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About this exam

CritiCall is a computer-based skills testing system for public-safety dispatchers, published by Biddle Consulting Group as one of its "premier SaaS employee selection testing solutions." The current edition referenced by the publisher is CritiCall 3D, described as "Online dispatcher skills testing solutions for public-safety agencies to address the hiring crisis." Because the product is delivered online, agencies can screen dispatch candidates remotely rather than bringing every applicant on site for a first-round test. CritiCall is aimed at people applying for emergency communications, call-taking, and dispatch roles at law-enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies that use it as part of their hiring process. The test battery is designed to sample the aptitudes and work behaviors dispatch work demands, so expect timed, computer-delivered exercises rather than a knowledge quiz about radio codes. Preparation is mostly about fluency under time pressure: practice prioritizing competing tasks, reading and recalling spoken information accurately, comparing strings of characters quickly, and typing while other demands compete for attention. Biddle states it has been creating employee testing solutions since 1974, but the publisher's public page does not list the test's section structure, item counts, time limits, scoring, or passing standards. Candidates should confirm those details with the agency that invited them to test, since the agency administers and interprets the results. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Biddle Consulting Group.

What you'll study

Common questions

About CritiCall Dispatcher preparation

Who publishes CritiCall, and what is CritiCall 3D?

Biddle Consulting Group publishes CritiCall alongside TestGenius. Its site describes CritiCall 3D as "Online dispatcher skills testing solutions for public-safety agencies to address the hiring crisis." Treat 3D as the current edition name; confirm with your agency which version you will take.

Is CritiCall a knowledge test about police codes and procedures?

The publisher positions it as dispatcher skills testing, so it is built around the abilities dispatch work requires rather than memorized local policy. Your agency supplies jurisdiction-specific training after hiring. Study habits that build speed and accuracy under divided attention transfer better than memorizing code lists.

How long is the test, and how many questions are there?

The publisher's public materials do not state a question count, section list, or time limit, so no reliable figure can be given here. Timing is set within the delivered test and varies by administration. Ask your recruiting contact for the schedule and any breaks before test day.

What score do I need to pass?

The publisher's site does not publish a passing score. Agencies typically set their own cutoffs and may weigh CritiCall results together with interviews, background investigation, and other steps. Your recruiter or HR contact is the correct source for the standard applied to your application.

Can I retake CritiCall if I do not pass?

Retake rules are not published by the vendor and are normally set by the hiring agency, often with a waiting period between attempts. Ask your recruiter before scheduling so you do not assume a second attempt is automatic. Treat your first sitting as the one that counts.

Is the test taken online or at a testing center?

The publisher describes its testing as SaaS, and its TestGenius materials emphasize "Safe and secure online testing" that lets employers test applicants remotely. Whether you sit at home with monitoring or at an agency site is decided by the agency, so confirm the location and any ID or equipment requirements in advance.

How hard is CritiCall, and why do candidates struggle?

Difficulty comes from pace and divided attention, not obscure content. The most common failure pattern is losing accuracy while rushing: mistyping addresses, dropping one detail from a multi-part instruction, or freezing when two tasks arrive at once. Practice slowly enough to stay accurate, then increase speed only when errors stop.

What should I study first?

Start with accuracy on short, high-volume tasks: typing names, addresses, and license plates without errors, then comparing similar strings quickly. Add listening exercises where you take a detail from speech and repeat it back. Only after accuracy holds should you practice doing two of these at the same time.

What should I bring or check before test day?

Confirm your appointment time, location or login link, acceptable identification, and whether any equipment is provided. For remote sittings, test your computer, browser, camera, and connection ahead of time and clear distractions. Arrive early; late arrivals are commonly turned away regardless of preparation.

Is this page affiliated with the test publisher?

No. This is independent study material written for candidates and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Biddle Consulting Group. Product names belong to their owner. For authoritative information about the test itself, rely on the publisher and the agency that invited you to test.