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Law, Public Safety and Corrections in Virginia
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
Virginia students take Criminal Justice I and II and can earn the IAED dispatch certification; police and security roles start at 18 and state corrections at 21.
State program: Criminal Justice I 8702 (140 hrs), Criminal Justice II 8703 (280 hrs, 2 credits); CIP not published by VDOE
What a high school can deliver
The Criminal Justice Assessment and IAED Emergency Telecommunicator Certification, plus dual enrollment credit; officer and security registration wait until 18.
Credentials students can earn
Criminal Justice Assessment; IAED ETC (written age policy: Confirm with the agency); Workplace Readiness Skills; NCRC; CCRA+
Age and hour requirements
Law enforcement officer 18 (Va. Code 15.2-1705); unarmed security officer 18 with 18 hours of entry training; state corrections officer 21 with exceptions (); dispatcher training within 24 months of hire, no age.
Other agencies involved
None for the classroom program; DCJS certification needed only to deliver unarmed security entry-level training ().
Who can teach it
CTE license under 8VAC20-23; the endorsement for Criminal Justice I and II was not found.
Child labor rules for work placements
No permit or hour limits at 16-17; no state rule on ride-alongs (agency policy governs). Federal HO 2 bars driving agency vehicles in paid work.
College credit after high school
No statewide high school agreement; dual enrollment (Criminal Justice Career Studies Certificate); VCCS associate to ODU BS in Criminal Justice with C or better (2024-2027).
Where to go next
- The full Law, Public Safety and Corrections guide, showing Virginia
- The Virginia state profile
- Add this pathway to your plan
Law, Public Safety and Corrections in other states
Other pathways in Virginia
- 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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