IAED EPD study guide
IAED EPD · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The IAED Emergency Priority Dispatch (EPD) credential family is the certification pathway for emergency dispatchers who work with the IAED Priority Dispatch Systems. According to the IAED, certification is required to use any of the IAED Priority Dispatch Systems, so this is not a general customer-service certificate: it is the credential that authorizes protocol use in medical, fire, police, and nurse triage dispatch settings. The IAED EPD study guide has 4 sections and about 1,610 words.
01Medical Dispatch (EMD) - Protocol-Driven Call Processing
This section covers the medical dispatch portion of the exam: how a dispatcher moves a caller from Case Entry through the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) protocol to a determinant code, then delivers Dispatch Life Support. The exam tests whether you can follow the protocol in order, select the correct determinant, and give Pre-Arrival Instructions (PAIs) without skipping steps.
383 words, about 2 min02Fire Dispatch (EFD) - Determinants, Occupancy, and Trapped Occupants
This section covers the fire dispatch portion: applying the Fire Priority Dispatch System (FPDS) to structure, vehicle, wildland, and hazardous-materials incidents. The exam tests whether you can classify the fire problem, choose the determinant, and give evacuation and safety instructions without guessing.
403 words, about 2 min03Police Dispatch (EPD) - In-Progress Calls and Officer Safety
This section covers the police dispatch portion: classifying calls with the Police Priority Dispatch System (PPDS), distinguishing an in-progress incident from a just-occurred one, and protecting officers through the information you gather. The exam tests classification discipline and caller management under pressure.
416 words, about 2 min04Nurse Triage - ECNS Dispositions and Safety Netting
This section covers the nurse triage portion: how a nurse using the Emergency Communication Nurse System (ECNS) interrogates a caller, applies nurse triage protocols derived from the priority dispatch system, and assigns a disposition. The exam tests safe disposition decisions, recognition of red flags, and documentation.
408 words, about 2 min