NENA Requests Reclassification of 911 Telecommunicators

Continuing its battle to have 911 telecommunicators reclassified and recognized as first responders like their emergency services, police and firefighter counterparts, the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) has filed comments with the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recommending the change.

The OMB has begun to review the Standard Occupational Classification manual, which lists 911 telecommunicator positions as clerical, to determine if the position should remain clerical or be changed to the “Protective Service Occupations” category in 2028.

The change would mean that 911 personnel would be entitled to increased benefits, the same ones provided to the above-mentioned first responders, including benefits for mental health support and access to personal protective equipment.

NENA says in its comments that despite facing most of the same daily stressors as law enforcement personnel, 911 call takers are classified with secretaries and office clerks in OMB’s Standard Occupational Classification system.

In its comments, NENA said, “This outdated and improper classification has resulted in staffing shortages, faulty data collection, and mischaracterization of the nation’s most important front-line public safety professionals.”

NENA said that 911 professionals are misclassified, and that misclassification should be corrected based on the job requirements, education and roles telecommunicators play in ensuring the safety of people and communities.