CHAMBERSBURG– The Franklin County Commissioners recently recognized Barbara Harshman, communications coordinator with the county’s department of emergency services, for earning her emergency number professional (ENP) certification.
Offered by the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), ENP certification is the most prestigious designation for 911 professionals as it recognizes excellence in the emergency communications industry. Those who earn ENP certification demonstrate expertise and competence in public safety, proficiency in handling 911 calls and dispatch, and leadership skills.
To be eligible for certification, an individual must meet specific experience, professional development and service prerequisites, submit an application and pass an arduous exam. Once certified, the ENP is required to participate in continuing education activities for recertification every four years.
“This certification was created to set the bar high for those in the 911 emergency communications industry. With the level of work we have seen from her in the past, we aren’t surprised Barbie earned this designation, and we couldn’t be prouder of her for this achievement,” said Franklin County Commissioner Chairman Dean Horst.
Harshman passed the ENP exam on her first attempt – a rare feat – to join just 1,859 other certified 911 professionals worldwide, including 109 in Pennsylvania. Harshman is one of only two individuals in Franklin County to earn ENP certification; the other is her predecessor, longtime Franklin County Department of Emergency Services 911 communications coordinator Bryan Stevenson, who retired in 2025.
