The Public Safety Telecommunicator (PST) Academy at SNMLEA is a state-certified training program designed to prepare individuals for careers in emergency communications. The program provides the knowledge and practical skills necessary to serve as a Public Safety Telecommunicator, supporting law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, and other public safety agencies throughout New Mexico. As a satellite academy of the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy (NMLEA) in Santa Fe, the program meets the Public Safety Telecommunicator Minimum Standards of Training (NMAC 10.29.10.8), and abides by all laws and regulations as established by the New Mexico Public Safety Telecommunicator Training Act (NMSA 1978, §§ 29-7C-1 et seq.) and the New Mexico Law Enforcement Certification Board (NMLECB).

Each PST academy class consists of 130 hours of instruction delivered over 3 weeks in a professional, interactive learning environment. Classes typically remain in session Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M..

Prospective applicants must first submit a complete PST Registration Form to reserve their spot on the class roster. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis until the class reaches its capacity. Additionally, the PST Application Packet must be completed in its entirety, including 12 pre-requisite Distance Learning training hours, and either mailed or delivered in person to SNMLEA by the established application packet deadline. Once both have been received, reviewed, and deemed complete and accurate, the applicant will be accepted into the academy class, pending final approval by NMLEA. Additional enrollment requirements, if applicable, will be communicated by SNMLEA staff prior to the start of the course.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates receive Certificates of Completion from SNMLEA, as well as 4 college credit hours from the New Mexico Junior College (NMJC). These credits may be applied toward an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice at NMJC or may be eligible for transfer toward degree or certificate programs at other institutions, subject to the receiving institution's transfer credit policies.

All students are required to take the Public Safety Telecommunications Certification Examination (P.S.T.C.E.) at the conclusion of the program. Following graduation, and upon achieving a passing score on the P.S.T.C.E., NMLEA issues official certifications to eligible graduates upon ratification of the academy class's successful completion by the NMLECB. Due to board ratifications occurring on a scheduled basis, graduates should anticipate a processing period of approximately three to six months before receiving their official New Mexico Public Safety Telecommunicator Certification.