TERT Basic Awareness Course

This training course is designed to train experienced 9-1-1 telecommunicators in one Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) to assist another temporary, alternate, or permanent PSAP when assistance is needed.

Required:

  • Minimum of two years as a public safety telecommunicator
  • Must be currently employed with a 9-1-1 public safety agency:
    • Police Department
    • Sheriff's Office
    • Fire dispatch services
    • EMS dispatch services
  • Required licensing or certifications:
    • Licensed 9-1-1 telecommunicator
      • Through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE)
    • Fire certification (if applicable)
    • EMD/medical certification (if applicable)
  • NIMS ICS 100, 200 and 700

Recommended:

  • NCIC/TCIC Full Access operator
  • Critical Incident Stress Management: Group and Peer
  • Intermediate Spanish for Telecommunicators
  • Crisis Communications course
  • Hazardous Materials Awareness
  • NIMS ICS 300 and 400

TERT Team Leader Course

One of the essential components of establishing a viable Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce (TERT) program is to identify and train individuals who will be designated as Team Leaders. Under provisions of the APCO/NENA Standards for TERT Deployment, each deployed team should be accompanied by a Team Leader.

Required:

  • Minimum of two years as a public safety telecommunicator (police, fire, medical)
  • Required certifications, based on classification (police, fire, medical)
  • TERT Basic Awareness course
  • NIMS ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800

Preferred Prerequisites:

  • Supervisory experience in a 911 communications center (i.e., CTO, shift supervisor, supervisor or manager)
  • Previous deployment to a disaster area

Recommended:

  • Intermediate Spanish for Telecommunicators
  • Critical Incident Stress Management: Group and Peer
  • FEMA COML course
  • NIMS ICS 300 and 400

TERT Train the Trainer Course

The purpose of the TERT Train the Trainer course is to prepare TERT Basic Awareness and TERT Team Leader certified telecommunicators with the training and skills to become an effective TERT instructor. TERT Trainers will collaborate with the TX TERT State Coordinator to identify training needs, assist with scheduling, and host training courses. TERT trainers must follow TCOLE training standards when hosting courses and have the capability to report continuing education hours to TCOLE. The TERT Train the Trainer course is not available online; individuals must attend the classroom course to become certified.

Required:

  • Minimum of two years as a Public Safety Telecommunicator (police, fire, medical)
  • Required certifications, based on classification (police, fire, medical)
  • Basic TCOLE Instructor Proficiency certification
  • TERT Basic Awareness course
  • TERT Team Leader course
  • NIMS ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800

Preferred Prerequisites:

  • Previous deployment to a disaster area

Suggested Prerequisites:

  • Critical Incident Stress Management: Group and Peer
  • FEMA COML course
  • NIMS ICS 300 and 400

TERT Online Training Courses

The TERT Basic Awareness course and TERT Team Leader course are available online through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website. Taking the online courses is equivalent to attending the classroom courses.

  • IS-144 TERT Basic Awareness Course
  • IS-1200 TERT Team Leader Course

Copies of online training certificates must be provided to the TX TERT State Coordinator when applying to become a TX-TERT member.