ACCG : Training & Meetings

Following the completion of the core certification, county officials can work on specialty certifications, providing even more in-depth courses in areas such as economic development, intergovernmental relations or revenue and finance. The specialty certification program is designed to be flexible in order to provide training on current issues and best practices. Each specialty certification requires an additional 48 hours of coursework.

During 2013, ACCG is transitioning the Certified Commissioners Advanced Program (CCAP) to specialty certifications. ACCG will work closely with individuals who are close to completing their CCAP certification to ensure that they meet the requirements established under this program through advanced courses that are offered this year. County officials who have already completed CCAP are encouraged to begin taking advanced courses offered in 2013 that will count towards specialty certifications. By 2014, only core and specialty courses will be offered through the ACCG Lifelong Learning Academy.

-Citizen Engagement - An active, involved public is essential to the proper functioning of government. This track seeks to provide county officials information on strategies to motivate your citizens to become involved and stay involved with their county government. Communication, customer service and accessibility highlight the courses in this track.

-County Operations and Management - Efficient and cost-effective processes and procedures are necessary for successful county governments. This track focuses on ways to ensure that your county is operating at its peak. Technical assistance, human resource administration including risk management and retirement, and planning are stressed in this track.

-Economic & Community Development - A vibrant economic base is vital to all communities and county officials play an important role to certify that their county is meeting this need. This track explores the many facets of economic and community development so that all the pieces of this important puzzle are understood. Land use planning and management, the financial implications of economic development, and the role of training and education are a few of the featured topics of this track.

-Intergovernmental Relations - It’s getting clearer every day that a county commission does not work in a vacuum; outside influences factor into local decisions consistently. This track looks at the other groups county officials work with and the ways they work with them in order to achieve success for their county, region and state. A study of the other “teams” involved with county commissions and methods for efficient interaction with them are the basics of this track.

-Leadership Development - Leadership is necessary for the success of communities and finding ways to identify and prepare leaders is not always simple. This track examines how you can bring out the leader in yourself and others. Working together, developing personal leadership skills, and understanding leadership styles and motivation are the nucleus of this track.

-Public Safety - One of the primary responsibilities of county commissioners is securing safety for their citizens. This track outlines the many facets of public safety and its implications for you as a commissioner. Law enforcement, emergency management, and the impact public safety issues have on your community are among the issues included in this track.

-Quality of Life/Social Issues - Everyone wants to live in a nice place – and county commissioners are an integral part of making sure that counties meet that goal! This track surveys the many factors involved in providing livable communities. Community health, parks and sustainability, and policy decisions regarding these complex issues are some of the topics studied in this track.

-Revenue & Finance - All public servants have goals and dreams for their communities but none of those can be accomplished without the dollars! This track tackles the task of managing your county’s money and ways to increase revenue. Budgeting, financial policies and enhancing financial efficiencies are some of the subjects discussed in this track.

Specialty certifications are comprised of primary and cross-over courses. Primary courses are directly related to the specialty area of focus. Cross-over courses listed under each specialty area are those that are directly linked to another specialty area but have a connection and usefulness as a relevant topic under the area in which they are offered for credit. Another way look at primary and cross-over courses is to consider them as required versus elective offerings.

Each specialty certification requires 48 hours of courses, including 30 hours in the specialty track’s primary courses and an additional 18 hours from primary courses or cross-over courses. All courses are for 6 hours of credit unless otherwise noted.

The specialty certification course directory provides an overview of courses that may be offered through the ACCG Lifelong Learning Academy. Because the specialty certification program was designed to be flexible and adapt to current issues and best practices, this course directory may change over time. In addition, not every course will be offered every year.

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