Industry-Leading Training Developed by Industry Leaders

The APCO Institute is overseen, managed and operated by industry experts with years of experience. Through our members, we stay current with industry issues and standards. Their needs and concerns drive the activity of APCO Institute.

Update: Application Deadline for CPE Class 18 Extended Through October 29

Due to recent weather impacts in the southern region, the application deadline for APCO’s Certified Public-Safety Executive (CPE) Program Class 18 has been extended to October 29 for the program which begins in January. The focus of the CPE Program is to develop the skills and expertise of emergency communications managers, supervisors, agency executives and others leading the way into the future of emergency communications.

NEW! APCO’s Career Instructor Program (CIP): Answering the Call for ECCs Staffing Crisis

The Career Instructor Program (CIP) is a new initiative designed to address staffing shortages in emergency communication centers. State or locally certified secondary or post-secondary educators can attend APCO’s Public Safety Telecommunicator 1 course at no cost and, in turn, teach this course to students.

Earn CDEs Quickly in the APCO Virtual Classroom

With live, interactive online courses, the APCO Virtual Classroom provides you with all the benefits of in-person training from the convenience of your desk. Led by APCO-certified adjunct instructors in real-time, all virtual classroom courses provide you with the opportunity to interact with other emergency communications professionals while learning the most up-to-date information on public safety topics, including Communications Training Officer, Fire Service Communications, Tactical Dispatch and more.

New Topics Coming Up in APCO Illuminations

Register for an annual subscription to APCO Illuminations to access new topics monthly (quarterly for CTO), and earn up to 12 CDEs per year. Three tracks are offered: General, Emergency Medical Dispatch and Communications Training Officer.

3 Reasons to Take Courses From the APCO Institute

  • As part of APCO International, the APCO Institute is uniquely positioned to offer highly specialized training and resources on foundational, current and emerging topics that public safety telecommunications professionals need to know.
  • APCO’s leadership role in public safety communications worldwide means that our training programs and resources reflect the pressing issues that affect emergency communications centers (ECCs) of all sizes and that they meet the needs of our more than 40,000 members.
  • As a non-profit entity, the Institute offers exceptional and affordable training opportunities to public safety agencies and practitioners, regardless of their financial resources.

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Manage Your Training Records Online

APCO’s Training Central is an online resource that stores all of your CDE and recertification information in one place for easy viewing and retrieval.

Recertification

Find out what you need to do and how to do it for disciplines requiring recertification.

Leadership Programs

Reach your career goal in your public safety communications field by joining other emergency communications professionals in an APCO leadership program.