The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide – and the welfare of the general public as a whole – by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy, and outreach.

On January 18, 2017, the Department was awarded APCO International, Project 33 (P33), Agency Training Program Certification, which is a formal mechanism for public safety agencies to certify their training programs for telecommunicators as meeting APCO American National Standards (ANS).

The primary objective of the Agency Training Program Certification is to advance the training and professional development of public safety communications officials through the certification of an agency’s training program. This certification will be valid for a period of three years, at which time the Department will be required to show compliance with APCO International Agency Training Program standards to receive recertification. More information on APCO International is available at apcointl​ site External link