Hamilton County 9-1-1 generally hires new Telecommunicator Trainees once per month.  Visit our Job Openings page to see if we are currently accepting applications.

Requirements of becoming a Telecommunicator Trainee include the following: be at least 18 years of age, be a citizen of the United States, be a high school graduate or possess equivalency, and be able to pass a criminal background check. Tennessee State Law determines the qualifications. Additional requirements can be found here.

The hiring process for Telecommunicator Trainees takes about 12 weeks to complete. Other positions like Administration or Information Technology take about 2-3 weeks to complete. At each phase of the process, we communicate as much as possible to keep each candidate informed.

New hires will take part in the Training Academy, which consists of 8 weeks of classroom training, where they will receive the necessary skills and certifications to train on the floor. After the successful completion of the Training Academy, Telecommunicator Trainees will begin on-the-floor training.

Trainees will learn various disciplines on the floor, from call-taking to dispatching to INFO/NCIC. On-the-floor training typically lasts 10 months, and will consist of training with Communication Training Officers, as well as independent time. If needed, additional training time can be provided.

A Telecommunicator Trainee becomes a Telecommunicator I when the training is complete AND they have been with the District for a minimum of 12 months.

We work five, 8-hour shifts totaling 40 hours a week, with rotating off days. As an extremely important, irreplaceable link in public safety, our positions must be staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Mandatory overtime can be implemented. Good attendance and willingness to work hours other than day shift are vital.

Telecommunicators are subject to work ANY shift (1st, 2nd, or 3rd), holidays, and weekends. Shift assignments are semi-permanent (based upon seniority) and new hires must accept that it may be years before they accumulate enough seniority to obtain a day (1st) shift assignment.

We are a 24/7 operation. The work environment is casual yet professional and similar to a structured call center environment. However, due to the nature of the position, the shifts are sedentary with periods of high stress, multi-tasking, and downtime. The position demands excellent communications skills, as well as individual and team approaches to problem solving throughout the shift. Policies and procedures are established and enforced to provide the highest level of public safety service.

Yes! After the successful completion of training, a Telecommunicator Trainee will be promoted to a Telecommunicator I. Within 2 to 3 years, dependent on the position, a Telecommunicator I can apply for a variety of positions, from a Telecommunicator Advanced to a Communication Training Officer to an IDU/TERT (Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce) member.