Communications Center Employment - Work Hours, Training, Benefits, and Hiring Process - Test Date, Location, and Application Procedure

Oct 5, 2026

Emergency communications center employment details work requirements, including continuous operations requiring nights, weekends, and holidays, with shift flexibility during training and afterward. The document outlines paid on-the-job and in-service training, including telecommunicator school, recertification, and out-of-town overnight training. Benefits cover accrued leave, retirement membership, and insurance plus other incentives. The hiring process includes written, LESI, typing, and oral tests, with polygraph and extensive background checks, drug testing, and an entry-level examination covering audio and reading comprehension. It specifies the test date and location and the application deadline and required uploads.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Work Hours

Training

Benefits

Hiring Process

Written Test Content

Test Date and Location

Applicants With Related Experience

Kentucky Certification Exemptions

Out-of-State Certification Exemptions

Application Procedure

WORK HOURS: The Communications Center is a continuous operation that requires working nights, weekends, and holidays. Full-time employees will work 40 hours per week. Overtime required as needed; must be available to work all shifts during first 6-8 month training period including 5 weeks out-of-town training. Hours will then likely be afternoon/evening shift. Shift hours will vary; flexibility is required. Employees may have to work other hours to fill-in for absent personnel. New employees can expect to work most weekends and holidays. TRAINING: Employees will receive on-the-job and in-service training and are paid throughout their training period. Periodic training is required in order to maintain satisfactory job performance. Employees must be willing to attend occasional overnight training out-of-town. Five (5) weeks of training at telecommunicator school at EKU in Richmond is required during the first few months of employment, as is annual recertification. Employees will also receive in house training over the first 6 to 8 months. BENEFITS: Accrued Leave: Full-time dispatchers earn 1.25 vacation and 1 sick day per month, plus 7 holidays & 2 personal days. Full-time employees are in the Kentucky Retirement System, and are offered medical, dental, life & vision insurance. The City also offers deferred compensation retirement plans, free fitness membership, casual uniforms, and college education assistance. HIRING PROCESS: The employment process includes a written test, LESI (psychological test), typing test, and oral interview. Due to access to confidential police records and information, a polygraph test and an extremely thorough background investigation are also required. The investigation will require the applicant to submit considerable information regarding employment, residence, and credit history, and will include investigator interviews with family members, neighbors, and current and former co-workers and employers. New employees are subject to pre-and post-employment drug tests. The written test is an entry-level examination for the specialized position of emergency communications personnel. It is not necessary to have previous experience and/or exposure to job-related texts or literature in order to take or pass the test. Applicants will be ranked based on their score and any related qualifications. Age 21+ is preferred. The test contains two parts: an audio portion and the other is reading comprehension. Candidates will hear a variety of emergency calls and answer questions about the calls for the first section. Each call is taken to a critical decision point where the test taker must decide what would be best to do or say. The test requires the applicant to accurately record information that has been heard. The questions test for judgment, problem solving, multi-tasking, listening and communication skills, dealing with difficult and stressful situations, recording accuracy, sensitivity, and human relations skills. TEST DATE AND LOCATION: The written test will be administered: Saturday, September 19 8:00 a.m. Central Time Bowling Green Police Headquarters Community Room 911 Kentucky St, Bowling Green, KY Including preliminary instructions, the test will take up to four hours. There will not be a test make-up date, thus anyone wanting to apply for dispatcher must make certain to be available on the test date. Anyone with an ADA-eligible disability needing reasonable accommodation to complete the written test should notify the Human Resources Specialist by Monday,September7 COMMUNICATIONS DISPATCHER INFORMATION-CONTINUED APPLICANTS WITH RELATED EXPERIENCE: KENTUCKY: Applicants presently certified in Kentucky as a communications dispatcher maybe exempt from taking the written test if proof of certification is provided with the application. This test exemption applies only to communications dispatcher applicants currently certified by the Kentucky Justice Cabinet-Telecommunicator Basic Train

FAQs

What work schedule is required for communications center employees?

The communications center operates continuously, requiring work on nights, weekends, and holidays. Work shifts vary and flexibility is required, including coverage for absent personnel and other fill-in hours.

What training is required during the first months of employment?

Employees receive on-the-job and in-service training while being paid during training. During the first few months, five weeks at the telecommunicator school at EKU in Richmond is required, along with annual recertification, plus additional in-house training during the first 6 to 8 months.

What does the written test include and how are applicants assessed?

The written test has two parts: an audio portion and a reading comprehension portion. Applicants listen to emergency calls and answer questions at critical decision points, requiring accurate recording of heard information and evaluating judgment, problem solving, multi-tasking, listening and communication skills.

Oct 5, 2026

Uploaded by EvelynWrites