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Law, Public Safety and Corrections in Missouri
These pages summarize rules to help you plan. They are not legal advice. Before you place students at a work site or change a program, check with your state agency, your district's counsel and your insurance carrier.
In short
Missouri Criminal Justice students can earn the MPOA/YouScience credential; peace officer licensing starts at 21, while corrections officers can start at 18.
State program: Criminal Justice, DESE Skilled Technical Sciences (CIP and course codes: Confirm with the agency)
What a high school can deliver
The MPOA/YouScience Criminal Justice credential (IRC and TSA); agency jobs wait until 18 or 21.
Credentials students can earn
MPOA/YouScience Criminal Justice IRC/TSA with MPOA performance assessment (current DESE IRC list: Confirm with the agency); national options NLEC, IFPO CPO, APCO PST1, IAED ETC
Age and hour requirements
Peace officer license 21 (some academies admit at 20); Correctional Officer I 18; 911 training has no age (RSMo 650.340); Kansas City security unarmed 18, armed 21.
Other agencies involved
None for the program.
Who can teach it
Career education certificate (CTAC tiers); no criminal-justice-specific rule found.
Child labor rules for work placements
No permit at 16-17; ride-alongs follow agency policy; Exploring ride-alongs under 18 need consent. Federal HO 2 bars driving agency vehicles in paid work.
College credit after high school
No statewide agreement; college-specific agreements; A+ Scholarship.
Where to go next
- The full Law, Public Safety and Corrections guide, showing Missouri
- The Missouri state profile
- Add this pathway to your plan
Law, Public Safety and Corrections in other states
Other pathways in Missouri
- Nurse Aide / Patient Care
- EMT
- Electrical
- Welding
- Construction and Carpentry
- HVAC/R
- Cybersecurity / Networking
- Programming / Computer Science
- Automotive
- Medical and Dental Assisting
- Cosmetology
- Agriculture
- Early Childhood Education
- Culinary and Hospitality
- Machining and Mechatronics
- Engineering and Drafting
- Firefighting
- Business Management and Marketing
- Entrepreneurship
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