DispatchPrep
CritiCall Practice Test & Prep · Nationwide

Pass the CritiCall.
Without guessing what's on it.

The CritiCall battery is what most 911 dispatch hiring agencies — in California and nearly every other state — use to decide who advances. We cover every subtest, with studio-produced audio for the audio-heavy modules and real-time timed exercises that mirror how the actual test feels.

One-time payment · Lifetime access · 30-day money-back guarantee
— What is CritiCall

The test most 911 hiring agencies actually use.

CritiCall is a computer-based dispatcher skills test from Biddle Consulting Group. It's a battery — agencies pick which subtests they administer based on the role they're hiring for. Most applicants don't know which subtests they'll face until they sit down at the testing station.

Why "knowing the format" matters more than studying content

CritiCall is less about knowledge and more about cognitive load under time pressure. The Multitask Interrupt subtest, for example, gives you 15 seconds to make routing decisions while data-entry tasks queue up behind you. The first time most applicants experience that pace is on test day — and they freeze.

The single highest-leverage thing prep does is make the format unsurprising. After 20 minutes with our Multitask Interrupt module, the actual CritiCall version feels like one you've done before.

— Coverage

Every CritiCall subtest. Covered.

Below: every subtest in the standard CritiCall battery. We cover all of them. Most prep platforms cover 3–5; we cover all 13.

CC1
Keyboarding
Typing speed + accuracy under exam pressure. Dispatcher-realistic passages.
CC2
Data Entry
9-field CritiCall spec — enter caller details into the exact form structure the real test uses.
CC3
Call Comprehension
Listen to a 911 call once, no notes, answer from memory. Studio-produced multi-voice audio.
CC4
Decision Making
15-second time pressure on dispatcher judgment scenarios. Choose the correct first action.
CC5
Memory Recall
Recall alphanumeric details after a distractor. Tests working memory under interference.
CC6
Multitask Interrupt
15-second clock + agency routing decisions while other tasks queue. Highest cognitive-load module.
CC7
Probability + Math
Mental arithmetic, percentages, estimation — dispatcher-context. No calculator.
CC8
Sentence Clarity
Pick the clearer CAD entry, radio summary, or incident note. Tests dispatcher writing.
CC9
Reading Comprehension
Read agency policy excerpts, BOLOs, procedure docs. Answer from the text — not assumptions.
CC10
Cross Referencing
Look up answers in unit rosters, zone maps, callsign directories under time pressure.
CC11
Spelling
Audio plays a dispatcher-vocabulary word once. Pick the correct spelling from four options.
CC12
Map Reading
Street-grid maps + routing, intersection, and location questions. Mirrors CritiCall's simplified-map format.
CC13
Audio Discrimination
Distinguish similar-sounding names, addresses, and digit strings. Critical for real-radio accuracy.
— Why DispatchPrep

Built for the audio. Built for the pressure.

— Pricing

One price. Everything included.

Every CritiCall subtest. Every California POST module. Studio audio across the audio-heavy modules. Lifetime access — including modules and content we ship after your purchase.

$99
One-time · Instant access · Lifetime
Buy All-Access — $99
— Common Questions

CritiCall FAQ.

What is the CritiCall test?

CritiCall is a computer-based dispatcher skills test from Biddle Consulting Group used by 911 dispatch hiring agencies in nearly every state. It's a battery of subtests — agencies pick which ones to administer based on the role.

Which CritiCall subtests does DispatchPrep cover?

The complete battery: Call Comprehension, Data Entry, Decision Making, Memory Recall, Multitask Interrupt, Cross Referencing, Probability/Math, Sentence Clarity, Reading Comprehension, Spelling, Keyboarding, Map Reading, and Audio Discrimination. See the coverage grid above for descriptions.

How is DispatchPrep different from other CritiCall prep?

Three things. First, we cover all 13 subtests — most platforms cover 3–5. Second, our audio modules use studio-produced multi-voice audio, not text mockups. Third, the cognitive-load mechanics (15-second clocks, no-replay audio, dual-task structures) mirror the real test exactly.

How much does it cost?

$99 one-time. That gets you the full CritiCall battery plus all 11 California POST modules — one All-Access price. No subscription, no upsells, lifetime access. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Is DispatchPrep affiliated with Biddle Consulting Group or CritiCall?

No. DispatchPrep is an independent test preparation service produced by Public Safety Prep LLC. We are not endorsed by, affiliated with, or sponsored by Biddle Consulting Group, CritiCall, California POST, or any government agency. We prepare candidates for these tests; we don't administer them.

I'm not in California — is this still useful for me?

Yes — the CritiCall battery is used nationwide. If you're applying to a dispatcher position outside California, the CritiCall coverage is what you'll lean on. The California POST modules are bonus content at no extra cost.