The LAPSEN National Conference
The Public Safety Pipeline:
Train ~ Recruit ~ Lead
>Nashville Gaylord< >December 7th-9th<
Youth Recruiting Track
Agencies from across the country are invited to participate in the first conference ever offered focused on youth recruitment. The best way to build a sustainable recruitment program is to intentionally tap into college programs, high school career programs, cadet posts, and other places youth interested in law and public safety can be found. Presentations on best practices, successful recruitment, and ways to “grow your own” will be offered over three days. Opportunities to network with other recruiters and agencies will cross the conference. Finally, participants will provide insight into the LAPSEN Career Pipeline project.
Excellence in Education Track
The best and largest conference in law and public safety education keeps getting better! This year there will be sessions in every pathway and covering every area critical to making programs the best they can be!
On Sunday there will be preconference training to certify instructors to certify their students in 9-1-1 dispatch as well as NFPA 2400 Drones for Public Safety. For the first time ever, the LAPSEN microcredentialing instructor certification will be offered. Basic CSI as well as Basic Law Enforcement will be offered!
On Monday the conference will begin with a new cohort. The industry recruitment conference merges with the LAPSEN conference giving attendees more choices to maximize career preparation and transition. The traditional LAPSEN conference offerings will all be there, plus many more sessions in careers.
Finally, on Tuesday the conference will continue but also add CTE administrators and WBL leaders. Regular sessions and workshops on WBL will be offered. It will truly be the best conference ever!
Pipeline Project
The LASPEN Conference is joining with the NFFF High School Fire & EMS Cadet Program Symposium to combine work on training, resources and guides for fire, emergency medical and law enforcement youth programs. Various workshops, sessions and collaborations will be scheduled.
The LAPSEN project published the Pathways to the Badge in 2024 and is an ongoing project. Click Here to learn more. The goal is to expand these publications and resources to all pathways and careers.
The pipeline refers to the over 400,000 young people in career and technical programs that align with an annual projected need of 100,000 LPS officers. The objective is to grow the next generation of citizen-guardians. Improving entry level candidates and ending quality hiring shortages is balanced by a design to impact educational programs nationwide.
Pipeline sessions and workshops are offered across the conference. No additional registration is required to participate.
Law and Public Safety Work Based Learning Track
This is an ACTE’s Career Tech VISION pre-conference, but is also the final day of the LAPSEN national conference. WBL in the Law and Public Safety (LPS) sector is possibly the most unique in all of CTE. There are many challenges in building an outstanding WBL program – which is why this day of sessions and workshops is being offered.
The LAPSEN national conference will have CTE administrators, industry recruiters, and the best LPS educators in the country in attendance. Everyone will be working on connecting youth to careers. The opportunity to network, see best practices, and explore various programs to look for local application will be realized through the days’ schedule.
CTE administrators and WBL coordinators are encouraged to participate in the entire LAPSEN conference on Monday and Tuesday. As an alternative, the one day ACTE WBL precoference is an option and participants can learn and participate in a meaningful way.
2025 National Conference ~ Nashville
Hotel and Conference Location
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
2800 Opryland Dr.
Nashville, TN 37214
Phone: (615) 889-1000
Rate: $229 per night plus a $20 resort fee
Book your room reservation
Held in conjunction with ACTE Vision – careertechvision.com
Conference Schedule
Note: this year the conference starts on a Sunday
Sunday the 7th
08:00-17:00
Pre-conference Sessions
Youth Recruiting Conference begins
Monday the 8th
8:30
Opening Session
09:30 -17:00
Sessions & Workshops
19:00
Conference Social
Tuesday the 9th
08:30
State of LPS
9:00-17:00
Sessions & Workshops
18:00
ACTE Vision opens with the Gala
Wednesday – Friday
ACTE Vision – See Vision website for details
In Conjunction with ACTE’s Career Tech VISION
VISION is the preeminent CTE conference in America. LAPSEN is excited to collaborate with ACTE to offer the best week of training for LPS teachers possible. We highly encourage educators and administrators to attend both the LAPSEN National Conference and VISION. There will be several LPS specific sessions in the VISION line up. Additionally, VISION has outstanding sessions on general CTE topics relevant to LPS teachers plus the largest vendor expo in CTE.
Registration
Call for Presentations
Do you have something awesome to share? Submit your session proposal.
Innovative youth programs at your agency? Effective recruitment process? Amazing teaching? Administrative experience to share?
Please submit today!
Click Here
Conference Sponsorships
Make a huge impact across several markets in one conference! Stay the whole week and be a part of VISION. The largest law and public safety education conference AND the largest CTE conference all in one week.
Future Dates for the LASPEN National Conference
The LAPSEN National Conference is held each year in conjunction with the ACTE CareerTech Vision – www.careertechvision.com
- 2026 New Orleans, Louisiana
- LAPSEN National Conference Nov. 31-Dec. 2
- CareerTech VISION 2026 & ACTE’s Centennial Celebration: Dec. 2-5
- 2027 Las Vegas, Nevada
- LAPSEN National Conference Dec. 6-8
- CareerTech VISION 2027: Dec. 8-11
- 2028 San Antonio, Texas
- LAPSEN National Conference Nov. 27-29
- CareerTech VISION 2028: Nov. 29-Dec. 2
- 2029 Phoenix, Arizona
- LAPSEN National Conference Nov. 26-28
- CareerTech VISION 2029: Nov. 28-Dec. 1