A path to a Minnesota Career Pathways: Law Enforcement teaching license.
Flexible/online. Self-paced. Grant funded.

More than 450 teachers to date have earned their licenses through our programs. Our programs provide a personalized and efficient path to licensure without tuition, grades, textbooks, or the traditional confines of the academic year.

Intake Application

Jump to: About the Law Enforcement License | About our Licensure Program | Program Enrollment | Program Cost | Program Standards | FAQs

About the CTE Pathways Law Enforcement Teaching License

A Minnesota CTE Healthcare, Human Services, Public Safety, and Education teacher licensed in Law Enforcement (092603) (i.e., the public safety career pathways/sub-cluster) is authorized to provide instruction to students in grades 9 through 12 in preparation for careers that relation to emergency response, judicial systems, local, state, and federal services, military and national security, public safety, and more. There are more than 47 districts in Minnesota with Healthcare, Human Services, Public Safety, and Education programs, with emergent demand for the CTE Career Pathways Law Enforcement license.

Career Pathways: Law Enforcement (092603) teachers are qualified to teach career exploration, criminal justice, law enforcement and EMR, police and the community, corrections, and more (see courses). Healthcare, Human Services, Public Safety, and Education teachers provide students a competitive advantage in their career goals through career exploration and preparation, technical skill instruction, industry experience through internships and simulated enterprises, and leadership and social-emotional development by advising a chapter of the HOSA or SkillsUSA student organization.

Courses in Career Pathways: Law Enforcement

– Introduction to Healthcare, Human Services, Public Safety, and Education/Public Service and Safety Careers
– Career Exploration

– Intro to Law Enforcement
– Criminal Justice
– Police and the Community
– Corrections
– Emergency Response
– Judicial Systems
– Local, State, and Federal Services
– Military and National Security
– Public Safety
– Law Enforcement Work-Based Learning

About our Licensure Program

Our online, flexible Career Pathways: Law Enforcement program is both initial licensure for teachers new to the profession who are industry experts (i.e., Tier 1) and working toward permanency (Tier 3), and additional licensure for teachers who hold a current teaching license (Tier 3 or 4) and are looking to add another licensure area. Individuals without either industry experience or teaching experience (e.g., a recent high school graduate) would be best served in a traditional teacher preparation program.

Teachers joining the profession with a Tier 1 or Tier 2 license often have years of industry experience, industry-recognized certifications and credentials, and training that provides significant relevance to the classroom. We value that experience. Tier 1 (industry experts) and Tier 3 are really just two sides of the same coin. While a Tier 3 teacher has formal training in education, they often struggle to master all of the subject-matter content and industry skills, compared to a Tier 1 teacher who knows their content and subject-matter well, but is still learning how to teach. Tier 3 teachers can use professional development to slowly grow and master the subject-matter content, but for too long industry experts and Tier 1 teachers were expected to return to college for a degree, take night or weekend classes, and pay thousands of dollars in tuition to master the teaching skills. This is often unrealistic. We believe teachers should focus on their students, and our program will help you do that, while earning your Tier 3 license.

PELSB-Approved

State Licensing Board Approved Program in Career Pathways: Law Enforcement

Enrollment Requirements

To enroll in our PELSB-approved teaching licensure program for Minnesota 9-12 Career Pathways: Law Enforcement, candidates must meet just four requirements:

  • Currently be the Teacher of Record for a Law Enforcement course (Tier 1, Tier 2, or an OFP in Cosmetology), or you must have a job offer specifically for a Law Enforcement assignment in a Minnesota school district.
  • Five years industry experience, an industry certification, or a degree in law enforcement or public safety.
  • Experience working with students.
  • An interview with program staff.

Removing barriers to licensure.

  • Candidates teach using their industry experience while completing licensure—and earning a paycheck.
  • Simple and free enrollment process—no ACT or GRE testing, or GPA requirements.
  • No application or enrollment fees—the program is grant funded and free for those accepted.
General Questions? Schedule a Meeting

Cost

Initial Licensure

$7,000

This program is generally free for teacher candidates accepted into the program thanks to grant funding from the Service Cooperatives’ CTE Consortium Grant and PELSB’s Pathways Preparation Grant.

additional licensure

$3,500

This program is generally free for teacher candidates accepted into the program thanks to grant funding from the federal Perkins Grant and the Minnesota Service Cooperatives’ CTE Consortium Grant.

Program Required Standards

Our licensure program is flexible and self-paced. We start by mapping out any current industry experience, teaching experience, and prior knowledge or coursework you have to specific licensure standards; we do not need you to complete extra work for standards you are already an expert in. We then design a custom plan with you for any standards that are unmet and you need help with. This usually looks like professional development, online modules, participating in teacher organization trainings, etc.; a custom experience that best fits how you want to learn. Throughout the program, and even after program completion, we provide mentoring, coaching, curriculum, and resources to ensure your success. Ultimately, when you are able to show proficiency in all of the standards, we recommend you to PELSB for licensure.

Rethinking teacher preparation.

  • Competency and standards-based instruction—no mandatory assignments, grades, or homework.
  • Content is both online and available in-person to best fit your unique needs—no rigid schedules or required classes.
  • Recognition of prior experience, training, and certifications—no need to complete extra work for standards you are already an expert in.
  • Student teaching is at your own school in your own classroom.
  • Flexible timeline—complete as fast or as slow as you are able to, depending on your needs.
See an Example Online Module

Step One – Core Skills

Core Skills for Teachers of CTE (8710.8000)

Candidates complete the Core Skills standards by participating in an in-person professional development conference offered by LCSC (i.e., CTE Core Bootcamp). After completing the learning experience, candidates submit evidence documents in Proserva to document their learning. We will also recognize prior learning to demonstrate the standards if candidates provide evidence of previous professional development (e.g., CTE TIP), post-secondary coursework, teaching experience, etc.

  • COR1: State and Federal Laws, Policies, and Data Practices
  • COR2: CTE Curriculum and Course Development
  • COR3: Safe and Appropriate Methods of Instruction
  • COR4: Career Development Theory and Practice
  • COR5: Management of Learning Environments

Step Two – Pedagogy/Methods

Standards of Effective Practice (8710.2000)

Initial Licensure Candidates: Candidates complete the SEP teaching methods standards by participating in online professional development offered by LCSC in Proserva. After completing the learning experience, candidates submit evidence documents in Proserva to document their learning. We will also recognize prior learning to demonstrate the standards if candidates provide evidence of previous professional development, post-secondary coursework, teaching experience, certifications, etc.

  • PRO1: Teacher Responsibilities and Student Rights
  • PRO2: Teacher Self-Reflection and Use of Resources
  • PRO3: Teacher Leadership and Professional Learning Communities
  • MTH1: Context – Environmental Conditions for Learning
  • MTH2: State – Teaching Methods
  • MTH3: Result – Review and Assessment
  • MTH4: Instructional Planning
  • LRN1: Learning Theory and Educational Psychology
  • LRN2: Student Culture, Language, and Reading
  • LRN3: Student Exceptionalities
  • LRN4: Student Mental Health and Substance Use
  • LRN5: Student Equity and Social Justice Theory
  • LRN6: American Indian History and Culture

Additional Licensure Candidates: Candidates already completed the SEPs in their initial license.

Step Three – Subject Matter

Career Pathways: Law Enforcement (8710.9010)

Candidates must have five years of industry experience, an industry certification, or a degree in the content area, and are therefore exempt.

  • Five years industry experience, an industry certification, or a degree in law enforcement or public safety.
PELSB-Approved Exemptions

Teacher Coordinator of Work-Based Learning Endorsement (8710.4825) – Optional, Strongly Encouraged

Candidates complete online professional development or individualized training offered by LCSC to complete these standards. We will also recognize prior learning to demonstrate the standards if candidates provide evidence of previous professional development, post-secondary coursework, teaching experience, etc.

  • WBL1: Central Concepts, Inquiry, History, and Context
  • WBL2: Customizing the WBL Experience
  • WBL3: Implementing the Infrastructure
  • WBL4: Guiding Partnerships

Step Four – Clinical Experience

Clinical Experiences (8705.1010)

Initial Licensure Candidates: at least 100 field experience hours prior to student teaching and a minimum of 12 full-time weeks of face-to-face student teaching at the end of the program. Candidates serve as teacher of record and teach within their own classroom.

  • CTE1: Field Experience
  • CTE2: Student Teaching

Additional Licensure Candidates: a minimum of 80 practicum hours at the end of the program. Candidates serve as teacher of record and teach within their own classroom.

  • CTE3: Practicum Experience

Frequently Asked Questions

Healthcare, Human Services, Safety, and Education Frequently Asked Questions

A: Medical Careers (300300), Early Childhood Careers (300500), Cosmetology Career Pathways (092602), Law Enforcement Career Pathways (092603), and Work‑Based Learning (160000).

A: Lakes Country Service Cooperative.

A: Medical terminology, health careers exploration, nursing assistant training, clinical services, CPR and first aid, mental health, child care, law enforcement, cosmetology, public health, and more.

A: HOSA.

A: Yes. A local school board may determine that a Healthcare, Human Services, Public Safety, and Education course meets standards for science credit (earth and space science, chemistry, or physics) if all applicable standards are satisfied. Healthcare, Human Services, Public Safety, and Education courses cannot replace biology.

A: Student‑operated wellness clinics, childcare centers, cosmetology operations, school‑based CPR certification programs, and health education fairs.

A: Yes. Under Minnesota Rule 8710.8040, a candidate for licensure as a teacher of medical careers must hold or have held licensure or certification to practice in a medical career and must have direct practical experience as a medical professional. PELSB defines what qualifies as a medical professional. CNA experience alone does not meet this requirement because CNAs provide personal care, not medical treatment or diagnosis.

A: Minnesota does not have state-level CTE standards. Instead, under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.022, subdivision 1a, local school districts must adopt standards for their CTE programs. Districts must base these on national CTE standards, national industry standards, or the Minnesota CTE frameworks when creating their local standards. See the Resources page on the MN CTE website for more information and links to these standards and frameworks.

Licensure Frequently Asked Questions

A: Most candidates pay nothing out of pocket. Legislative appropriations and grant funding cover program costs for a limited number of participants. Some Perkins consortia also prioritize teacher recruitment and retention and may provide additional support.

A: The program is self‑paced and varies based on your background and experience. Most candidates complete within one to two years.

A: LCSC’s program is a state‑approved alternative licensure program, not based in higher education. It is highly individualized and focused on applying content in real classrooms rather than only knowing it. This approach often feels different from traditional programs but creates a deeper, more practical learning experience.

A: We do not award grades, credits, or degrees. Completion leads to licensure rather than academic credit.

A: Most content is delivered online. Minnesota requires at least 75% of an online program to be virtual, but some parts—such as Core Skills training—are short, in‑person sessions held regionally. Required clinical experiences (student teaching or practicum) are always in‑person and school‑based. Occasionally we offer optional in‑person professional development in place of virtual components.

A: A CTE license is a Minnesota teaching license in which the teacher has demonstrated foundational CTE skills as well as content and technical expertise in a career field (such as agriculture, construction, or health sciences). “CTE license” is a general category of licenses, not a single specific license. A list of current CTE licenses is available here.

A: No. Minnesota has not issued vocational licenses since 1999 (with rare exceptions through 2001), and those terms do not appear in current rule or statute. Minnesota issues licenses and endorsements, not certifications. To avoid confusion, these outdated terms should not be used.

A: Once you are accepted and enrolled in one of LCSC’s programs, you will receive a notification in your Proserva profile when it is time to sign up for Core Skills.

A: No. If you are enrolled in the licensure program, the LCSC team has already identified funding to cover your costs.

A: There is no separate “alternative license.” All Minnesota teaching licenses are the same regardless of whether a teacher completed a traditional or alternative program. Salary is determined by each district’s collective bargaining agreement (contract), which typically uses steps (years of experience) and lanes (degree level) to set pay. Teachers entering from industry often need to negotiate to show that their years of industry experience are as valuable as teaching experience. In addition, Career and Technical Education (CTE) licensure has a bachelor’s‑degree exemption, so pay structures built around bachelor’s degrees do not always fit well. Many contracts, however, include provisions that support CTE licensure.

A: You may apply, but admission requires that you are a Teacher of Record (Tier 1, Tier 2, or OFP) or that you hold a job offer in a Minnesota district. This ensures candidates can complete required practicum experiences.

A: You must be currently teaching as a Teacher of Record (Tier 1, Tier 2, or OFP) or have a job offer in a Minnesota district.
You must be teaching in the subject area for which you seek licensure.
You must have experience working with students.
You must complete an interview with program staff.
Some licensure areas also require five years of industry experience, an industry certification, or a related degree.

A: Contact Siri Livdahl, Program Coordinator of Admission and Advising, at slivdahl@lcsc.org.

A: No. The Technology (100100) license is not a CTE license and is not eligible for Minnesota Department of Education CTE program approval. Although it shares some skills with Construction, Manufacturing, Transportation, and/or Communications Technology licenses, it does not meet key CTE requirements.

A: No. LCSC’s program is an alternative licensure program approved by the state but not affiliated with a college or university.

A: Not always. Most CTE licensure areas allow entry with an associate’s degree, an industry certification, or five years of relevant experience.

A: No. The program leads to licensure but does not award credits or degrees.

A: We do not offer traditional financial aid such as FAFSA, but most participants have their costs covered through grants.

A: Because the program is self‑paced, you may pause and resume as needed. We encourage regular communication with your advisor to plan your timeline.