911 OPERATOR

Correct Name of the Career
o 911 Dispatcher

Education and/or Training Required
o It is recommended to take a foreign language, such as Spanish, because being
bilingual can be an advantage over other candidates. It is also suggested to take
relevant electives such as computer applications.
o Must complete a dispatcher training program. Typically training programs include
40 hours of classroom and on the job training. Certification is mandatory in some
states and voluntary in others.
o Whether or not you need a college degree depends on the employer. Some
employers only require a high school diploma, although other employers may
prefer a bachelor or associate’s degree in fields such as criminal justice,
communications, and computer science. It is required to continue education in
order to remain a dispatcher. Dispatchers regularly take part in new training
programs.
o Recommended extra-curricular activities are doing things like learning a second
language and joining a computer club.

Responsibilities and Daily Activities
o 911 Dispatchers work shifts that are anywhere between 8 and 24 hours long.
There are commonly on-call and overtime hours. They have to answer phone calls
that deal with life or death and other disturbing situations on a day-to-day basis.
o Dispatchers are specialized into groups, including ambulance, fire, and police.
o Dispatchers work in emergency communication centers, also called, Public Safety
Answering Points. The majority of dispatchers work for local governments and
are employed mainly by law enforcement agencies and fire departments. Others
work for private companies and state governments.

Salary Range
o Based on the salaries of dispatchers in 2012, the lower 10 percent earned less than
$23,190 and the top ten percent earned more than $56,580
o Values are for the entire U.S.
o Salary can be raised after a 911 dispatcher has had experience long enough

Documentation of Sources
o Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. (2014). Fire, Police, and
Ambulance Dispatchers. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.
[accessed 23 August 2014]. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-andadministrative-support/police-fire-and-ambulance-dispatchers.htm.
o Education Portal. (2003). Become a 911 Dispatcher: Education Requirements and
Salary Info. Education Portal. [accessed 22 August 2014]. Retrieved from
http://educationportal.com/articles/Become_a_911_Dispatcher_Education_Requirements_and_Sa
lary_Info.html.

Self-Reflection
o I had heard of this career before.
o You get the satisfaction of knowing that you helped someone or even saved his or
her life every day.
o
It is very stressful and sitting at a computer all day could get tiring.
o I would not like to have this job.
o I would not like the pressure of having someone’s life in my hands.
EMT

Correct Name of the Career
o Emergency Medical Technician

Education and/or Training Required
o Recommended high school classes are anatomy and physiology.
o All EMTs must complete a postsecondary educational program. A high school
diploma and a CPR certification are necessary for most postsecondary educational
programs for emergency medical technology. Technical institutes and community
colleges offer the required programs such as EMT and Advanced EMT. EMTs
must have a license. Requirements to be eligible for a license vary by state, but
most require National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT)
certification. NREMT certification can be obtained by completing a certified
education program and passing the national exam.
o The postsecondary educational programs required to become an EMT are mostly
non-degree award programs. The EMT program includes around 150 hours of
specialized instruction on how to become an emergency medical technician.
o Exercising each day could be beneficial because EMTs need to be physically fit,
as they are required to bend and lift things and people daily.

Responsibilities and Daily Activities
o When a 911 operator sends EMTs to an emergency, they must work quickly and
efficiently to assess the condition of their patients and give them the appropriate
care. Once the patient is safely on a stretcher and is inside of the ambulance, one
or more EMTs will ride with the patient and tend to them while one drives. It is
the EMTs job to report all of the information they have gathered about the patient
to the doctors and nurses at the hospital. After a patient has been transported to
the emergency room, they must clean the ambulance and all of their supplies.
o The specific tasks of an EMT may vary depending on whether they are a basic
EMT, Advanced EMT, or paramedic.
o EMTs work at places like hospitals and ambulance services. The government,
ambulance services, and hospitals employ the majority of EMTs. They work
indoors and outdoors in all kinds of weather.

Salary Range
o $21,794-$57,834
o Salary range is for Kentucky
o Many things can influence a EMTs salary such as education, number of years of
experience, and location.

Documentation of Sources
o Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. (2014). EMTs and
Paramedics. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. [accessed 24
August 2014]. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/emts-andparamedics.htm.
o EMT Salary. (2014). EMS Salary and Career Information. EMT Salary. [accessed
24 August 2014]. Retrieved from http://www.emtsalary.org/.

Self-Reflection
o I had heard of this career before.
o It is rewarding to help people in need and take part in saving them.
o EMTs are exposed to contagious diseases and are sick often.
o I would not like to have this job.
o I do not enjoy being around sick people.
CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR

Correct Name of the Career
o Crime Scene Investigator or Forensic Science Technician

Education and/or Training Required
o Taking lots of science in high school is recommended. Enter projects into science
fairs that have to do with crime scene investigation. Joining the debate team is
also suggested.
o While not required, it is highly suggested to take a forensic science degree
program. To become certified as a CSI, you must pass an exam given by the
American Board of Criminalistics.
o Aspiring crime scene investigators should major in chemistry, biology, physics, or
other related sciences. Employers are increasingly requiring a master’s degree in
forensic science. Continuing education is a requirement throughout a crime scene
investigators career.
o Crime scene investigators need to have a sharp, quick-thinking mind that is
attentive to detail. Courses or classes that sharpen the mind can benefit CSIs.
Many CSIs are police officers as well as investigators, so that could be an option
to look into.

Responsibilities and Daily Activities
o Crime scene investigators are responsible for analyzing a crime scene and
colleting all of the necessary evidence. They take photos, draw detailed sketches,
take measurements, and document all of their findings. CSIs also label all the
evidence and send it to the lab for testing. Once everything is collected and
analyzed, they must write up a detailed report on their conclusions and findings.
Crime scene investigators are often called upon to testify to their finding in court.
o Some CSIs are trained as police officers first, and others are simply civilian CSIs.
o Crime scene investigators generally work at and are employed by laboratories and
government agencies. The workplace of a CSI is usually at a crime scene.

Salary Range
o $27,683 - $52,471
o Salary is for the United States
o Experience and amount of education can influence salary.

Documentation of Sources
o American Dental Education Association. (2012). Crime Scene Investigator (CSI).
American Dental Education Association. [accessed 24 August 2014]. Retrieved
from
http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/Career/124/Crime_Scene_Investigator_CSI#Ta
b=Overview.
o Education Portal. (2003). Crime Scene Investigator Education Requirements and
Career Info. Education Portal. [accessed 24 August 2014]. Retrieved from
http://education-portal.com/crime_scene_investigator.html.

Self-Reflection
o I had heard of this career before.
o It is fun because you have a part in solving a mystery.
o Being a CSI is physically demanding and things at crime scenes can be
disgusting.
o I would like to have this job.
o I am a curious person and it would satisfy me to help solve crimes.