Telecommunicator Academy Recruit/Trainee

Telecommunicator Academy Recruit/Trainee

Tentative Class Start: September 2026

Deadline to apply: June 10, 2026

Deadline to pass Criticall: June 17, 2026

Starting Pay: $20.70 hourly

**Sign-On Bonus available for qualified and certified candidates.

General Description:

The Telecommunicator Academy Recruit is assigned to the VSO Emergency Communications Center which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, including holidays, weekends, and during public emergencies or disasters. The center is in Daytona Beach, Florida. This is an entry-level training position for the Telecommunicator position, which performs various public safety communications tasks involving the reception of emergency and non-emergency telephone calls, utilizing a computer aided dispatch (CAD) system for law enforcement, fire rescue, emergency medical services, and other related public safety services.

All Academy requirements must be successfully completed by the Telecommunicator Academy Recruit, including State Certification pursuant to F.S. 401.465; FCIC/NCIC; Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD); Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR); and National Incident Management System (NIMS) courses IS-100.LE, IS-200, IS-317, and IS-700.

Upon graduation from the Academy and demonstration of proficiency in at least one discipline (call taking, law enforcement dispatch, or fire-rescue dispatch), the recruit will be promoted to designated Telecommunicator Trainee (Telecommunicator in Training).

Once an employee has successfully completed and passed the State Certification pursuant to F.S. 401.465, an additional one-year probationary period will commence.

After successfully completing the Trainee Program and demonstrating proficiency in all required skill sets—call taking, law enforcement dispatch, and fire-rescue dispatch—the Telecommunicator Trainee will graduate to a Telecommunicator position

The Telecommunicator Academy Recruit/Trainee must be able to interact positively and cooperatively with co-workers, customers, supervisors, and command staff, at times functioning under intense time pressure and while handling stressful situations.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be a minimum of 18 years old.
• Must possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver’s License.
• Must meet State of Florida applicant requirements pursuant to F.S. 401.465.
• Must pass computerized pre-employment testing.
• Must successfully complete the Communications in-house academic program.
• Must successfully complete Communications floor training in one (1) position to promote to next phase of training.
• Must receive Florida Crime Information Center/National Crime Information Center (FCIC/NCIC) certification within six (6) months of hire date.
• Must take and pass state certification examination within one (1) year of hire date.
• All Telecommunicators are required to learn and display proficiency in all skill sets (call taking, law dispatch, and fire rescue dispatch) to successfully complete their probationary period.
• Must be willing to attend training, meetings, and events outside of normal working hours, as needed.
• Must be able to work a twelve (12) hour shift, rotating between dayshift and night shift, including holidays, weekends, and mandatory overtime to meet operational needs.

Background Screening: This position will require an extensive background investigation, including psychological exam and drug screening.

Academic Program:

• Employee is required to demonstrate proficiency in all areas of the Academic classroom training.
• Once assigned to the communications floor, employee is required to demonstrate proficiency in at least one discipline (call taking, law enforcement dispatch, or fire-rescue dispatch), before being promoted into the Telecommunicator Trainee Program.
• Employee is required to demonstrate competency in all topics of instruction with an overall academic minimum passing score of 85%.
• Employee must successfully obtain the below listed certifications:
  • Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD)
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
  • National Incident Management System (NIMS) courses IS100.LEb, IS200, IS317, and IS700.

Telecommunicator Trainee Program:

• Employees are required to learn and display proficiency in all skill sets (call taking, law dispatch, and fire rescue dispatch)
• Employee must successfully obtain and maintain the below listed certifications:
  • State Certification pursuant to F.S. 401.465
  • FCIC/NCIC
  • Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD)
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
  • National Incident Management System (NIMS) courses IS100.LEb, IS200, IS317, and IS700.

Essential Functions:

• Applies learnings in the policies and procedures of public safety dispatch via standardized training program pursuant to FS 401.465 in preparation for State of Florida certification examination.
• Operates telephone console with several trunk lines and extensions.
• Works proficiently in the CAD system, FCIC/NCIC terminal, other computerized systems and databases.
• Processes calls for service, initiates a public safety field response, provides information, makes referrals, and takes messages in accordance with established procedures.
• Must communicate with empathy and sensitivity toward individuals navigating critical situations
• Provides emergency medical/fire/law enforcement pre-arrival and post-dispatch instructions to callers reporting emergencies.
• Maintains professional certifications, including but not limited to, Florida State Certification, CPR, EMD, and NIMS.
• Support a positive work environment supporting employee engagement, open communication, and professional development.
• Completes required forms, documents, computer fields, etc. accurately and quickly.
• Attends work on a regular and consistent basis.
• Must adhere to Federal, State, County, and local ordinances.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Status: Civilian

Blood and Viral Pathogen Risk: Minimal Risk

Environmental Conditions:

• General office setting with most duties being performed while sitting at a desk, table, or workstation.
• Must be able to work under very stressful conditions.
• Must be able to work a twelve (12) hour shift, rotating between dayshift and night shift, including holidays, weekends, and mandatory overtime to meet operational needs.
• Must be able to relocate to other county locations based upon operational needs.
• Must be able to remain available to work when a public emergency or disaster occurs.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with a wide variety of people, especially during emergency situations.
• Ability to concentrate and operate proficiently under stress.
• Ability to coordinate several activities at the same time under stress; multitask.
• Ability to respond quickly with little notice in the event of an emergency, disaster, or unexpected staffing shortage.
• Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to testify in court and represent the Volusia Sheriff’s Office with a positive, professional image.
• Ability to speak, read, and write in English
• Ability to react quickly, calmly, and with good judgement during emergency and non-emergency situations.
• Ability to use a computer, keyboard, and mouse proficiently.
• Organizational and analytical skills
• Interpersonal skills

Required Knowledge:

• VSO General Orders, processes, and procedures.
• Communications Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
• CAD system and multi-line telephone system
• Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC)/National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
• Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS)
• Volusia county geography, road networks, location of fire stations, and surrounding agencies.
• Radio codes, signals, and unit identifiers
• Civil processes
• CALEA accreditation standards

Physical Requirements:

• Manual dexterity.
• Ambulate independently.
• Sit for extended periods of time, sedentary.
• Utilize a computer and keyboard for extended periods of time.
• Visual acuity of 20/30 vision standard in each eye; corrective lenses must be used to satisfy 20/30 vision standard; uncorrected vision should be no worse than 20/100 in each eye.
• Pass hearing test with less than 40 decibels in each ear under frequencies 2,000 Hz, 3,000 Hz, and 4,000 Hz.
• Ability to recognize colors.
• Occasionally bend, squat, reach, grasp.
• Occasionally lift to ten pounds (10lbs).

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V