maintaining PSAP equipment

D.An optional auxiliary position activated only during major incidents

Explanation: APCO's PST1 curriculum and APCO ANS 3.103.2 frame the Public Safety Telecommunicator as the first 'first responder' — the first trained professional to make contact with a person in crisis and to coordinate field response. The PST gathers information, verifies location, identifies the problem, dispatches resources, and continues to support callers and field units throughout the incident.

2APCO ANS 3.103.2 establishes:

A.FCC licensing rules for PSAP radio systems

B.Minimum training standards for Public Safety Telecommunicators

C.The national EMD priority dispatch protocol

D.Federal funding formulas for NG911 deployment

Explanation: APCO ANS 3.103.2 is the APCO/ANSI American National Standard titled 'Minimum Training Standards for Public Safety Telecommunicators.' It defines minimum hours and topical content for call takers, EMS dispatchers, fire dispatchers, and law enforcement dispatchers. Most state 911 boards reference it directly or via equivalent state-approved programs.

3ANI and ALI in a legacy E911 PSAP refer to:

A.Automatic Number Identification and Automatic Location Identification

B.Approved Network Interconnect and Approved Location Interconnect

C.Address-Native Indicator and Address-Linked Identifier

D.Aggregate Notification Index and Aggregate Location Index

Explanation: In legacy Enhanced 911 (E911), ANI is the Automatic Number Identification — the calling party's telephone number — and ALI is the Automatic Location Identification — the address record returned from the ALI database. PSTs use ALI to verify (not assume) the caller's location before dispatch.

4A key benefit of Next Generation 911 (NG911) over legacy E911 is:

A.It eliminates the need for trained PSTs because calls self-route

B.It runs over an IP-based Emergency Services IP Network (ESInet) and supports multimedia such as text and images

C.It uses analog selective routing exclusively for higher reliability

D.It replaces the FCC's authority over 911 systems

Explanation: NG911 replaces legacy analog selective routing with an IP-based Emergency Services IP Network (ESInet) running NENA i3 protocols. This enables location-based routing using GIS, multimedia inputs (Text-to-911, RTT, images, video), and PSAP-to-PSAP transfer of all media. Trained PSTs remain essential — the technology supports them, not replaces them.

5Under post-Katrina NIMS guidance, the recommended best practice for multi-agency radio communications is to:

A.Use 10-codes because they are shorter than plain language

B.Use plain language so all responders understand without code translation

C.Switch to encrypted talkgroups only and avoid voice traffic

D.Use Q-signals borrowed from amateur radio

Explanation: The National Incident Management System (NIMS), reinforced after Hurricane Katrina, directs agencies to use clear, plain language for multi-agency incidents because 10-codes and agency-specific brevity codes vary between agencies and create confusion. Plain language ensures that EMS, fire, law enforcement, and mutual-aid units from outside the home agency understand each other.

6A caller reports an unconscious adult who is not breathing normally. The PST should immediately:

A.End the call so EMS can be dispatched faster

B.Tell the caller to drive the patient to the hospital

C.Stay on the line and provide telephone CPR (T-CPR) instructions consistent with the agency's medical protocols

D.Wait until the EMS supervisor arrives on scene before giving instructions

Explanation: Telephone CPR (T-CPR) on a confirmed cardiac arrest is one of the highest-impact interventions a PST can perform. Per APCO and national EMD guidance, the PST stays on the line, confirms the patient is unresponsive and not breathing normally, and coaches chest compressions consistent with the agency's medical protocols until EMS arrives.

7A caller from a domestic violence scene whispers that the assailant is still in the room. The PST should:

A.Loudly demand the caller's full name and address

B.Use yes/no questions and silent answer techniques such as taps or coded phrases

C.Tell the caller to confront the assailant

D.Hang up so the caller can hide

Explanation: When a caller cannot speak freely, PST1 training directs the telecommunicator to keep the line open, lower their own volume if possible, and shift to yes/no questions, coded phrases, or tap codes. This keeps the line open for ALI, ambient sound, and updates while reducing the chance the assailant overhears.

8The acronym CAD in a PSAP refers to:

A.Computer-Aided Dispatch

B.Call Address Database

C.Centralized Audio Display

D.Coded Activity Dictionary

Explanation: CAD stands for Computer-Aided Dispatch. CAD systems hold incident data, recommend units based on type and beat, track unit status, time-stamp call milestones, integrate with mapping/GIS, and create the official record of dispatch activity used for QA and after-action review.

9The most important fact a PST must verify on virtually every call is:

A.The caller's full name

B.The caller's date of birth

C.The location of the emergency

D.The caller's relationship to the victim

Explanation: Location is the single most critical piece of information on a 911 call. ALI is a starting point, not a guarantee, because callers may move, callers may be wireless, or ALI may be stale. Verifying the location of the emergency (not just the caller) drives every other dispatch decision and is taught as a non-negotiable step in PST1.

10A hearing-impaired caller contacts 911 using a TTY device. The PST should respond by:

A.Hanging up and waiting for the caller to call back voice

B.Refusing the call as non-emergency

C.Using the TTY interface, Baudot tones, and standard prosigns such as 'GA' and 'SK' or routing through TRS as needed

D.Treating it as a prank because no voice was heard

Explanation: PSAPs must accept TTY calls under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The PST uses the TTY interface, follows Baudot tones, and uses standard prosigns such as 'GA' (go ahead) and 'SK' (stop key/end of call). Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) and increasingly Real-Time Text (RTT) under NG911 expand accessibility further.

About the APCO PST1 Exam

The APCO Public Safety Telecommunicator 1 (PST1) is APCO International's foundational 911 dispatcher certification. It is delivered as a minimum 40-hour APCO Institute course aligned to APCO ANS 3.103.2 and ends with an instructor-administered written final exam. Students who pass earn APCO Institute certification valid for two years, recertified through 48 hours of Continuing Dispatch Education (CDE).

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

Set by APCO Institute instructor at end of the 40-hour course

Passing Score

Approximately 80% on the course-administered final written exam

Exam Fee

Included in course tuition; recertification fee approximately $30 (APCO Institute (APCO International))

APCO PST1 Exam Content Outline

Foundational

Role, Responsibilities & Ethics

PST mission, professionalism, confidentiality, customer service, and the PST as the first 'first responder.'

Technology

Telecommunication Technology

PSAP equipment, CAD, ANI/ALI, radio systems, Text-to-911, and Next Generation 911 (NG911) fundamentals.

Operational core

Call Processing & Radio Communications

Call entry, location verification, problem identification, dispatch, FCC rules, NIMS plain language, and unit status.

Largest block

Specialty, Medical, Fire & Law Enforcement Calls

Suicide, domestic violence, hostage/barricade, active shooter, hazmat, weather, CPR/Heimlich coaching, AED, naloxone, childbirth, fires, alarms, in-progress crimes, and traffic stops.

Human factors

Stress, Wellness & Interpersonal Communication

Active listening, empathy, hostile callers, PTSD risk, Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), and wellness.

Standards & legal

Liability, NIMS, QA & Cybersecurity

HIPAA, ADA (TTY/TRS/RTT), Title VI LEP, recorded-line rules, ICS-100, COOP, APCO/NENA ANS 1.107.1 QA, and CJIS awareness.

How to Pass the APCO PST1 Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Approximately 80% on the course-administered final written exam
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: Set by APCO Institute instructor at end of the 40-hour course
Exam fee: Included in course tuition; recertification fee approximately $30

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

APCO PST1 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Read APCO ANS 3.103.2 and your agency SOPs alongside the PST1 textbook so you can map exam questions to real standards.

2Memorize the call-processing flow (call entry, location verification, problem identification, dispatch, follow-up) — it underpins most scenario questions.

3For radio communications, default to plain language under NIMS post-Katrina guidance rather than 10-codes for multi-agency incidents.

4Learn the ADA accessibility stack — TTY, TRS, and Real-Time Text (RTT) — because NG911 transitions away from TTY toward RTT.

5For specialty calls, memorize the immediate hazards-and-safety questions for suicide, domestic violence, active shooter, and hazmat callers before address verification details.

6For medical calls, know when to coach CPR, Heimlich (abdominal thrusts), bleeding control, AED use, naloxone, and emergency childbirth.

7For legal liability, separate HIPAA (medical info), ADA (accessibility), Title VI (LEP/language access), and CJIS (criminal-justice data) — exam questions often blur them.

8Practice CISM and wellness items honestly; the exam treats peer support and post-incident debriefs as standard professional practice, not weakness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the APCO PST1 certification?

PST1 is APCO International's foundational 911 Public Safety Telecommunicator certification. It is delivered as a minimum 40-hour APCO Institute course aligned to APCO ANS 3.103.2 and ends with an instructor-administered written final exam.

How long is the APCO PST1 course?

The course is a minimum of 40 contact hours, typically delivered as five 8-hour days in a classroom or as an instructor-led online cohort. The 40-hour figure matches APCO ANS 3.103.2 minimum training standards.

What passing score do I need on the PST1 final exam?

The APCO Institute course-administered written final exam commonly requires roughly 80% to pass. Exact wording and form are set by the instructor and course version (currently the PST1 7th edition).

How long is the PST1 certification valid?

APCO Institute PST1 certification is valid for two years. Recertification requires 48 hours of Continuing Dispatch Education (CDE) — 24 hours per certification year — and a recertification application.

What does PST1 cost to recertify?

The APCO PST1 recertification application fee is approximately $30, in addition to documenting 48 hours of qualifying Continuing Dispatch Education (CDE) over the two-year cycle.

What standards does PST1 align with?

PST1 aligns with APCO ANS 3.103.2 (Minimum Training Standards for Public Safety Telecommunicators) and references APCO/NENA ANS 1.107.1 (Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement Program for PSAPs). The course also teaches NIMS plain-language radio guidance and ICS-100 integration.

Does PST1 cover Next Generation 911 (NG911)?

Yes. The 7th-edition PST1 curriculum covers NG911 fundamentals including IP-based ESInets, multimedia (Text-to-911, RTT), GIS-routed location, and the transition from legacy ANI/ALI selective routing.

Is PST1 the same as Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) certification?

No. PST1 is the foundational call-taker/dispatcher certification. APCO Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD), Fire Service Communications, and Law Enforcement Communications are separate specialty certifications that build on PST1.

Is PST1 required to work in a PSAP?

Requirements vary by state and PSAP. Many states reference APCO ANS 3.103.2 as the minimum training standard; PST1 is one of the most widely accepted ways to meet it, alongside equivalent state-approved programs.