Earn Free CDEs With PSC Magazine Articles and Exams

Each issue of PSC magazine contains two continuing dispatch education (CDE) articles. Read the article and take the accompanying exam, available in the magazine and online, to earn continuing education credit. Unless indicated otherwise, each article and exam is worth one CDE.

Please note: Dated materials or information are current, applicable and relevant only as of the date of their issue and should not be relied upon as being current after that date. Nor is any of this information intended to serve as agency guidelines. As always, APCO advises you to follow your agency’s policies and procedures.

CDE #73779 Enabling the Interface

There’s no question that interoperability between computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems should be pursued by most emergency communications centers (ECCs). There’s also no question that significant obstacles are in the way, though alternative options to incident data sharing are starting to bloom. 

CAD-to-CAD solutions are blooming, but agencies struggle with financial and bureaucratic roadblocks to the lifesaving technology.

CDE #73778 High Performance

When considering quality in the emergency communications center (ECC) most of us will immediately think of our quality assurance/quality improvement (QA/QI) programs. While these programs are a great starting point, they only represent a part of the ECC’s quality itself. Performance measures for the ECC and its personnel must also be considered to gain a clear understanding of the center’s performance.

Driving continuous improvement in emergency communications centers.

Using CDE Articles for Recertification

To receive a complimentary certificate of completion.
Take the CDE exam online. Go to http://apco.remote-learner.net/login/index.php to create your username and password. Enter “CDE article” in the search box, and click on “Public Safety Communications Magazine Article Exams,” then click on ”enroll me” and choose the name of the CDE to begin the exam. Upon successful completion of the exam, a certificate of achievement will be available for download/printing.

To use the CDE articles for credit toward APCO recertification(s)
Each CDE article is equal to one credit hour of continuing education

  1. Study the CDE article in this issue.
  2. Answer the test questions online or on the quiz page from the magazine article. (Photocopies are not required.)
  3. Add/upload your CDE article information and certificate of achievement in the “My Classes Taken” section of APCO’s Training Central.

To use the CDE articles for anything other than APCO recertifications and get a printed copy of the certificate:

  1. Answer the test questions. Photocopies are acceptable, but please don’t enlarge them.
  2. Fill out the ordering information below and mail with the completed exam to:
    APCO Institute
    351 N. Williamson Blvd.
    Daytona Beach, FL 32114
  3. Include payment of $15.