Law and Public Safety (Non-Credit)

Explore Program

Corporate and Continuing Education at Central Piedmont provides advanced and in-service training for all public safety professions. Offerings include the college's American Academy of Applied Forensics (AAAF) training for law enforcement as well as Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Paramedic training.

The program includes training for law enforcement and Fire and Rescue municipal and volunteer agencies. Public Safety Corporate and Continuing Education courses are typically offered at the Claudia Watkins Belk Center for Justice on the Merancas Campus.

Explore Courses 

Looking for course descriptions and cost information? Review the following Corporate and Continuing Education course catalog, or keep reading for course listings on this page. 

Spring Corporate and Continuing Education Course Catalog

Emergency Medical Technician

  • General Information

    Central Piedmont offers initial and continuing education training for EMS professionals, including EMT and paramedic training, as well as specialized training for EMS professionals. 

  • EMT vs. Paramedic

    EMT 

    EMTs are educated in many skills, including CPR, giving patients oxygen, administering glucose for diabetics, and helping others with treatments for asthma attacks or allergic reactions. With very few exceptions, such as in the case of auto-injectors for allergic reactions, EMTs are not allowed to provide treatments that require breaking the skin: that means no needles.

    Paramedic 

    Paramedics are advanced providers of emergency medical care and are highly educated in topics such as anatomy and physiology, cardiology, medications, and medical procedures. They build on their EMT education and learn additional skills, including how to administer medications, start intravenous lines, provide advanced airway management for patients, and resuscitate and support patients with significant problems such as heart attacks and traumas.

  • EMT Courses

    EMT 7306 Emergency Medical Technician – Basic    

    For registration information for any EMT 7306 courses, email Brian Shoemake.

    Accelerated Career Training/Emergency Medical Technician

    For qualified students, the Accelerated  Career Training Program (ACT) offers a scholarship option for completing this class.

  • First Responder Courses

    Central Piedmont offers continuing education to Mecklenburg County First Responders. Training is available both in-person and online.

    If you are in an active role and need to renew your NC EMT Certification, you must take mandatory in-person classes. Contact Continuing Education Customer Service for required course information. 

    • Paramedic Certification Training

      Central Piedmont offers paramedic training opportunities to fit your needs, whether you are pursuing initial paramedic certification or advanced training. The courses follow the North Carolina Office of EMS and the National Emergency Medical Services Educational Standards set forth for initial paramedic training.

      Paramedic certification training is offered as both a continuing education course and Associate in Applied Science in Emergency Medical Science.

    • Registration

      The North Carolina Community College System has mandated that all EMS students must complete an EMS/fire registration form prior to the first day of any class offered.

      Email the completed registration form to Corporate and Continuing Education Customer Service. You must sign the form. If Customer Services does not receive your form before the start of class, you will not be registered. 

    Fire Protection

    • General Information

      Central Piedmont offers Fire Protection In-Service Training for Fire and Rescue municipal and volunteer agencies. Courses are offered through Public Safety Corporate and Continuing Education to earn certifications. 

    • Registration

      The North Carolina Community College System has mandated that all students/firefighters must complete a fire registration form prior to the first day of any class offered. 

      Email the completed registration form to Corporate and Continuing Education Customer Service or fax to 704.330.4222. You must sign the form. If Customer Services does not receive your form before the start of class, you will not be registered. 

    Law Enforcement

    • In-Service Training and Course Schedules

      Central Piedmont offers Law Enforcement In-Service Training in partnership with area agencies.

    • Registration and Fees

      Registration

      All officers must complete a law enforcement registration form prior to the first day of any class offered. You must sign the form to be registered. 

      Email the completed registration form to Corporate and Continuing Education Customer Service or fax to 704.330.4223. For questions, email Major Brown

      Fees 

      Classes are free to NC Sworn Law Enforcement Officers (except where noted).

      Non-Sworn and out-of-state officers can call Customer Service at 704.330.4223 to register. Non-Sworn and out-of-state officers will be asked to provide an Authorization to Bill (the agency)/Registration form at the time of registration. If paying with a credit card over the phone, the Authorization to Bill/Registration Form will not be required.

      Non-Sworn and Out-of State Fees
      • 1-24 contact hours: $87
      • 25-50 contact hours: $142
      • 50+ contact hours: $197
    • Directions and Hotel Accommodations

      Directions

      Visit Merancas Campus for directions.

      Hotel Accommodations 

      Central Piedmont Law and Public Safety Continuing Education has a hotel accommodation agreement with My Place Hotel-Huntersville, which is 2 miles from our Merancas Campus. Our negotiated rate for our instructors and students is $80 per night for 1 queen bed and $90/night for 2 queen beds. Every room provides a full-sized refrigerator, two-burner cooktop, coffee maker, and microwave. Laundry facilities are also available.

      For location, contact information, and booking instructions using our special rate code, visit MyPlace Hotel-Huntersville, NC. 

    American Academy of Applied Forensics

    • About the Academy

      The American Academy of Applied Forensics (AAAF) offers one of the most comprehensive applied forensics training curriculum in the country for law enforcement and medicolegal (coroners, doctors, nurses, etc.) investigative professionals. AAAF has over 80 different classes and provides a full range of in-service training in both general applied forensics and digital evidence. Recognized as a national leader in workforce development, the college received a series of Congressional appropriations to develop a state-of-the-art applied forensics program, then appointed the National Institute of Justice to administer funding for the Academy and oversee its planning and development. Courses in each area are taught by the nation’s leading forensic experts in state-of-the-art training laboratories and classrooms.

    • General Forensics Program

      The program is designed to prepare the generalist crime scene investigator as well as provide advanced training for the veteran and specialist crime scene investigator. Courses are taught by nationally known forensic experts in such fields as bloodstain pattern analysis, forensic anthropology, forensic entomology, crime scene photography, and numerous facets of latent evidence.

      All General Forensics training is conducted in compliance with the standards of recognized national professional associations, including the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, International Association for Identification, National Board of Death Investigators, American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors – Laboratory Accreditation Program, and National Association of Medical Examiners.

    • General Forensics: Instructors

      Buren Foster

      Buren “Bernie” Foster is on the FBI Evidence Response Team in Charlotte and is the lead forensic photographer for the FBI in North Carolina. He teaches surveillance photography at the FBI Academy at Quantico, Virginia, and has done forensic photography assignments in Baghdad, Iraq, and with the FBI Miami Division. His experience includes crime scenes, plane crashes, homicides, body recovery, and terrorism type cases.

      Ross Gardner

      Ross Gardner is co-author of “Bloodstain Pattern Analysis with an Introduction to Crime Scene Reconstruction, 2nd Edition,” and author of “Practical Crime Scene Processing and Investigation.” He is certified by the International Association for Identification (IAI) as a senior crime scene analyst and has served on the boards of the Rocky Mountain Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts (RMABPA), Association for Crime Scene Reconstruction (ACSR), and the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts (IABPA).

      Eddie Howell

      Eddie Howell is a crime scene investigator with the Gaston County Police Department, where he was also a criminal investigations detective. His experience includes various types of crime scenes, homicides, body recovery, and death investigation cases. He has trained hundreds of students in various topics, including surveying use of force, digital evidence recovery, and criminal investigation.

      Lisa Mayhew

      Lisa Mayhew has more than 27 years of experience as a child development specialist in North Carolina, specializing in the 0-3 year population, children with special needs, and interdisciplinary collaboration. She provides training to local and state law enforcement agencies across the U.S. and has served as the child death investigator/trainer for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner since 2000. In addition, Lisa operates the Child Death Investigation Training Program in conjunction with the North Carolina Justice Academy to assist agencies statewide involved in the investigation of child fatalities.

      Don Mikko

      Don Mikko is currently president of Forensic Firearms Training Seminars, Inc., and a retired chief warrant officer who served in the United States Army. He spent most of his military career as a special agent in the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIDC). Don has served as a forensic firearm and toolmark examiner since 1990 and is an American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD)/lab inspector and an ISO 17025 assessor, certified by the Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners (AFTE) in all three forensic disciplines, which is extremely rare. He previously served as chief of the firearms branch at the United States Army Crime Laboratory (USACIL), Fort Gillem, Georgia, and as the director of the Atlanta Police Department Crime Laboratory.

      Don is an adjunct professor for Southern Griffin Technical College and is a member of multiple professional organizations, including the Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners (AFTE); FBI National Academy Associates (FBIINAA); International Association for Identification (IAI); Identification, Authentication, and Authorization (IAA); and National Rifle Association (NRA).

      Donald Rice

      Donald Rice graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law with a Juris Doctorate. He has worked continuously as a trial attorney since 2006. He has prosecuted hundreds of cases, from driving while impaired to domestic violence and first degree murder, in both district and superior court. He works with local law enforcement agencies teaching in-service training, and he has taught courses in evidence and constitutional law for the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program at Gaston College.

    • Digital Forensics: Program

      In today’s technologically advanced world, any crime scene can potentially harbor digital evidence: information stored in digital form that may be of evidentiary value in a criminal investigation. Today more than ever before, the identification, collection, and preservation of digital evidence are critical skills in crime scene processing and require forensically sound methodologies.

      AAAF uses the U.S. Department of Defense Computer Investigation Training Program (DCITP) as a model for its Digital Evidence curriculum. Using the DCITP model, AAAF has established one of the few comprehensive Digital Evidence training programs and state-of-the-art computer forensics teaching laboratories in the nation.

      AAAF’s Digital Evidence training curriculum provides training in three areas: incident response, hardware forensics, and network forensics, as well as a full range of related courses in  electronic forensics (surveillance devices and video), presentation of forensic evidence in court, and quality assurance in forensic investigations.

    • Digital Forensics: Instructors

      Katie Williams, Program Developer

      Katie Williams was recently employed by the N.C. State Crime Laboratory/N.C. State Bureau of Investigation. There, she was assigned to the Digital Evidence Section. She comes to Central Piedmont with approximately six years of analytical experience that includes audio forensics, video forensics, and computer forensics. She has worked a variety of cases, including 911 phone calls, undercover drug buys, convenience store surveillance video, patrol camera, violent crimes, and crimes against children.

      Chad Day

      Chad Day began working as a forensic scientist in 2004, specializing in latent prints and crime scene investigation. Today, he focuses his career on digital forensics. He has worked for the Wyoming State Crime Laboratory, Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory, Montana State Crime Laboratory, and Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office. 

      Chad is a certified forensic computer examiner for the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists and a certified video technician for the Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Video Association. He has completed the Advanced Micro Systemation XRY training curriculum, is a certified latent print examiner, and is a SANS certified penetration tester for the International Association for Identification. Chad holds a master’s degree in digital forensic science. 

      Cary Gordy

      Cary Gordy is a digital forensics investigator for Wells Fargo. He began his law enforcement career in 2011 with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office where he has served as a special victims unit detective/digital forensics investigator, and an officer of the North Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. His credentials include being a CCO (Cellebrite Certified Operator), CCPA (Cellebrite Certified Physical Analyst), and GCFE (GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner, Global Information Assurance Certification).

      Steve Rose

      Steve Rose is a certified law enforcement instructor and a sworn law enforcement officer for the Wilkesboro Police Department in North Carolina. He’s been with the department since 2004 and currently serves as an information technology administrator, senior investigator, and cyber crime/computer forensics expert for the department.

      Prior to joining the law enforcement industry, he worked in the information technology field, specifically in server and network design, for Ford Motor Company. When he’s not conducting official police business, he serves as an information technology case expert and consultant for other law enforcement agencies. In addition, he holds certifications in advanced computer forensics, electronic crime scene investigation, and cell phone forensics.

    • Drone Instructors

      Yvonne Becker

      Yvonne Becker is a senior special agent for Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), a licensed FAA Part 107 Pilot, and is certified with North Carolina and the U.S. Department of Justice for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). She co-authored a formal request from the FAA and was granted a Certificate of Waiver for Daylight Operations, 14 CFR 107.29. She has more than 350 flights and almost 100 hours of operating time with several sUAS platforms and vehicles. Her experience with drones includes planning all sUAS missions and operations for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), as well as handling the pre-planning for flights, including requesting airspace authorization (if necessary). 

      Yvonne has been involved as a UAS instructor with Central Piedmont and has participated in several other training sessions with UAS. She also worked as a detective with the Prince William County Police Department in Virginia and as a National Park Ranger in Yellowstone National Park prior to becoming an ATF agent.

      She earned a bachelor’s degree from Radford University in criminal justice. She attended Oklahoma State University’s School of Forensic Science and obtained a master’s certificate in arson and explosive investigation. Yvonne also graduated from the Virginia Forensic Science Academy with a specialization in crime scene investigation.

      Linda Hudson

      Prior to joining Central Piedmont, Linda Hudson was the president of Pro Sky Photo, LLC, where she honed her experience flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and taking photos with drones. Her company, Pro Sky Photo, has had numerous official photography jobs with several companies and conferences in North Carolina. She was the official photographic provider for the yearly Gastonia Sniper Conference, using three different sUAS platforms, as well as DSLR cameras. She has more than 350 flights and almost 100 hours of operating time with several UAS platforms and vehicles. Linda is a licensed FAA Part 107 pilot and is North Carolina certified and permitted as a UAS Operator.

      Her law enforcement experience includes work as a deputy sheriff in Fairfax County Virginia, a patrol officer with Prince William County Police in Virginia, and working traffic accident/ reconstruction cases with the Special Operations Division. She has also worked with Search and Rescue and as a crime scene technician. After seven years, she was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division as a detective. Linda completed her career working as a detention officer with Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.

      Scott Logue, PLS

      Scott Logue is the president of The Survey Company, Inc, a Charlotte, N.C., survey firm. Scott is a professional land surveyor in North Carolina and has more than 28 years of experience with topographic, boundary, and environmental surveying, as well as highway and construction layout, Global Positioning Systems, computation, and CADD drafting. From 1998 to August 2001, he provided field engineering and construction layout assistance for lntercon Builders in Charlotte. He joined The Survey Company, Inc. in 2001 as head of operations, managing office technicians and field crews on boundary, topographic, environmental, and construction staking surveys. Scott purchased the company in April of 2016. He is a graduate of York Technical College in Rock Hill, S.C.

      Andrew Phillips

      Andrew Phillips has extensive law enforcement, military, and unmanned aerial experience. Andrew recently retired after more than 28 years with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department where he most recently served as a financial crimes detective. Andrew joined the U.S. Marines in 1982, served eight years of active duty, and then joined the Reserves in 2012. In deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, he was assigned to the Marine Corps War Fighting Lab where he was involved in the development of small unit concepts utilizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)/Drone assets for combat operations.

      Andrew flew and operated experimental and commercial aerial and ground unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) while assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Lab. Using his military experience and Remote Pilot certification, Andrew is introducing UAS concepts to local law enforcement and fire departments in the Charlotte, N.C., region. When not in the classroom, Andrew serves in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves with a rank of master sergeant E-8 and is the owner and operator of SOAR Imagery, an aerial photography business.

      Joe Valasquez, PE

      Joe Valasquez is founder of DroneScape, PLLC. DroneScape is a professional engineering and training company that focuses on drone applications with major contracts with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. In addition to being a part-time instructor at Central Piedmont for various drone-related classes, Joe is a registered professional engineer with more than 20 years of experience as both a private pilot and an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) pilot. His experience spans 30 years in varying engineering assignments with Fortune 500 corporations, including five years experience as a quality director for allied-signal designing and manufacturing FAA-certified commercial aircraft cockpit instrumentation. Joe is an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) certified adjunct professor in instructional development, who has taught at Queens University of Charlotte and Central Piedmont. He earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Southern Illinois University.

      Dr. Taurean Walker

      Tarean Walker has been a criminal justice instructor at Central Piedmont since August 2011. His teaches classes in criminology, corrections, juvenile justice, criminal justice, intel analysis and security management, border and transportation security, victimology, criminal law, and crisis intervention. Taurean has also been an instructor at Brightwood College, Limestone College and ITT Technical Institute.

      He earned a bachelor's degree from Appalachian State University, a master’s degree from North Carolina Central University, and a doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

      He is a Federal Aviation Administration Licensed Pilot, a Certified Drone Pilot in Command, and is a subject matter expert on unmanned aerial vehicles, having flown numerous types of drones.

    • Forensics (AAAF) Courses and Certificates

      Central Piedmont's offers Forensics courses as continuing education. Upon the successful completion of a course, you will receive an AAAF certificate. AAAF courses are accepted for Intermediate and Advanced Law Enforcement Certificates in North Carolina.

      If you have taken basic training at another school or training academy, you may take advanced courses with prior approval from the program director of that department. 

      The program does not offer curriculum courses for those looking to earn credit to transfer to another university or degree program. 

      Course Schedules 

      Digital Forensics 

      Drone 

      Drone Courses

      General Forensics 

      Online 

      Forensics courses online

    • Registration and Fees

      To Register

      You must pre-register for AAAF classes (traditional classroom and online) at least 24 hours before the start of the class.

      Fee-waived NC Sworn Officers 

      Fill out a registration form and send it to the Central Piedmont Customer Service office either by email Corporate and Continuing Education Customer Service.

      Training coordinators can handle registrations for NC Sworn and Non-Sworn, and out-of-state as long as the registration forms have the signature of the fee-waived officer taking the training. This is necessary in order to meet the State’s requirement for a fee waiver.

      Non-Sworn and Out-of-State Officers 
      1-24 Contact Hours
      • online (Section 800): $75
      • lecture (Section 20): $87
      • material fee (Section 01): $137
      25-50 Contact Hours
      • online (Section 800): $130
      • lecture (Section 20): $142
      • material fee (Section 01): $192

      Call customer service to register. Non-Sworn and out-of-state officers will be asked to provide an Authorization to Bill (the agency)/Registration form at the time of registration. 

      If paying with a credit card over the phone, the Authorization to Bill/Registration Form will not be required.

      For Questions

      Email Katie Williams or call 704.330.4164.

      Cancellations/Refunds

      Classes are eligible for a refund based on the following policy:

      • 100% of tuition paid will be refunded by the college if the student officially withdraws prior to the first day of the class. Call customer service at 704.330.4223 to withdraw.
      • If you do not withdraw and do not attend, you are still responsible for payment.
      • Tuition will be refunded 100% for any classes canceled by the college.

      Refunds are processed around the 10th of each month.

      If extenuating circumstances prevent dropping a class prior to the start date, contact Sheila Priest at 704.330.4117.

    • Directions and Hotel Accommodations

      Directions

      Visit Merancas Campus for directions to AAAF. 

      Hotel Accommodations 

      Central Piedmont Law and Public Safety Continuing Education has a hotel accommodation agreement with My Place Hotel-Huntersville, which is 2 miles from our Merancas Campus. Our negotiated rate for our instructors and students is $80 per night for 1 queen bed and $90/night for 2 queen beds. Every room provides a full-sized refrigerator, two-burner cooktop, coffee maker, and microwave. Laundry facilities are also available.

      For location, contact information, and booking instructions using our special rate code, visit MyPlace Hotel-Huntersville, NC. 

    • Teaching Opportunities with AAAF

      If you are interested in teaching for Central Piedmont, email Katie Williams or call 704.330.4164.

    Ready to Register? Or Do You Need Help?

    Central Piedmont is currently using two registration systems until we fully transition to the new system: 

    – MyCollege (existing)

    – Corporate and Continuing Education Registration (new)

    To register, get help, or ask about a program or course, call 704.330.4223 or email customer service.

    Watch the following video to learn how to search and register for courses that are currently in MyCollege.