Career outlook for
Figures and forecasts for roles at the same level, which require similar skills and qualifications.
Average UK salary
£29,640
Currently employed in Scotland
3,000
Five year job forecast
+3.03%
"LMI for All" supplies our salary and employment status information. "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures.
What's it like?
You would be responsible for managing all emergency resources over a particular geographical area for the ambulance service.
You will need to send the right resource to the patient as quickly as possible.
You would pass on as much information as you can to the paramedics so that they will be as prepared as possible when they arrive at the patient.
You would be responsible for deciding what type of response is needed and send the nearest and most appropriate vehicle. This could be an ambulance, a rapid response car, a motorcycle or a paramedic helicopter.
You would need to work quickly and often under a lot of pressure.
You need to train as an emergency call handler before you can become an emergency dispatcher. Most jobs are in the National Health Service (NHS), working for the Scottish Ambulance Service.
The NHS salaries for these roles are covered by the Agenda for Change pay rates. You can check the salaries on the NHS Careers website.
Working conditions
Hours
Environment
UK employment status
Full-time
71%
Part-time
24%
Self employed
5%
Top skills
Here are some of the skills needed for this job. Sign in to see how your skills match up.
- Resilience
- Making decisions
- Developing a plan
- Listening
- Verbal communication
- Cooperating
- Empathising
- Questioning
- Observation
- Problem solving
Build your skills
Your skills can help you choose the career that’s right for you. You can build your skills through work, study or activities you do in your spare time.
To understand more, have a look at what are my skills?
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Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you’ll need.
Qualifications
There are no formal qualifications required to get into the role but a good general education is valued.
Useful subjects
- English
- Maths
- Science subjects
- Care
You will also need
You will need to undertake the Emergency call handler training before you can train to become an emergency dispatcher. To do this you must be able to type at a minimum of 30 words per minute.
Helpful to have
Any qualifications and experiences that demonstrate understanding of the health sector, good administration and communication skills and the ability to remain calm under pressure, such as:
- Skills for Work Health Sector (SCQF Level 4/5)
- Scottish Vocational Qualification in Customer Services (SVQ Level 2/3)
Related industries
