National Academies of Emergency Dispatch

The Mission of the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch

"To advance and support the public-safety emergency telecommunications professional and ensure that citizens in need of emergency, health, and social services are matched safely, quickly, and effectively with the most appropriate resource."

The Mission of the College of Fellows: "To conduct an on-going review of the current standards of care and practice in EMD, Fire, Police, and other areas of public safety telecommunications and evaluate the tools and mechanisms used to meet or exceed those standards."

Goals & Objectives of the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch

  • To use and promote the fundamental principles of the scientific method in the pursuit of the Mission.
  • To advocate a single, scientifically defensible protocol which becomes the unifying standard under which all professional emergency dispatchers practice.
  • To advance professionalism within the dispatch community by establishing and promoting an ethics policy as well as minimum standards for curriculum, instruction, certification, recertification, and accreditation of centers.
  • To provide opportunities for members to improve themselves and their organizations through facilitation of communication, providing comprehensive information resources and creating high-quality training and continuing dispatch education through seminars, publications and other media designed to meet our members needs.
  • To establish and promote a collegial, research-based culture that welcomes the expertise of many disciplines through the creation of standing committees, task forces, and subgroups that reach out to other organizations and advise the Academies.
  • To be recognized as the authoritative, independent voice that represents the emergency dispatcher and enhances the profession.

Emergency Medical Dispatch

EMD Certification: The Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) has been recognized as an essential component of effective EMS systems. Proper and timely training as well as a sound medical protocol are what help EMDs deliver quality care to the calling public with emergency medical needs.

Over the past decade, Medical Priority's EMD Certification Course has become the standard for EMD training. The course meets or exceeds all national criteria set by A.S.T.M., U.S Department of Transportation, National Association of EMS Physicians, and others.

The EMD Certification Course includes Medical Priority's EMD Course Manual. Available separately are the Advanced MPDS card sets, ProQA software, and the Principles of Emergency Medical Dispatch reference textbook.

Participants who complete the 3-day course will be eligible for certification through the National (or International) Academy of EMD. To be EMD certified, the applicant must also be CPR-certified through the National Safety Council, American Heart Association, American Red Cross, European Resuscitation Council or equivalent. We recommend this training be completed prior to attending the EMD course.

Emergency Fire Dispatch

EFD Certification: The Emergency Fire Dispatcher (EFD) through the use of the FPDS™ brings the science of structured call processing to the fire-rescue field. Completion of this course provides students with confidence to begin using the protocol on-line in the busiest of communication centers. Classes use hands-on teaching, class participation, simulated and actual calls, and feedback to prepare the students for work in a communication center.

Emergency Police Dispatch

EPD Certification: The newly developed PPDS™ brings the science of structured call processing to the world of law enforcement. Completion of this course provides students with confidence to begin using the protocol online in the busiest of communication centers. Additional PPDS training for leaders and Quality Assurance managers is also available.

National Academies of Emergency Dispatch (NAED)