Law, Public Safety, and Security Pathway
Is your student interested in helping others? Do they often observe details others miss? Do they dream of making the world safer and more just? Then they may want to consider a career in law, public service, or security.
For those who love science, a career as a forensic scientist technician analyzing crime scene evidence could be great. For those with an eye for detail and a love of debate, they could become a great lawyer or paralegal. For those composed in stressful situations, a career as a police patrol officer or detective may be a good fit.
For students interested in this path, we offer a curriculum that gives them a solid grounding in the field of criminal justice. Our curriculum gives students the credentials necessary to embark on a career as a legal assistant or security guard right after graduation—without the hassle or expense of additional training or degrees.
Get Credentialed.
We prepare students to take the NOCTI Criminal Justice certification exam or NOCTI Legal Services exam, both highly regarded industry credentials.
We encourage students to jumpstart the job search by helping them create a professional résumé, cover letter, and profile on Tallo, the leading professional networking platform for Gen Z. Plus, they connect virtually to working business professionals and entrepreneurs through Nepris.*
Our Law, Public Safety, and Security Curriculum in Detail
All of our students take the core courses required for high school graduation in their state. The chart below shows the additional classes that Law, Public Safety, and Security Pathway students take, and the industry-recognized certification exams they can prepare to take. You can see the rest of the curriculum by viewing the full course list.
Find a School Near You that Offers the Law, Public Safety, and Security Pathway
Stride Career Prep programs with the Law, Public Safety, and Security Pathway are available in our tuition-free K12-powered, fully accredited, public online schools in the following states:
PENNSYLVANIA
WISCONSIN
Don’t see your state? Check out the tuition-based option here in Law, Public Safety, and Security.
Occupational Spotlight
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Forensic Science Technician
Forensic science technicians aid criminal investigations by collecting and analyzing evidence. Although they work closely with crime scene investigators (CSIs), they typically work behind the scenes in a laboratory, processing, analyzing, and storing crime scene evidence; reporting and documenting their findings; and testifying as needed in court. They may specialize in a particular field, such as DNA analysis, toxicology (analyzing drugs present in a victim’s system), or ballistics.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$47,295
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
2,400
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
14% (much faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED, although some have bachelor’s degrees
Paralegal
Paralegals perform a variety of tasks to support lawyers. They may investigate and gather facts relevant to a legal case; conduct legal research; organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing systems; file exhibits, briefs, appeals, and other legal documents with the court; schedule interviews with clients and witnesses; and assist lawyers during trial by handling exhibits or taking notes.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$43,090
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
35,300
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
10% (much faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
Associate’s degree or paralegal certificate, although many have bachelor’s degrees
Police Officer
Police officers perform a wide variety of activities designed to keep communities safe. They patrol neighborhoods, make arrests, secure crime scenes and take witness statements, testify in court as needed, issue speeding tickets, and often participate in community events designed to improve relations between the police and the community. Police must ensure the rights of those suspected or arrested for crimes are respected. Shift work is common.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$50,453
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
40,600
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
5% (faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school or college (depends on jurisdiction), plus training at police academy; usually must be 21 years old, pass physical fitness tests, and have no criminal convictions
Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatcher
Dispatchers must respond quickly, calmly, and efficiently to emergency and nonemergency calls for assistance. They need to gather key information from callers, relay instructions to callers, and determine the type of personnel that should be dispatched. Shift work is common.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$42,765
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
6,100
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
6% (faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED; some states require a specialized certification
Private Detective/Investigator
Private detectives and investigators work for a variety of clients on a variety of cases. They might be hired by a private citizen to find evidence pertinent to a divorce proceeding or locate a missing relative, be hired by an insurance company to see if a claim is fraudulent, or be hired by a company to investigate allegations of corporate fraud. In the course of their investigation, they may perform surveillance operations, uncover relevant records, and interview people who may have pertinent information.
2020 Median Starting Salary2
$86,030 (note: starting salary data not available for this occupation)
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
3,000
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
8% (much faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED; many states also require a specialized license
Security Guard
Security guards protect public buildings, including government offices, hospitals, and schools, office buildings, retail stores, and other locations from unauthorized access and property damage. They also safeguard building occupants, conduct security checks and patrols, and assist building occupants in the event of an emergency. They often must sign visitors in, screen visitors for weapons or unauthorized materials, and serve as a liaison to police or emergency personnel if necessary. Shift work is common.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$32,082
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
33,300
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
3% (average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED
FAQs
Do you need a college degree to become a police officer?
Police officers typically do not need college degrees. However, significant training is required. The typical path is high school graduation, followed by training at a police academy. Candidates usually must be 21 years old, pass physical fitness tests, and have no criminal convictions.
Do you need a college degree to become a paralegal?
Many paralegals have bachelor’s degrees, but this is often not necessary. An associate’s degree or certificate is usually sufficient.
Learn more about course offerings in the other Stride Career Prep career fields.
Hear How Stride Career Prep Can Work for Your Teen
Thinking this might be a good fit for your student and interested in learning more from current Stride Career Prep students, families, and teachers? Submit questions to people that experience our program firsthand and get direct answers!
1Burning Glass Labor Insights, accessed October 16, 2020. Data is median salary for job postings with that job title, with typical minimum education requirements for that job title (as shown in chart on this page) and 0-2 years of experience, from October 1, 2019, to September 20, 2020.
2Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Website last modified date: Wednesday, September 1, 2020.
*Opportunities vary by school; please visit your school page or check with your school counselor.
**Stride Career Prep is a program for grades 9–12. At some schools, career exploration is offered in middle school.
†Many Microsoft®️ Office certificates can be earned after completing one course. Other certificates require more classes to be better prepared, and students who participate in the program for at least two years will have further preparation for certification testing.
