A reference for applicants

Dispatcher terminology library

Plain-English meanings for the language you may encounter in a job description or training discussion. Local procedures, codes and status definitions control operational use.

Find a term

Examples and explanations here are educational. The FAA link verifies the ICAO spelling alphabet; it does not establish a required police or fire alphabet. Do not memorize one agency’s codes as universal rules.

Download the compact printable reference →

Call taking and locations

ALI — Automatic Location Identification: Location information displayed through a 911 system. Treat it as information to evaluate under center procedures, not proof of the caller’s exact current location.
ANI — Automatic Number Identification: A number associated with the incoming call. A displayed number and a confirmed callback number may need different handling.
Callback number: A number used to reach the caller again. In fictional practice, keep it separate from an incident identifier.
Call taker: The person gathering and documenting information from a caller. Radio dispatch may be a different assignment.
Cross street: A street intersecting or near the reported location. It can help clarify a location when an address is incomplete.
Incident location: The place where the reported event is happening. A caller may be somewhere else; record the distinction.
Reporting party: The person reporting an event. “RP” is sometimes used locally; it does not necessarily mean victim or witness.
Text-to-911: A supported way to communicate with 911 by text. Availability and processing procedures vary; do not assume every center receives texts.

Radio communications and spelling

Acknowledgment: Confirmation that a message was received. What must be repeated or documented depends on the center’s procedure.
Call sign: An identifier used for a unit or station. It should not be confused with a vehicle plate or incident number.
Channel: A designated radio communications path. Channels may have different assignments or coverage.
Phonetic alphabet: Words used to make letters easier to distinguish. The ICAO alphabet uses Alfa, Bravo and Charlie; Juliett is its spelling for J. Some agencies use a different local alphabet.
Plain language: Ordinary, clear words instead of an unexplained code. Use the communication system and terminology approved by the agency.
Readback: Repeating critical information to check understanding. For example, repeating a fictional address can reveal a transposed number.
Ten-code: A numerical radio shorthand such as a “10-” code. Meanings vary; no code list on this site is a universal operational standard.

Police dispatch and unit status

Available: A local status indicating a unit can receive an assignment under the agency’s rules. Capability and location still matter.
BOLO — Be On the Lookout: An alert to watch for a described person, vehicle or situation. Content, distribution and action rules belong to the issuing agency.
Busy / assigned: A unit is committed to work. It may not be suitable for another incident even if physically nearby.
En route: Traveling toward the assigned destination. Arrival is a different status.
On scene: At the reported incident location. It does not by itself indicate the incident is resolved.
Out of service: Not available for normal assignment under local status rules. The reason and return process vary.
Unit: An operational resource identified in the dispatch system. A unit may represent a vehicle, team or other resource.

Fire and EMS dispatch

Apparatus: A fire-service vehicle or resource. Different apparatus have different capabilities; a label alone is not a response plan.
EMD — Emergency Medical Dispatch: The medical-call dispatch discipline. The term can also describe a qualified medical dispatcher; credentials and protocols vary.
EMS — Emergency Medical Services: The services and personnel involved in emergency medical care and transport. Dispatch responsibilities depend on the local system.
Mutual aid: Assistance arranged between jurisdictions or organizations. Agreements govern when and how resources are requested.
Pre-arrival instructions: Approved instructions given before responders arrive. They require appropriate training, protocols and oversight; this library is not a clinical instruction guide.
Response plan: The approved rules for choosing resources for an incident. Practice scenarios on this site provide fictional rules for that exercise only.

CAD and 911 technology

CAD — Computer-Aided Dispatch: Software used to record incidents and coordinate dispatch work. Features and integration with other systems vary by center.
ECC — Emergency Communications Center: A center performing emergency communications work. It is a common term alongside PSAP; exact responsibilities vary.
GIS — Geographic Information System: A system for organizing and using information connected to locations, such as streets and service boundaries.
Incident number: An identifier assigned to a record. It is not a telephone number, address or unit call sign.
NG911 — Next Generation 911: An evolution toward IP-based emergency communications and related data capabilities. Implementation differs by jurisdiction.
PSAP — Public Safety Answering Point: A location where 911 calls are received and handled. The services performed or transferred depend on the local arrangement.
Timestamp: The recorded time of an event or entry. Distinguish reported event time from the time information was received.

Incident prioritization and coordination

Priority: An ordering or urgency classification under stated rules. Numeric labels such as “Priority 1” are agency-specific.
Protocol: An approved structured process for handling a situation. Independent practice is not authority to replace a center’s protocol.
Transfer / handoff: Passing a call or responsibility to another person or center. Which information must accompany it is defined by the process.
Triage: Sorting work by the relevant urgency criteria. In exercises, use only the supplied criteria rather than inventing a rule.

Training and professional development

CTO — Communications Training Officer: A person assigned to guide and evaluate trainees. The title, qualification and evaluation process differ by employer.
Field training: Supervised learning and evaluation in the work environment. It complements classroom instruction.
Probation: An employer-defined initial evaluation period. Completing a class or credential may not mean probation is finished.
QA — Quality Assurance: A process for reviewing work against defined expectations and identifying improvements. It is not simply a practice percentage.

Read a fictional status update accurately

“Unit 24 is en route to 18 Cedar Lane” tells you which unit is traveling and its destination. It does not say that Unit 24 has arrived, that 18 Cedar Lane is the caller’s present location, or that the event is resolved. Keeping those facts separate is useful preparation.

Our printable accuracy worksheet includes original exercises and explained answers. The existing dispatch simulator supplies its own fictional response rules.

Sources and scope

Reviewed October 9, 2026. System terminology is grounded in the primary resources below. Unit-status labels and practical examples are introductory explanations; each agency defines its operational meaning. No confidential codes or clinical protocols are reproduced.