911 Dispatcher Typing Test: Requirements and Practice
What typing speed 911 dispatcher jobs require, how CritiCall and typing certificates work and a free practice test with real call notes.
Contents
Most 911 dispatcher jobs require 35 to 40 WPM, often net (errors deducted), plus a multi-part skills test such as CritiCall. Vermont State Police set 35 WPM on the CritiCall keyboard module, Nevada and Phoenix ask for 40 WPM, and some agencies only accept a recent, proctored certificate, not an online test. The typing part is the one you can train in a few weeks. Below: real requirements, what CritiCall tests and a practice run with dispatch call notes.
What dispatch agencies require
| Agency | Typing requirement | Test |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont State Police | 35 WPM on the keyboard module, overall score 80 | CritiCall |
| State of Nevada, Public Safety Dispatcher 1 | 40 net WPM, certificate from the last 6 months | no online tests accepted |
| City of Phoenix, Fire Dispatch | 40 WPM, then CritiCall | typing test, then CritiCall |
| Lincoln City Police, Oregon | 35 WPM at 85 to 90 percent accuracy | typing score plus National Testing Network exam |
Requirements differ by agency, so always check the posting. What they share: speed is a pass/fail gate before the harder parts of the selection.
What CritiCall tests
CritiCall is a computer-based test battery widely used for dispatcher hiring. Its official sample battery covers keyboarding, proofreading and spelling, and the full test adds a data entry module. The preparation guide describes it like this: you enter names, phone numbers, license plates and similar details that you read and hear, often in capital letters.
Two things make it harder than a normal typing test:
- Audio input. You type what a caller says, not just what you see.
- No skipping. The guide says skipped questions are penalized, so you need steady speed, not bursts.
Free dispatcher practice test
Load real-style call notes into the speed test: practice with 911 call notes (addresses, ages, unit numbers, times, phone numbers). Pick 5 minutes and aim for your agency's number with 90 percent accuracy or better.
Dispatch text mixes words and numbers constantly, so the data entry typing test is useful extra practice.
A two-to-four-week practice plan
- Baseline: run the dispatch text above and note your net WPM.
- Find weak keys: the per-key placement test shows where digits and capitals slow you down.
- Daily practice: 15 minutes on the touch typing course or the number-heavy practice paragraphs.
- Listen and type: have someone read call details aloud, or use a podcast, and type what you hear. CritiCall does the same.
- Get certified where required: if your agency wants a proctored certificate, book it once you hit the number in practice.
Proof for your application
A typing certificate shows your speed and accuracy with a date. To be clear: agencies like Nevada state that online tests don't count for the official requirement. Use ours to prepare and to know you're ready, then take the proctored test they ask for. More on listing typing speed in applications: typing speed for jobs.
FAQ
How fast do you have to type to be a 911 dispatcher?
Usually 35 to 40 WPM, often net, meaning errors are subtracted. Some agencies add an accuracy minimum, such as 85 to 90 percent.
What is on the CritiCall typing test?
The keyboarding module measures typing speed and accuracy. Other modules cover data entry from audio and written sources, proofreading and spelling.
Can I use an online typing certificate for a dispatcher job?
Often not for the official requirement. Nevada, for example, asks for a net WPM certificate from the last 6 months and accepts no online tests. Online practice still prepares you.
What does net WPM mean?
Your speed after errors are deducted. Rules differ by agency: under the Los Angeles rule for legal typing, for example, each error costs 1 WPM, so 45 WPM with 6 errors nets 39.
Sources
- Vermont State Police: Emergency Communications Dispatcher hiring - CritiCall, passing score of 80, minimum 35 WPM on the typing/keyboard module.
- State of Nevada: Public Safety Dispatcher 1 announcement (PDF) - 40 net WPM, no online typing tests.
- City of Phoenix: Fire Dispatch brochure (PDF) - type 40 WPM, then CritiCall exam.
- League of Oregon Cities jobs board: Lincoln City Police dispatcher - 35 WPM with 85 to 90 percent accuracy, National Testing Network exam.
- CritiCall: Dispatcher testing for applicants - sample test battery with keyboarding, proofreading and spelling.
- CritiCall Candidate Test Preparation Guide 2023 (PDF) - data entry from read and heard information, penalty for skipped questions.
Ready to type faster?
Start now. You'll see results after your very first lesson.