The CritiCall Test: Overview and Tips for 911 Operator Pre-Employment Testing

[@BrittneyChristina]

OMG. I went to the site and took the test, I failed 😫 but I'm happy lol. Now I know what is expected and have a general idea of what I'm going to be tested on, how the test is set up, as well as what I need to work on. I love how they give you your results as soon as you finish, along with all the correct answers. I definitely recommend this site!!! Going to keep practicing until I get the call for the actual CritiCall test! Update : I passed the CritiCall Test 😆

[@toohighclass]

What are some tips you have

[@BrittneyChristina]

@@toohighclass Now that I've been offered the position and I am 2 weeks in on training. I would def recommend taking this as a start. Don't stress if you fail. You can't replay a call but it's a good marker to see where you are with retaining info the first time you hear it. Real life you can usually just ask them to repeat but if they're hysterical and are just yelling things out, you're going to want to get what you can from them. Also, the dispatcher keyboard is different from the standard keyboard. That's taking some getting used to. Listen to some real 911 calls and honestly evaluate your reactions. I thought I was pretty patient but some calls really make you want to scream 😬 So you have to be able to honestly say, that you can take verbal beatings and bad attitudes when you're trying to help someone.

[@chikondihargrove1617]

@@BrittneyChristina which website did you go to for practice?

[@BrittneyChristina]

@@chikondihargrove1617 The first link in the See More section.

[@TooHonestButtTrue]

So did you get hired, took the test, failed, then was given a second chance? My employer is doing the test pre interview so I am not sure how it will work. Any insight would be appreciated.

[@amybryant4951]

Just passed the Criti-call exam thanks to you!!! Your videos helped me to be familiar with what to expect! Thank you!!!

[@Redbeard327]

Hello I saw your comment is relatively recent and I just got selected to move forward with the first step in my pre-employment with a CritiCall exam but I have only been given a week to prepare before I have to complete it and it’s freaking me out because everything I am reading, this is nowhere near enough time, so I am curious if you have any recommendations based on your experience. Any help is much appreciated, thank you!

[@9-1-1professor8]

Thank you so much for this comment Amy. Best wishes on the new career.

[@Laurasamama]

Hey Melissa! You taught me at Durham college, you were awesome and now I’m searching how to study for the criticall test and seeing you everywhere!

[@michaelstemmler9093]

Very professionally done, and sincere. Nice job. It's a good time to be getting into dispatch - the market is hungry!

[@mollybrenner5440]

Awesome! Because of Covid, they're having me test online from home with SO many rules, the test is only part of the drama, but this video was awesome and the links for testing worth it! : )

[@aliciarobinson1826]

Passed the test the first time. I didn't over think it. Only practiced memorized number sequences. Easy peasy. Hard to type on the typing test cause of the keyboards they had, so annoying.

[@RebeccaDowling-p3z]

I am doing my online criticall test online this thursday, I find the most difficult part to prepare for is memory recall, which usually includes numbers and letters in a random sequence. Once the characters go from 7 or 8 to 9 my brain just gets scrambled. It could also be the way its being said through audio. Any tips would be awesome! Kingston Ontario :)

[@samanthanichole6096]

I'm a hospital operator and recalling numbers and letters comes with practice. I was terrible when I first started but now I can easily remember large number sequences. Probably not a particularly helpful tip lol, but just want people to know recall is absolutely something you can learn with practice!

[@بندرعبدالله-ز6ط]

Thanks❤

[@JamesAnthoony]

which prep is better, 911 or iprep? thank you

[@chrinamint]

I really want to do this but at the same time I'm so nervous about taking 911 calls. I think it'll be really stressful! Is no one else worried about this?

[@9-1-1professor8]

Hi! Great comment, and one that everyone who clicks on this link is worried about. Something to consider is that you will be trained extensively for the new role AND that many centres use standardized guidecards. These guidecards outline questions that you should ask, they give you a guideline to use for prioritizing the call and they give instructions you can relay to the caller to help them until first responders arrive. Its a common misconception that 9-1-1 communicators are answering calls and coming up with questions off the top of their heads.

[@BrittanniMelissa]

Thank u!