Public safety agencies use the APCO International Agency Training Program Accreditation as a formal mechanism to ensure their training programs meet APCO American National Standards (ANS).
Register Now for the Public Safety Innovation Summit Featuring 5×5, December 1-2
December 1-2, 2026 | Orlando, FL
APCO and the First Responder Network Authority, with technical contributions from National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Public Safety Communications Research Division, will bring together leaders from public safety, government, industry and academia to advance the future of responder communications technology.
Newly Updated! Public Safety Telecommunicator (PST) 1, 8th Edition
APCO is pleased to announce the release of the Public Safety Telecommunicator (PST) 1, 8th Edition and PST 1, 8th Edition Instructor courses, available beginning September 30, 2026. The 8th Edition replaces the PST 7th Edition curriculum and reflects the latest updates in public safety telecommunicator training.
To help current PST 7th Edition certificate holders transition to the new edition, APCO is offering the PST 8th Edition Update and PST 8th Edition Instructor Update courses. Current PST 7th Edition certificate holders have until September 26, 2028, to complete the applicable update course and maintain their certification.
PSC September/October 2026 Issue Is Online
PSC, APCO’s bi-monthly magazine, is a membership benefit and the authoritative source of information on public safety communications worldwide. This issue focuses on 9-1-1 25 years after 9/11, including:
- How AI could have aided in the response to the World Trade Center attacks
- How the 9/11 attacks transformed calls, concerns and fears in an ECC far from Ground Zero
GMU Comprehensive Survey of Emergency Communications Centers
Public safety communications professionals face unprecedented challenges — from staffing shortages and employee retention to evolving technology and increasing operational demands. To better understand these issues and develop meaningful solutions, APCO International has partnered with George Mason University to conduct a comprehensive survey of emergency communications centers (ECCs) across the United States.
Upcoming Webinars
- Veritas & Aequitas: Two CEOs Talk Leadership, Technology & the Future of 9-1-1
October 14 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. - Preparing for NG9-1-1 Migration: Taking a Practical, Phased Approach
October 20 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. - Finding and Developing the People of 9-1-1
October 26 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Free for members; $59 for non-members | Worth 1 CDE
Being an APCO member has added immeasurable value to my professional and personal growth. As a member, you have access to top-notch resources, industry expertise and the opportunity to join a networking powerhouse.
Keeping You Up to Date
APCO is your source for public safety communications news that affects you, your job and your community.
New Legislation Introduced to Support Behavioral Health of Public Safety Telecommunicators and Other First Responders
On October 1, Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) and John Rutherford (R-FL) introduced the First Responder Behavioral Health Access Act, H.R. 10712.
FCC Issues NG9-1-1 Guidance for MLTS, Service Providers and 9-1-1 Authorities
On September 28, the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau released new guidance aimed at smoothing the transition to Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) for multi-line telephone systems (MLTS), originating service providers (OSPs), NG9-1-1 service providers, and 9-1-1 authorities.
APCO International Seeks Volunteers for Critical Public Safety Standard
APCO International has filed a Project Initiation with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to create a standard on Information Quality, Validation and Actionable Criteria for Externally Generated Information used by Emergency Communications Centers (ECCs).
FCC Launches Broad Review of Its 9-1-1 Regulatory Framework
On September 30, the Federal Communications Commission launched a broad examination of the FCC’s framework for regulating 9-1-1. Citing “an era of rapid technological change,” the Commission’s Notice of Inquiry invites the public to consider how new technologies and services could reshape 9-1-1 in ways that may not be accounted for by its current regulatory framework.
APCO Urges Stronger Authentication and Geotargeting for Emergency Alerts
On September 29, APCO filed reply comments urging the Federal Communications Commission to prioritize two improvements essential to effective public alerting: (1) ensuring that alerts are authentic and validated, thereby eliminating or significantly reducing the risk of false alerts resulting from unauthorized or invalid transmissions; and (2) tightening geotargeting so that alerts are only received by those for whom they are intended and relevant.
