Prepare to keep calm and carry on in emergencies
Train to work in the challenging field of 911 emergency operations and other dispatch centres. You'll gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to handle demanding scenarios, manage the public, and collaborate with emergency personnel.
Equip yourself with the skills to work with a specialized workforce, covering call management, crisis intervention, pre-hospital care, professional communications, equipment operations, and more. Highlights include practical experience shadowing actual and simulated emergency calls. Most courses are delivered online, except for one in-person 60-hour placement.
Program highlights
- 60 hours of placement at affiliated locations across Canada
- Shadow live and simulated emergency calls
- Grads can receive certification from the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, Canada (APCO)
Program of study for 2027-28 Academic Year
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| EMC 1012 | Emergency Services Structure | 3 |
| EMC 1003 | Crisis Intervention | 3 |
| EMC 1010 | Foundations of Emergency Comm | 3 |
| KBD 1100 | Computer Keyboarding Skills I | 3 |
| PSY 1125 | Positive Psychology | 3 |
| One General Education Course 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| EMC 1006 | Emergency Management | 3 |
| EMC 1008 | Interpersonal Communications | 3 |
| EMC 1009 | Emergency Communication Placement | 3 |
| EMC 1011 | Placement Seminar | 3 |
| EMC 1013 | APCO Telecommunicator | 3 |
| NTN 1001 | Stress Wellness and Nutrition | 3 |
| CAT 1000 | Advocacy and Ethics | 3 |
| Credits | 21 | |
| Total Credits | 39 | |
- 1
For more information regarding General Education courses, click here.
Admission requirements
For graduates of the new curriculum (OSS): Ontario Secondary School Diploma (30 credits) or equivalent or mature student status, including:
- Any grade 12 English (C) or (U)
Please note that when you accept a seat in the program, you also accept to go to any of the program’s affiliated placement sites available at the time of your placement. The location of your placement may be different from your preference, and you should expect that you may need to relocate for this clinical training period. Placement sites are subject to change and specific geographic regions may not be available at the time of your placement.
All placement-related expenses, such as travel, parking, and accommodations are your responsibility.
Specific program pathways
College or university degree opportunities
If you are a graduate of this program, you may continue your studies at a college or university and you may receive credit(s) for your prior college education. Refer to Cambrian's college and university agreement details for further information.
Employment opportunities
Dispatchers operate radios and other telecommunication equipment to dispatch emergency services personnel and coordinate response activities across multiple agencies and disciplines. They are employed in public safety communications roles by:
- Police Services
- Fire Services
- Paramedic/EMS Services
- Consolidated 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Centres
The skills developed in this field are also applicable to dispatch roles in related industries, including:
- Utilities and Infrastructure
- Security operations
- Transportation and courier services
Common titles for this occupation include 9-1-1 dispatcher, emergency communications officer, police dispatcher, fire dispatcher, and ambulance dispatcher.
Please note: Cambrian College strives to ensure the accuracy of the information on this website. Please note that the academic curriculum is continually reviewed and revised to ensure that Cambrian's programs and courses remain relevant. The College reserves the right to cancel or make changes to any course or program, fee, procedure, or campus location at any time.
