CCM understands how valuable professional development can be. Continuing education is not only important for your current position, but also to your career path. Under the advisement and direction from experienced staff at Trinity College, the Certified Connecticut Municipal Official (CCMO) program was developed.
Our training is intended to teach you how to work collaboratively, solve problems, build partnerships, and work across political and organizational boundaries. CCM encourages elected and appointed officials to utilize municipal training workshops, conferences, special meetings, and other educational opportunities to expand their knowledge and enhance important leadership skills through education.
To reward your commitment to furthering your education, CCM proudly offers the CCMO program. Now, you can become a Certified Connecticut Municipal Official.
Philosophy of the Program
The job of a municipal official is complicated and demanding. To be successful officials need special skills and knowledge, but they also must be competent in a variety of areas. By designing this program to focus on you, your organization and your community, we will help you achieve a standard of excellence.
The program will blend the best from the worlds of practice and theory. Training sessions will be led by associations, recognized experts and college faculty, with lengthy experience and insights needed to help you build the required skills for your demanding job.
Enrollment Periods
Beginning November 1, 2019, new participants will be accepted during two enrollment periods per year, with program start dates of January 1 and July 1.
CCMO Enrollment Schedule:
Start Date: January 1
- Enrollment Period: November 1 – December 31
Start Date: July 1
- Enrollment Period: May 1 – June 30
Please note: Only classes/sessions/workshops/webinars taken after the program start date (January 1 or July 1) count toward your certification.
Timeframe
Educational Hours
Participants must complete 36 hours of study within two years from their start date. You must complete at least 6 credit hours (the equivalent to two workshops) from each of the three developmental categories: Personal Development, Organizational Development, and Community Development. The knowledge and skills gained through the CCMO program are a vital tool for success in local government.
Timeframe
This program was designed so participants can complete the required educational hours within a two-year office term, giving the upper hand at the next election! Attendance at CCM’s annual convention and educational workshops will provide the needed hours to qualify for completion and certification. All participants are expected to complete the certification within two years.
Developmental Categories
Personal Development
This area will focus on your development, helping you be an ethical leader who builds trust with people. You’ll learn how to build consensus, become an effective negotiator, and how to collaborate to solve problems. Just as important, we’ll teach you how to improve your skill at public engagement.
Organizational Development
In this area, we will focus on enhancing your municipal organization to provide optimal public services. You’ll understand the municipal budget not only as a spending plan, but also as an important public policy document for your municipality. The notion of “customer service” will not only be explained but how to improve it will be a key component of the training. Understanding the municipal work place, the role of unions, and personnel laws will be an important part of certification training.
Community Development
The focus in this area will be on developing your community by bringing together citizens and municipal officials to enhance civic life. You’ll learn about the economic, financial, and planning realities of downtown development. Related to this important topic is understanding how to market your community and how to get city hall ready to encourage private investment in your community. On a broader scale you’ll learn how to develop a vision for your community by developing realistic plans. And of course there will be training on core municipal services, from audits to zoning.
Completion and Continuing Education
Completion
Upon completion of the coursework (36 hours of study), municipal officials will be recognized and honored for their achievement at CCM’s annual convention in the fall. A press release which highlights the accomplishments will also be issued as well as a story featured in our bi-monthly magazine, Connecticut Town and City.
Continuing Education
To maintain certification, you must pay a continuing education fee of $50 each January. You will then have the full calendar year to complete 9 hours of study (3 workshops).
Provisions
- Attendance at CCM’s Annual Convention and Emergency Management Symposium account for three hours per event.
- Workshop topics/offerings may vary. Sessions may be added or deleted from the schedule.
- Additional educational opportunities will be announced.