CPFTA Curriculum | Chicago Public Schools

CPFTA recruits and trains up to 125 public and non-public high school students each year. One of the immediate goals is to provide a pool of qualified applicants for the city’s police and fire academies.

Visit the CPFTA application page to find out more about how to apply and program requirements.

75010 – Chicago Police and Firefighter Training Academy

This course is an introduction to basic law enforcement, public safety, and fire science with an emphasis in urban policing and urban firefighting.

300 minutes a week, Tuesday and Wednesday, 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Credits: 1 per year

This course covers topics such as:

History of the Chicago Fire Department
Fire alarms, responses, fire behavior, fire terminology
Chicago Fire Department current practices and procedures
Organization structure
Standard operating procedures and chain of command
Roles of a firefighter
Organization of a fire station
Incident management roles
Development and evolution of fire science
Sources of heat and heat transfer
Physical training (up and overs, sit-ups, push-ups, running)
Soft skills and employment possibilities
Team building activities
CPR and FIRST AID certification

This course covers topics including:

Origins and development of law enforcement in the United States
History of the Chicago Police Department
Role of the preliminary investigator (police officer)
Organizational matrix and chain of command
Conflict resolution and self-defense techniques
Report writing and computer technology in law enforcement
Radio communications
Guest speakers from Chicago Police Department specialized units and other law enforcement agencies
Arrest, searching, evidence collection and interrogation
Courtroom preparation and professionalism
Physical fitness training and the Law Enforcement Power Test of Illinois
Soft skills and employment possibilities
Team building and community service activities
The use of computer technology to solve crime

Required OSHA Course

CPFTA cadets will receive vouchers to pay for the course during their junior year in the program. (Note: If students fail the course, they must take the course again to move to their Senior Year with CPFTA.)

Upon completion of the OSHA junior year, CPFTA cadets are eligible to move to the 12th grade course, 75020 Chicago Police and Firefighter Training Academy.

75020 – Chicago Police and Firefighter Training Academy

This course is an advanced training level course designed to expand upon the student’s knowledge and skills previously introduced in CPFTA-I.

300 minutes a week, Tuesday and Wednesday, 4:30–7:30 P.M.

* Students taking the EMT-B class will meet Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 4:30–7:30 P.M. *

Credits: 1 per year

: On the fire side, this course will include fire topics such as infectious control, high-rise firefighting, arson investigations, flash overs, backdraft fires, fire tetrahedron, and effects of fire on various structures, and final physical training test.

A selected group of students will also learn about pre-hospital emergency medical care, ambulance service, and all the aspects of Emergency Medical Technician – Basic. Field trips, team building activities are included in this year. Students will receive their AED Defibrillator and First Responder training and certification. Senior cadets may also apply to participate in Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training.

The police side emphasis will include topics such as methods of criminal investigation, national crime rate statistics, criminal law terms, examining policing in multicultural communities, learning the standards required for police recruitment and retention, responsibilities of specialized units in law enforcement, becoming knowledgeable about police discretion and behavior, learning about advancements in technologies in solving crimes (DNA), crime scene investigations, search and seizure procedures, vehicle searches, physical fitness training, role playing in different scenarios, guest speakers from CPD and other law enforcement agencies on their responsibilities, and legal jurisdictions and equipment used by police officers. Students may also be eligible to sit and take the 20-hour Unarmed Security Guard Class and apply to receive their PERC credentials.

Educational law enforcement related field trips, team building activities and community service projects are included in this year.

All senior cadets must also take and pass the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10-hour online course and the Cyber Security Safety Training Course. These courses are required to graduate from the program.