Alexandria, VA – Today, APCO submitted comments to the Office of Management and Budget urging the agency to reclassify Public Safety Telecommunicators (PSTs) from the current Office and Administrative Support Occupations category to the Protective Service Occupations category in the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). This change to the upcoming revision of the SOC is essential to accurately reflect the critical, life-saving role 9-1-1 professionals play in our community.
In its comments, APCO demonstrated how the work performed by PSTs has become even more lifesaving and skilled since the SOC was last revised in 2017. APCO cited to how technological advancements including the introduction of live video-to-911 capabilities, expanded responsibilities such as crisis counseling and de‑escalation, and increased professionalization and training requirements have all enhanced PSTs’ ability to protect life and property. APCO provided data on how much more common it is for PSTs to be professionally trained, including in emergency medical dispatch to provide pre-arrival medical instruction and in tactical dispatch where PSTs are deployed to the field. APCO also offered estimates of how often PSTs coach callers through CPR and handle suicidal callers as indicators of the thousands of lives PSTs save annually.
APCO further pointed to how reclassifying PSTs as Protective Service Occupations will align the SOC with other federal data programs and enhance the effectiveness of occupational research. This change will support better workforce development, improve job satisfaction and retention, and ensure that these professionals receive the recognition they deserve.
APCO CEO and Executive Director Mel Maier said, “Every day, Public Safety Telecommunicators come to the aid of their fellow Americans when they are needed most. Their work is inherently protective, involving real-time decision-making and life-saving interventions. With our comprehensive research and advocacy, we have demonstrated that it’s time for their classification to reflect the true nature of their work.”
APCO International® (www.apcointl.org)
APCO International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide – and the welfare of the general public as a whole – by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach.
