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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Emergency Medical Services Section

  • I was grandfathered in when certifications were issued based on employment time. My certification has since expired. How do I renew my certificate?
  • When does my certification expire?
  • How do I apply for renewal?
  • What if I miss my expiration date?
  • Can I work on an expired certificate?
  • Do I have to take the test?
  • Do I have to take the 232 hours of training?
  • If I don’t pass the test, do I have to pay to take it again?
  • I am a sworn law enforcement officer and will be working in dispatch only to give breaks. Do I have to take the test?
  • How do I get our service approved as a training center?
  • How do I apply to take the test?
  • Once I pass the test, do I automatically become certified?
Certificates that are null and void cannot be renewed, regardless of your initial means
of certification. Those with expired certificates will need to complete the initial
certification process to become certified again.
ALL PST certifications automatically expire February 1, of each odd year.
To apply for renewal, PSTs must have completed 20 hours of continuing education
based on the Department of Education’s 911 Public Safety Telecommunication
Curriculum Framework, . submit the completed Form DH 5068 along with a business
check, cashier’s check or money order for $50. No personal checks will be accepted.
Any person who does not recertify by February 1, of the odd year must pay both the
renewal fee of $50 along with a $50 late fee. If the certificate is not renewed within
180 days of expiration, the certificate becomes null and void and cannot be renewed.
No, the only people who may work as 911 Public Safety Telecommunicators are those who possess an active State of Florida certificate.
Yes, any person who wishes to become certified as a 911 public safety telecommunicator or any sworn law enforcement who wishes to perform as a 911 public safety telecommunicator on an occasional or limited basis must pass the exam.

YES if the LEO or PST/Firefighter(employed before April 1, 2012) FAILS the exam

If you were employed as a 911 public safety telecommunicator, or a state-certified firefighter before April 1, 2012, you may take the exam without completing the training program requirement for certification. Upon passage of the examination, the completion of the public safety telecommunication training program shall be waived. Those that do not fall into this category will be required to complete a department approved training program.

NO FEE FOR LEO (initial/re-exam)

Otherwise, there is a $75 exam fee for each attempt.

Yes, but sworn law enforcement officers who wish to work on an occasional or limited basis are exempt from the testing fee and the certification requirement. Per Florida Statute 401.465(2)(k); 1. The requirement for certification as a 911 public safety telecommunicator is waived for a person employed as a sworn state-certified law enforcement officer, provided the officer:

a. Is selected by his or her chief executive to perform as a 911 public safety telecommunicator;

b. Performs as a 911 public safety telecommunicator on an occasional or limited basis; and

c.  Passes the department-approved examination that measures the competency and proficiency of an applicant in the subject material comprising the public safety telecommunication program.

2. A sworn state-certified law enforcement officer who fails an examination taken under subparagraph 1. must take a department-approved public safety telecommunication training program prior to retaking the examination.

3. The testing required under this paragraph is exempt from the examination fee required under subsection (3).

An agency seeking approval of their 911 PST Training Program should submit Form DH 5067, PST Training Program Application, with all applicable attachments as well as the $50 application fee.  If there are no issues with the application, the training program is approved. Form DH 5067 should be carefully read.  Information on application requirements as well as application timeframes is provided for the applicant.

Submit Form DH 5066, Initial Certification Application, with the $50 certification fee to the address on the application.  Once received, if all information is included, the applicant will be sent an approval to test letter with instructions on registering to take the PST exam through Prometric.

Typically, scores are received by the program office within a couple of days of testing.  Once a passing score is uploaded into the system, a certification is issued.