911 Dispatcher Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (21–30)

Question 1

What is the purpose of assigning a 'call type' or 'nature code' during call taking?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

To route the correct response and priority to the appropriate units. The nature code classifies the incident so CAD can recommend the right discipline (police/fire/EMS), unit type, and priority, ensuring an appropriate response is dispatched.

Question 2

A 911 line connects but no one speaks and only background noise is heard. What is the proper initial handling?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Stay on the line, attempt contact, and treat it as a possible emergency. Silent or open-line 911 calls may indicate a caller unable to speak (medical, domestic violence, abduction). Protocol requires attempting contact, listening for clues, and following up with a callback or response per agency policy.

Question 3

On an open/silent 911 line, the call taker hears a struggle and a voice say 'stop, please.' What is the best action?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Dispatch responders to the ALI location and continue gathering audible clues. Audible distress on an open line is a strong indicator of a real emergency. The call taker should dispatch to the available location information and keep listening for additional clues to relay to responders.

Question 4

A 911 call disconnects before any information is exchanged. What is the standard next step?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Call the number back to verify whether an emergency exists. Standard protocol for an abandoned 911 call is an immediate callback to determine if a genuine emergency exists; if there's no answer, agency policy may require dispatching a unit to the location.

Question 5

A 911 line connects with silence and a series of tones. What should the call taker suspect and do?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

A TTY/TDD call from a hearing- or speech-impaired caller; respond using TTY. Silence with TTY tones indicates a hearing- or speech-impaired caller using a teletypewriter. Call takers must recognize this and switch to TTY mode (or relay) to communicate, as required by the ADA.

Question 6

Under the ADA, PSAPs must provide direct, equal access to 911 for which group?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires PSAPs to provide direct and equal access (via TTY and Real-Time Text/relay services) to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-disabled.

Question 7

A caller speaks a language the call taker does not understand. What is the standard resource to use?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

A third-party telephone language interpretation service. PSAPs contract with language-line interpretation services that conference in a live interpreter, ensuring non-English speakers receive equal emergency service quickly and accurately.

Question 8

A caller on a highway doesn't know the exact address. Which question best helps pinpoint the location?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

What direction are you traveling and what was the last exit or mile marker you passed?. Direction of travel plus the nearest exit, mile marker, or cross street narrows a highway location quickly, which is essential when no street address is available.

Question 9

A call taker determines a 911 call belongs to a neighboring jurisdiction. What is the best practice for transferring?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Stay on the line during the transfer to relay the location and nature. A warm/conference transfer where the call taker stays on to relay the verified location and nature prevents the caller from having to repeat everything and avoids losing the call if the transfer fails.

Question 10

A non-emergency caller dials 911 to ask for a city department's phone number. What should the call taker do?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Politely provide the non-emergency number or redirect, then clear the line for emergencies. Non-emergency misuse should be handled briefly and courteously by redirecting the caller to the proper non-emergency number, keeping 911 lines free for true emergencies.

911 Dispatcher Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (21–30)

More 911 Dispatcher practice questions

Free practice here. Timed mocks when you are ready.