911 Operator Test Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield 911 Operator Test facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. When entering a caller's address into the CAD system, you notice the auto-populated address differs from what the caller stated. You should: → Confirm the address verbally with the caller and correct the CAD entry if needed
2. You receive four calls in rapid succession. Which of the following should be prioritized for immediate dispatch? → A report of a strong smell of natural gas outside a residential building.
3. What does 'call pending' status in a CAD system typically indicate? → The call has been entered but no unit has been assigned yet
4. A witness to a robbery says, 'The guy had a gun — or maybe a knife, it was dark.' How should you classify the weapon in your CAD entry? → Possibly armed — weapon unconfirmed, may be gun or knife
5. A CAD system field requires a 'nature of call' code. If none of the preset codes perfectly match the incident, you should: → Choose the closest matching code and add detail in the narrative field
6. A caller speaks very quickly and provides details in a disorganized order. What is the best technique for gathering organized information? → Let them finish, then recap the details back to them for confirmation
7. A caller reports a cardiac arrest but is panicking and can barely communicate. What is the dispatcher's most effective communication strategy? → Use short, clear, direct sentences and one instruction at a time
8. When a dispatcher says 'stand by' to a caller, what should the caller do? → Remain on the line and wait
9. Examples of: Poor work ethics, low morale, and trouble focusing and staying focused → Mental stress
10. On a map, a highway with shields labeled 'US-1' and 'SR-1' sharing the same roadway is called: → A concurrent route
11. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 911 centers must: → Provide TTY/TDD access for callers who are deaf or hard of hearing
12. A caller reports an elderly person who has fallen and cannot get up but is conscious and breathing normally. What priority should this receive? → Priority 1 — elderly falls can involve hidden internal injury or rapid deterioration
13. When assigning a radio channel to a field unit, which information should the dispatcher confirm first? → That the unit is monitoring and acknowledges the assigned channel
14. A caller reporting a residential burglary in progress says the suspect just fled. The operator should: → Continue the dispatch, obtain the suspect's description and direction of travel
15. What is the PRIMARY purpose of using a phonetic alphabet during radio transmissions? → To ensure letters are clearly understood despite noise or static
16. What does the radio code '10-4' typically mean in dispatch communications? → Acknowledged/Message received
17. Which piece of information is MOST critical to obtain first when a caller reports a medical emergency? → The exact location of the patient
18. When a 911 operator is giving telephone CPR instructions for an adult, how should compression depth be communicated to an untrained caller? → Push down about 2 to 2.4 inches on the center of the chest
19. There are 5 stages in the communications cycle. Which section is the content reference? → Message
20. A caller gives the following address: 'It's 14... no wait, 40 Birch Lane.' How should the dispatcher handle this correction? → Record 40 Birch Lane and verbally confirm it with the caller
21. During a mass-casualty incident, a 911 operator's priority is to: → Gather key information quickly, dispatch, and cycle through multiple callers
22. Which of the following best describes 'call stacking' in a 911 center? → Queuing lower-priority calls while high-priority units are committed
23. Which technique helps a 911 operator quickly confirm a caller's location when the caller is unsure of their address? → Ask the caller to describe nearby landmarks or cross streets
24. Which NATO phonetic alphabet word represents the letter 'M'? → Mike
25. Should you call 911 or Telephone Crime Reporting if a car has been abandoned on your street? → Telephone Crime Reporting Unit (313)267-4600
26. A caller says: 'I think my neighbor might be having a stroke — his face is drooping and he can't talk.' What type of information does this represent? → Observed signs and symptoms that support a medical emergency
27. The following details are required in order to properly question a Telecommunicator: → Where, what, when, weapons, who and how
28. You receive a call where the caller whispers 'I can't talk' and then says 'yes' or 'no' only. What is the best technique to use? → Use yes/no questions to gather information covertly
29. Which piece of information is MOST important when dispatching units to a reported structure fire? → Whether the structure is occupied
30. A caller provides an address that does not appear in the CAD system. What is the BEST first step for the dispatcher? → Ask the caller for nearby landmarks, cross streets, or a neighboring address