LPS Pathways

Explore Law and Public Safety (LPS) Career Pathways

Law and public safety education prepares students for a wide range of careers that protect communities, investigate incidents, respond to emergencies, and support the justice system. Explore each pathway to discover its careers, essential skills, instructional resources, and opportunities for student growth.

A pathway is a structured progression that helps students move from career awareness to demonstrated competence. Each pathway connects classroom instruction with practical skills, career exploration, and industry expectations.

What You’ll Find in Every Pathway

• Career and occupation information
• Essential knowledge and employability skills
• Industry-aligned microcredentials
• Lesson plans and instructional videos
• Student activities and assessments
• Connections to professionals and postsecondary opportunities

Explore the Pathways

Types of LPS Career Programs

LAPSEN has identified six different types of LPS programs that exist at the high school level. We realize that there are other ways to classify these programs and that within each category there are variations. For instance, career academies have a very specific definition; but, it is often difficult to achieve a “pure” career academy. How close one gets to the definition, of course, depends on how many of the defined elements exist within the academy.  LAPSEN believes it is important to start with some list of general types of career programs to help with communications and understanding of the range of LPSCS career-related programs. Here are the six with brief definitions.

Comprehensive High Schools – Comprehensive high schools serve a broad student population and offer many academic subjects,electives, extracurricular activities, and career and technical education programs within one school. Unlike career academies, which organize much of a student’s learning around a specific career theme, comprehensive high schools generally allow students to select an individual pathway or CTE program while continuing to participate in the school’s wider academic program. Students may explore law and public safety careers through specialized courses without making that pathway the central focus of their entire high school experience.

Career Academies – Career academies are small, career-focused learning communities that combine academic instruction, technical education, and real-world experiences. Students explore a specific career pathway while developing the knowledge, practical skills, and professional connections needed for college, employment, and continued career development.

Career and Technical Education Centers – Career and Technical Education (CTE) centers provide specialized, hands-on training in multiple career fields. Students typically remain enrolled in their home high school for academic subjects and attend the CTE center for part of the school day. Unlike comprehensive high schools, CTE centers concentrate their facilities, instructors, equipment, and instruction on career preparation. Law and public safety programs at these centers combine technical knowledge, practical skill development, industry credentials, and work-based learning to prepare students for employment, postsecondary education, or additional professional training.

College Dual Enrollment Course with CTE – College dual enrollment courses with CTE allow high school students to take career-focused college courses while earning both high school and college credit. Courses may be offered at the high school, a CTE center, online, or on a college campus and are taught according to college-level expectations. Unlike traditional high school CTE courses, dual enrollment courses become part of the student’s college transcript and may shorten the time or reduce the cost required to complete a certificate or degree.

Stand Alone Career Related Courses – Stand-alone career-related courses introduce students to a career field without being part of a formal CTE pathway or multiyear program. Courses such as Street Law or Forensic Science may be offered through academic departments, including social studies or science. Although their placement and structure differ from traditional CTE programs, these courses still provide valuable career orientation by helping students explore occupations, apply academic knowledge to professional settings, and identify possible education and career interests.

Extracurricular Career Related Programs – Extracurricular career-related programs provide career exploration and skill development outside the regular course schedule. Public Safety Cadets programs introduce young people to law enforcement and other public safety careers through structured training, leadership development, community service, and supervised activities with public safety professionals. Exploring programs connect students with local agencies and professionals through career presentations, hands-on activities, mentoring, and practical experiences related to law enforcement, firefighting, emergency services, and other careers. Although these programs do not typically award academic credit or constitute a formal CTE pathway, they provide meaningful career orientation and can strengthen or complement classroom-based instruction.