In recognition of a milestone nearly five years in the making, N.C. 911 Board members and staff recently celebrated the inaugural graduates of Richmond Community College’s 911 Communications & Operations Associate Degree Program. The first of its kind, the online program is designed to provide not only a pathway for individuals who are interested in starting a career in the field, but also skills enhancement for those already working as 911 telecommunicators.
“Our state’s telecommunicators perform vital life-saving work, and it is imperative that we have a strong pipeline of talent in this field,” said L.V. Pokey Harris, executive director of the N.C. 911 Board. “I am incredibly proud of our team’s hard work in partnership with Richmond Community College to quickly make this program a reality.”
In late 2020, the N.C. 911 Board’s Education Committee initiated the idea of collaborating with the state’s community college system to establish standardized telecommunicator training. The board then connected with Richmond Community College to develop the online degree program.
“We designed the curriculum with direct input from educators and 911 education leaders to ensure it reflects the unique needs of North Carolina’s 911 community,” said Angie Turbeville, education and training coordinator for the N.C. 911 Board, who helped spearhead the program’s development.
In addition to the 12 graduates, the program currently has 70 students enrolled. Since its launch in fall 2023, the program has expanded to 11 other community colleges across the state.
“I want to thank Richmond Community College and the 911 Board for creating the opportunity to obtain an associate’s degree in 911 Communications and Operations,” said Tricia McKnight, assistant director for Hoke County Emergency Communications and one of the program’s graduates. “They made it possible for me to complete a degree in the career I love. It was a challenge to return to school after 30 years, but it was a wonderful experience that I will cherish the rest of my life. It just proves you are never too old to return to school.”
Along with developing this degree program, the N.C. 911 Board continues to focus on promoting 911 telecommunicator careers. Recent disasters like Hurricane Helene have underscored the necessity of this role and the essential service it provides to North Carolina.
The board has an ongoing statewide public service announcement campaign that has attracted more than 200,000 visitors to its telecommunicator career page, which highlights the benefits of working for 911 and links to job opportunities available in communities across the state. The board also offers ongoing education to telecommunicators, including an online training platform.
A unit of the N.C. Department of Information Technology (NCDIT), the N.C. 911 Board administers funding to 124 public safety answering points (PSAPs) across the state to create an enhanced statewide 911 system. PSAPs are operated by and under the jurisdiction of counties and other local government entities.
A single, statewide service charge per connection for any type of voice communication service provider goes to the 911 Fund, which the N.C. 911 Board manages and distributes to support the state’s PSAPs. NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Teena Piccione serves as the N.C. 911 Board's chair.
