The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International is seeking comments on a Candidate American National Standard (ANS) released today that identifies core competencies and minimum training requirements for the public safety communications technician.

This candidate standard identifies the core competencies and minimum training requirements for various technical support positions in public safety communications, including radio and computer aided dispatch. Technology is critical to the administration of public safety communications and there is a need to provide a consistent foundation for the knowledge, skills, and abilities to fulfill this critical function.

“APCO is a pioneer in the development of training standards for public safety communications.  The addition of a standard focused on the increasingly technical nature of our business will ensure that public safety communications professionals continue to progress, along with the technologies that aid us in our mission of public safety and public service,” said John Wright, president of APCO International.

The public review and comment period is an important step in the standard development process. This provides an opportunity for all interested parties to review and contribute. The draft standard can be downloaded for review at: www.apcointl.org/standards/call-to-action-review-a-comment.html. Comments must be submitted by January 26, 2015 to [email protected] and should include the name of the standard, line number in question, existing text, and proposed resolution.