CritiCall Practice Test & Exam Tips

Like everyone who aspires to be a 911 call taker/dispatcher, I had to take the CritiCall test.  So here are some CritiCall exam tips (and a CritiCall practice test) I would like to share with you.  I know that taking the test is very stressful, and important to your new career as a 911 dispatcher.  So I updated my post from several years ago to add information that might be helpful for those needing to take the CritiCall exam.

(This post contains affiliate links; this means if you choose to click and buy something I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.  I have included these links because I feel they are very helpful for the folks reading this post.)

Below is part of the post I made about this milestone:

I passed the CritiCall Exam! (insert the sounds of the Hallelujah Chorus being sung right here.) 

What a relief!  I had this on the fringes of my mind for a whole week, ever since taking the test.  Thoughts re-occurred and swirled through my mind at odd times during each day, “I wonder how I did.  Did I type fast enough when entering the data?  How was my accuracy?  Did I read the maps correctly during that part of the test?  Did I make any stupid mistakes, and check one box when I meant to check the other?”

It’s very stressful to prepare for a career as a dispatcher.  Any first responder career is very stressful, and being a 911 call taker and dispatcher is no exception.  It takes a toll on your body (various shifts) and mind (dealing with irate callers, and life changing situations), not to mention your emotions.

You are not encountering people on their best days.  They are in crisis, in pain, and in need of help.  But there is no other career where you can go home at the end of the day knowing that you have helped so many people during the course of one shift.

There were lots of prayers, and lots of checking my email to see if I had passed.  And then there it was –

“Congratulations, you have passed the CritiCall Exam phase of testing.  You will be contacted in September for an oral interview.”  🙂

(Ok, the smiley face wasn’t really in the email – it’s just my reaction to the email)

And I worried about having done all I could to prepare for the test. I wished there had been CritiCall exam tips for me to find before I took the test, which is why I wrote this article.  And I REALLY wanted a CritiCall practice test to help me get ready before the big day.

I also wish I would have known about a couple books to help streamline the process of getting ready for the CritiCall exam:

Master The Public Safety Dispatcher/911 Operator Exam:  4th Edition

Emergency Services Dispatcher 1:  Career Examination Passbooks

So just what is the CritiCall Exam?  It is a work sample test given to those who are interviewing for a position as a call taker or dispatcher.

It’s a multi-part test, which includes such tasks as entering information while listening to a caller, entering VIN numbers, map reading then giving directions to a location, etc.

It tests multitasking, memory recall, map reading, prioritization, data entry, etc.  And there are very few places to find CritiCall exam tips on the internet.  Which is where this article comes in.

It’s a rather intimidating test, and tends to cause a great deal of stress to those who are faced with taking it.  Ok, let just be real here … it can cause A LOT of stress in those who are faced with taking it.  But it doesn’t have to.

With a little preparation, it’s not quite so bad.  Although you can never really know exactly what it’s like until you actually take the test, preparation beforehand is key to lowering your level of stress, which in turn frees you up to do well on the test. 

So here are some CritiCall exam tips to help you.

So for anyone who has stumbled upon this post while searching for “CritiCall practice test” in hopes of trying to prepare for it, here is a link that might help:  CritiCall and the Dispatcher Applicant:  F.A.Q

This site has lots of great information, a preparation guide that can be downloaded, and links to not one online CritiCall practice test, but two for keyboarding and data entry.  A huge help for anyone wanting some CritiCall test practice!

Another great resource (a goldmine, actually) is this PDF:  CritiCall Public Safety Communications Pre-Employment Test Preparation Guide.

A mouthful, I know, but it’s well worth it.  It will give you a much better idea of what to expect, and how to navigate this challenging test.  Also, how to prepare and what will be expected of you during the testing phase.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have this link when I prepared for the test.  So, I want to include it in this post and make it available to help folks who are seeking information on how to get ready for the CritiCall Exam.

Here are a couple other tools that might be helpful:

Master the Public Safety Dispatcher/911 Operator Exam – 4th Edition

Emergency Services Dispatcher 1:  Career Examination Passbooks

What I did to prepare was rather simple.  I searched for practice tests online – which can be found in the link above – and did a ton of practice typing.  I also had people read addresses to me, and I typed them; I had people read me VIN numbers, and I typed them.  When I drove places I became more aware of street signs, and cross streets, trying to figure out how I would give directions to someone driving to that location.  Becoming more aware of your surroundings can be a huge asset in learning how to navigate, and give proper directions.  Many times we simply are on “autopilot” when we drive, and don’t take time to consciously take in our surroundings.

Call taking/dispatching can be a very stressful career.  Preparing for that career can be very stressful, too!  My advice before taking the CritiCall Test?

Here are my best CritiCall exam tips:

• Prepare as well as you can, using this tool:  CritiCall and the Dispatcher Applicant:  FAQ …
• Then work on your typing speed and accuracy.  Look for typing tests online, and have someone read combinations of letters and numbers to you while you try to type them quickly and accurately.
• Use an online CritiCall practice test to give you an ideas of what to expect.
• Try not to stress too much about the test.  Yes, this is a very important test on your road to becoming a dispatcher.  But you need to put it in perspective and realize stress is not your friend when it comes to this test.
• Remain focused on what you are asked to do while taking the test.
• Make sure you get plenty of sleep the night before, just like for any other test you take.
• Fuel up with “brain food” that morning.  Foods like nuts, yogurt, apples, blueberries, eggs, etc. will all get you a great start to your day, and give your brain the stuff it needs to get you through the test.

12 Best Brain Foods To Eat Before Taking A Test

I think dinner at Olive Garden to celebrate with my daughters is in my future.  This deserves a celebration of some sort.  Passing the CritiCall exam is a major milestone in my quest for a new job.

What has been a milestone or achievement for you lately?  Leave a comment so we can share.  🙂

And here is the first post about my quest for a new job – Well, I Did It ….

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Please share this article if you found it helpful. I’d love for other folks to be able to find it. Thanks!