There is one education track available to 911 District directors and staff through the County Government Education Institute: Certificate in Emergency Communication District Administration.

Earning the certificate in emergency communication district administration

Participants must attend all 12 hours of each course, plus receive a satisfactory grade on the class exam to receive credit for the course. Classes may be taken in any order. Participants who fulfill all requirements will be designated as Certified Emergency Communication District Administrators (CECA).

Basic-Level Classes

All participants must complete each of the four Basic-Level courses (48 hours) available to all participants in the County Government Education Institute. 

  • Overview of County Government
  • Ethics of County Officials and Employees
  • Personnel Administration
  • Finance and Revenue

Certification-Level Classes

To be eligible for the Certificate in Emergency Communication District Administration, participants must also complete two elective courses and one profession-specific course for a total of seven 12-hour classes (84 total hours). Current elective courses are:

  • Conflict Management
  • General Management and Supervision
  • Disaster Preparedness and Response
  • General Accounting
  • Communication and Media Relations
  • Legislative and Governmental Relations

The required profession-specific course is:

  • Fundamentals of Emergency Communication District Administration

Continuing education requirements for Certificate in Emergency Communication Administration

Participants who have received a Certificate in Emergency Communication Administration will be required to complete at least 12 continuing education units (CEUs) during a two-year period in order to retain the designation. The two year period to complete the continuing education requirement begins on January 1 following the date that the Certificate has been granted and ends on Dec 31 two years later. Those persons receiving a certificate effective Dec 31, 2014 or before will be required to obtain the CEUs no later than December 31, 2016 and each two year thereafter.

Continuing education units may be earned by attendance at the following:

  • ACCA Annual Convention (2 CEUs)
  • ACCA Legislative Conference (2 CEUs)
  • AAND Workshop (1 CEU)
  • NENA Statewide Conference (2 CEUs)
  • NENA Quarterly Meetings (1 CEU)
  • AAND Education Class through the County Government Education Institute (CGEI) ( 2 CEUs per class)
  • Instructor for ACCA, CGEI or NENA Statewide Conference (3 CEUs per class)
  • Governor’s Preparedness Conference (2 CEUs)
  • Alabama Chapter of Association of Public-Safety Communication Officials (APCO) Workshop (1 CEU)

At least two of the CEUs per two year period must be earned through participation in an ACCA Education Class and at least two must be earned through participation in an ACCA conference or convention. No more than 6 CEUs per two year period may be earned through attendance at NENA or APCO events.

Any person who is deficient in meeting the continuing education requirements will be granted an additional 12 months to reach the minimum requirement. However, during the extension period, the requirement to earn an additional 14 CEU for the next two-year period must also be fulfilled. The first units earned will be applied to the deficiency from the previous two-year period.

Any person who fails to meet the requirements – after the extension period – will forfeit their Certificate in Emergency Communication Administration and will be required to complete the educational program requirements at the time in order to again receive the certificate.

CGEI course schedule