The APCO Institute offers training courses at times and using methods that are convenient to you.
NOTE: APCO has a 90% rule (attendees must attend 90% of a course) for all courses. No attendee can miss more than 10% of the course time or assignments.
APCO Institute offers live training at APCO headquarters, at the annual conference, in your region with you as a co-host, or under contract at your agency. Individuals in your agency who have been certified as APCO Instructors for a discipline may also teach that course in your agency for only the cost of materials.
Course length varies by class, generally from one and five days. See the course description for more information on individual course length.
Live classes generally run from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with one hour for lunch, but this can vary depending on the hosting agency and instructor preference. Class times will be noted in your course confirmation email.
Co-Host: Bring APCO training to your region
As a public-safety practitioner, you know what training is needed in your area. Serving as a co-host agency (or chapter) enables you to meet local training needs by inviting others from your area to attend a class taught by one of the Institute’s experienced instructors. All APCO courses may be co-hosted. Learn more
Contract: Onsite training for your agency when you need it
APCO Institute also offers agencies the option of contracting any of our classes. This allows any agency to schedule the class for their staff in-house. This option is also perfect for chapter conferences and agencies that have a considerable number of employees that can attend the training at the same time.
Contact us if you have questions about contracting an APCO course for your agency staff.
Agency Instructor: Train staff for only the cost of materials
We will help you equip your agency for in-house training by certifying staff members as APCO Agency Instructors. Having in-house instructors who can teach specific APCO courses can result in significant savings of your scarce training dollars. The only cost to your agency is the cost of student manuals for participants.
Our Instructor courses certify individuals to teach the following APCO courses:
- Public Safety Telecommunicator
- Fire Service Communications
- Law Enforcement Communications
- Emergency Medical Dispatcher
- Communications Training Officer
We understand how busy you are. And that working in a PSAP isn’t a 9-to-5 job. That’s why all Institute courses are offered online. Their 24-hour accessibility — from any internet-enabled device — means that you can participate in training when it works for you.
Technical Requirements for Online Classes
All computers should have the following PLUS the requirements listed under either PC or MAC according to the make of your computer:
- Access to high-speed network connection (i.e., cable, dsl, etc.; not dial-up)
- Sound card and speakers or headset for audio/video
- Software – latest versions unless otherwise specified
- Current anti-virus software
PC
- Operating System: Windows Vista SP2 or newer
- Word Processor: Microsoft Word 2003 or newer (or Word-format compatible)
| Recommended browsers for the best experience in Moodle | ||
| Browser | Minimum version | Recommended version |
| Google Chrome | 30.0 | Latest |
| Mozilla Firefox | 25.0 | Latest |
| Apple Safari | 6 | Latest |
| Microsoft Internet Explorer | 9 * | Latest |
| * Version 10 is required for drag-and-drop upload of content from outside the browser into Moodle | ||
| AOL, Prodigy, CompuServe and other ISP-provided browsers are not supported. | ||
MAC
- Operating System: OS X 10.4.9 or newer
- Word Processor: Microsoft Word or Word-format compatible
| Recommended browsers for the best experience in Moodle | ||
| Browser | Minimum version | Recommended version |
| Google Chrome | 30.0 | Latest |
| Mozilla Firefox | 25.0 | Latest |
| Apple Safari | 6 | Latest |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I log in?
http://apco.remote-learner.net/login/index.php
How long does it take to complete an online course?
APCO Institute Online conducts courses via the Internet. Depending on the course you wish to take, the courses range from three weeks to seven weeks to complete. You should plan to spend 4-5 hours per week on each course. You will spend some of this time online learning and interacting with other students and some time offline reading and working on assignments.
Do I have to be online at a certain time?
Courses begin on Wednesday, and each Wednesday a course module and assignments are made available to students. You may work on the materials at any time. But, we do require that each student check in online by Friday of each week. And, all assignments, quizzes and tests are due on Tuesday of the following week.
Do online courses have real instructors?
All of our courses are offered online. And, yes, the courses are taught by APCO-certified instructors who interact with students and provide feedback on assignments.
What if I have questions, or get behind?
Your instructor will be only an e-mail away. If you have questions or problems keeping pace with the course, they are ready to help.
Is there a cost for textbooks?
Course manuals are included in the tuition cost. So, there are no additional textbook expenses. Some courses use digital rather than “real” manuals. Digital manuals may be downloaded and printed.
How will I get my certificate when I complete my course?
Once you successfully complete the course, you will receive an e-mail that includes a link for downloading and printing your certificate. Or, you can access and print your certificates via APCO’s Training Central, an online resource that stores all of your training records. Training Central gives you access to all of your training records 24/7. And, there is no cost to use it.
APCO Virtual Classroom courses are led online in real-time by APCO’s adjunct instructors and conducted in an interactive, engaging classroom online. With a set time and schedule, the courses are completed online within a specific time frame, allowing you to earn your certification more quickly than in a traditional online course.
Virtual Classroom Requirements and Expectations
Expectations
Students participating in a virtual classroom course are expected to be logged in and in attendance during the designated class dates and times. To be eligible for certification, students must commit to attending the scheduled course in its entirety to meet the necessary training hours requirement and must successfully complete the required coursework according to certification standards. Students who miss more than 10% of the course will not be eligible to take the final exam or earn credit for the course.
Requirements
Prior to the course start date, ensure that your computer meets system requirements for the WebEx platform where virtual classroom is conducted. Test your system.
Each student must have an APCO Institute Online account prior to the first day of class. Create an account.
Each virtual classroom participant must have access to an individual computer with internet-capabilities, microphone, speakers and webcam.
All computers should have the following PLUS the requirements listed under either PC or MAC according to the make of your computer:
- Access to high-speed network connection (i.e., cable, DSL, FIOS etc.; not dial-up)
- Webcam capabilities
- Sound card and speakers or headset for audio/video
- Software – latest versions unless otherwise specified
- Current anti-virus software
- Operating System: Windows Vista SP2 or newer
- Word Processor: Microsoft Word 2003 or newer (or Word-format compatible)
Recommended browsers for the best experience in APCO Institute Online
| Browser | Minimum version | Recommended version |
| Google Chrome | 30.0 | Latest |
| Mozilla Firefox | 25.0 | Latest |
| Apple Safari | 6 | Latest |
| Microsoft Internet Explorer | 9* | Latest |
* Version 10 is required for drag-and-drop upload of content from outside the browser into Moodle
AOL, Prodigy, CompuServe and other ISP-provided browsers are not supported.
- Operating System: OS X 10.4.9 or newer
- Word Processor: Microsoft Word or Word-format compatible
Recommended browsers for the best experience in APCO Institute Online
| Browser | Minimum version | Recommended version |
| Google Chrome | 30.0 | Latest |
| Mozilla Firefox | 25.0 | Latest |
| Apple Safari | 6 | Latest |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I log in when my class begins?
Where do I log in when my class begins?
How long does it take to complete a virtual classroom course?
How long does it take to complete a virtual classroom course?
APCO Virtual Classroom courses are completed during the specified dates and time frames listed in the individual class registration description. Typically, completing a course through Virtual Classroom takes significantly less time than the traditional online course for the same certification.
Do virtual classroom courses have real instructors?
Do virtual classroom courses have real instructors?
All APCO Virtual Classroom courses are taught by APCO adjunct instructors who interact with students in real time during the scheduled course time frames.
Is there a cost for textbooks?
Is there a cost for textbooks?
Course manuals are included in the tuition cost, so there are no additional textbook expenses. Some courses use digital rather than “real” manuals. Digital manuals may be downloaded and printed.
How will I get my certificate when I complete my course?
How will I get my certificate when I complete my course?
Once you successfully complete the course and we have received final payment, you will receive an email that includes a link for downloading and printing your certificate. You can also access and print your certificates via APCO’s Training Central, an online resource that stores all of your training records. Training Central gives you access to your training records 24/7 at no charge.
Can I use a tablet or cell phone for a virtual classroom course?
Can I use a tablet or cell phone for a virtual classroom course?
No. The technologies used for virtual classes are optimized for desktop and laptop computers. You may not use any other device for the course.
How does it work?
How does it work?
Register online for the virtual classroom course you want to take.
When you receive your confirmation email, use the included link to test your computer, speakers and microphone. Create your APCO online learning account if you do not already have one.
Log in to the course the day it begins and every day until it is over.
Successfully complete the course. Ensure that APCO has received full payment for the course. Upon completion of the course, you can print your certificate.
What are the scheduled times for classes?
What are the scheduled times for classes?
Unless otherwise indicated, classes begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. ET.
What are the benefits of a virtual classroom course?
What are the benefits of a virtual classroom course?
We created our virtual classroom course delivery method in response to COVID-19 to enable APCO customers to receive certification in the quickest possible way, while having live interaction with Institute adjunct instructors and other students from emergency communication centers across the country.
What do I need to participate in a virtual classroom course?
What do I need to participate in a virtual classroom course?
- You must meet any prerequisites for the course you would like to take.
- Access to a computer with a webcam, microphone, speakers and Internet access for the duration of the course.
- You must test your technology prior to the course start date.
- You must have or create an account on APCO’s online learning system.
- You need to be present for the entirety of the course.
