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Telecommunicator
February 23, 2026 - February 25, 2026
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Emergency Telecommunicators
Capital Area Council of Governments - Cedar Training Room
Venue Phone: 512-916-6000
Venue Website: https://www.capcog.org/
Venue Address:
Description:
Enter the classroom through the CAPCOG training entrance, which is located under the metal awning near the main parking lot.
Walk down the long hallway to the room. Signs will be posted to help with direction.
Training new Emergency Communications Professionals is an important responsibility. This 3-day course will provide students with the skills necessary to provide on-the-job training, counseling, and feedback to trainees.
Units covered include:
- Roles and Responsibilities of a Trainer
- Characteristics and Benefits of Various Training Strategies Requirements of a Successful Training Program
- Liability in Training
- Four Styles of Adult Learning
- DO Rs and Standard Evaluation Guidelines
- Trainee Counseling
Students will participate in a variety of activities reinforcing basic training concepts. Students will complete an adult learning style activity. Students will use a training scenario to complete a DOR. Students will roleplay with another student to demonstrate counseling.
Equivalent TCOLE Course No.: 5304
TCOLE Hours: 24 Hours
Instructor: Tina Chaffin
Chaffin started her career with 9-1-1 in 1996 in Plano, Texas. Throughout childhood, Chaffin wanted to be a teacher. Sitting in classroom training on the first day of 9-1-1 training, she made a goal to teaches 9-1-1 emergency communication professionals (ECPs). Chaffin is extremely passionate about the 9-1-1 profession and advocates for ECPs in many ways. Chaffin is the past-president of the Texas 9-1-1 Trainer (TNT) group and has been involved with the group for over 15 years. Chaffin founded the National 9-1-1 Trainer Forum, holding a yearly conference for 9-1-1 trainers from around the nation. Chaffin also is involved with APCO international committees and has published numerous articles in the APCO Magazine. Chaffin firmly believes in the recognition of ECPs and pushes the topic every chance she gets. Recently, Chaffin launched an online training site, intending to provide relevant, quality, low-cost training for ECPs around the United States.
Since 1996, Chaffin has worked as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, call-taker, and trainer for large and small cities alike. She also has experience working as a ECP at an International Airport and a four-year college. Chaffin currently works in an emergency communications center dispatching police and fire to ensure her skills are up-to-date.
Tina has provided classroom training for the majority of her career. Additionally, Chaffin has presented at national and state conferences throughout the US. In addition to working in an ECC, Tina currently trains an average of 650 hours per year.
Licenses/Certifications:
- NENA Emergency Number Professional (ENP)
- APCO Registered Public Safety Leader (RPL)
- Master Telecommunicator License
- Advanced TCOLE Instructor
- Texas DPS TCIC/TLETS Instructor
- Instructor for National Center for Missing and Exploited Children course for ECPs
Special Instructions
Dress Code: To promote a professional training environment, CAPCOG requires proper attire. Attendee must provide their PID # to receive TCOLE credit for courses taken through CAPCOG. CAPCOG provides training for the Emergency Communication Centers (ECC) in our region at no cost to 9-1-1 telecommunicators and their departments. When space is reserved for a 9-1-1 training class offered by CAPCOG, students or the supervisor who made the reservation must cancel such reservation at least two business days prior to start of the class.
For Questions
Contact Pamela Frisk, CAPCOG 9-1-1 Training & Public Education Manager.