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frequently asked questions.

1. What is the Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program?

The CPM program is a nationally accredited comprehensive management development program specifically for managers in federal, state, and local government and in non-profit organizations.

The CPM program is based on the assumption that well-trained public managers provide better service to the public.

The program’s primary goal is to foster and encourage the highest possible levels of performance and ethical practice of public and non-profit sector managers in order to continuously improve the performance of state, local and federal government and of the non-profit sector.

The CPM program offers a comprehensive course of study by which public and non-profit managers can acquire and apply best practices and theory to their leadership and management of people, processes, and organizations. The course of study is designed to address competencies that facilitate exceptional job performance and organizational success. The curriculum applies theory to practical problems facing the participant, their agency/department/organization, and citizens.

Those who complete the program earn a national trademark designation of CPM (Certified Public Manager).

Many specific details of the Nebraska Certified Public Manager Program are available in the Nebraska CPM Policy and Procedures Manual, but the FAQs below may also be useful.

2. What is the history of the CPM Program?

The program was developed in the mid-1970s by several Georgia educators and state officials to train public managers. The National Certified Public Managers’ Consortium was formed shortly thereafter. The Consortium is an independent, tax exempt 501(c)(6) non-profit organization incorporated in North Carolina. The purpose of the Consortium is to establish accreditation standards and, upon request from members, review the member’s program for either initial or continuing accreditation. The accreditation review process assures that Consortium standards are maintained by member programs. The term “Certified Public Manager” is a registered trademark of the National Certified Public Manager Consortium.

Today the Consortium includes 26 accredited members (23 states, the federal government--via the USDA Graduate School, the District of Columbia and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments), one active member (working toward accreditation) and six associate members (developing programs).

The University of Nebraska at Omaha became an Associate Member for Nebraska in February 2007 and received its accredidation in 2008.

3. Is the program nationally accredited?

The Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program is a nationally recognized professional development program for supervisors and managers in government and the non-profit sector. It is a training system that develops and measures competencies in the field of public management.

The National Certified Public Manager consortium monitors and accredits the member programs. Only accredited programs are authorized to award the CPM designation. Additional information about the National CPM Consortium can be found at the following web site: www.cpmconsortium.org

4. What are the national requirements for certification?

The program requires at least 300 hours of structured learning activities for each participant. Such learning activities may include but are not limited to workshops/courses, application projects, structured readings, comprehensive examinations and other approved activities. In addition, there must be a written demonstration of participants' effectiveness in applying core materials to their job environment. Finally, the program must provide substantive evaluation of all major curriculum objectives.

5. What is included in the curriculum?

The curriculum is driven by the seven competency clusters required by the National Certified Public Manager Consortium. These clusters are:

• Personal and Organizational Integrity
• Managing Work
• Leading People
• Developing Self
• Systemic Integration
• Public Service Focus
• Change Leadership

Each course offered through the CPM program falls into one of these categories. The entire course of study will provide participants with: general administration skills; technical, qualitative and quantitative skills; human relation skills; and analytical and conceptual skills.

The Nebraska program will be planned to address these competencies and those of the International City/County Managers Association (ICMA). The program also aims to meet specific learning outcomes. Please view these outcomes, outlined on pp.8-10 of the Nebraska CPM Policy and Procedures Manual.

Course titles include:

• Knowing and Managing Yourself
• Managing in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors
• Understanding and Using Public Policy
• Managing for Results
• Project Management
• Understanding and Promoting Ethical Behavior
• Communicating Effectively: Professional Communication and Getting the Most from Media Relations
• Managing People
• Team Leadership
• Law for Public and Nonprofit Managers
• Managing Public and Nonprofit Finance
• Leadership
• Managing Information and Information Technology
• Short Course on Preparing Project Presentations
• Leading and Managing Change

6. Who can apply and are there prerequisites?

The program is designed to benefit current government or non-profit supervisors, managers, and persons with significant responsibilities (e.g., municipal or county clerks) and also persons who are interested in supervisory or management positions in a government or non-profit organization. The Nebraska CPM has no prerequisites and applicants with all educational backgrounds and levels of experience are welcome to apply.

7. What are the benefits of the program to participants?

Benefits of the Nebraska CPM Program are innumerable. Participants have the opportunity to strengthen leadership abilities, management and supervisory skills, skills in managing and improving work processes, budget development and execution, and personnel management. Networking opportunities abound. Participants develop inter-agency and cross-sector contacts and communication. In addition, particpants learn to encourage innovation, creatitivity and new approaches to problem solving in their organizations.

Another incentive to participate in the program is the undergraduate and/or graduate credits that can be earned. Graduates of the Nebraska CPM Program can receive 15 upper level college credits which can be used to complete a Bachelor’s in General Studies (BGS) through UNO’s Continuing Studies Program. There is no charge for these credits beyond the $2,500 tuition for the CPM Program. If they have an undergraduate degree, graduates can receive 6 graduate credits toward a Masters in Public Administration (MPA). To receive the MPA credits, participants must enroll in the UNO graduate school and pay for the 6 credit hours. No work beyond the CPM program requirements is necessary to receive the undergraduate and graduate credits.

Participants who complete the program will have a life-long certification, but will also have the opportunity for further growth and development through continuing education opportunities. Clearly, benefits of the Nebraska CPM Program include participant potential for both short-term growth and long-term continuous improvement.

8. What are the benefits to participants’ agencies/organizations?

• CPM projects approved by participants’ supervisors that focus on agency/organization issues
• More highly skilled and effective leaders and managers
• Leaders and managers who are more committed to service in the public and/or non-profit sector/s
• Leaders and managers who are part of a broader network of public/non-profit managers and who can use their network/s to further the goals of their agencies/organizations

9. How long is the CPM program?

The Nebraska CPM program is a 12-month certification. Participants have the option of extending the time to completion as long as they meet all requirements within three years.

10. Where and how often are classes held?

The Nebraska CPM program began modestly with one cohort of 15 participants who met in Omaha for 2 days in 7 out of the 12 months of the program. These 7 meetings included an orientation, graduation, and the on-campus courses. The remaining months consisted entirely of online coursework. The 2009 cohort will again have courses at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, but plans are being made to expand the program and hold courses at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and also at Kearney.

11. Is there a CPM alumni society?

Certified Public Manager graduates are eligible for membership in the American Academy for Certified Public Managers (AACPM). The AACPM holds an annual conference that provides continuing education for CPMs as well as networking opportunities.

Once Nebraska’s CPM program is underway, the University of Nebraska at Omaha will work with the first graduating class to establish a Nebraska Society for Certified Public Managers under the auspices of the national AACPM. Please visit http://www.cpmacademy.org/ for more information on the professional association.

12. How much will the program cost?

The cost of the program is $2500 plus books and travel if participants need to commute to Omaha for the on-site courses. The cost of books and other course materials is not expected to exceed $500.

13. When is the entire $2,500 cost of the program due?

Payment is due at the beginning of the program. However, if necessary, customized payment plans can be worked out for participants and for the organizations that sponsor a participant. The program must be paid in full before the participant's graduation in December

14. How much time should I expect to spend on the program?

The National CPM Consortium requires 300 hours of structure learning activities for the complete program, which includes courses, assignments and the major project. Based on this requirement, you should expect to spend, on average, 5-6 hours a week on the program.

15. What is the difference between the Certified Public Management (CPM) Program and the Graduate Certificate in Public Management?

The Graduate Certificate requires an undergraduate degree for application. The CPM program is open to all educational backgrounds and levels of experience.

The Graduate Certificate provides in-depth exposure to theory and practice in five key areas of public management (e.g., public finance, human resource management). The CPM program is a comprehensive management development program that provides practical skills and knowledge across a broad range of responsibilities of public managers. See Comparison of the Graduate Certificate in Public Management with the Certified Public Manager Program.

16. What if I miss a course or am unable to complete an assignment before the program ends?

You are required to successfully complete all courses and assignments before you can be certified. If you have to miss a course or are unable to complete your major project or another assignment, you have three options. You can view recorded videos of the course you missed and do additional assignments, You can complete the course during the same month at a different NE CPM site. Participants also may make up the course or complete the assignment the following year and receive your certification at that time. You have up to three years to complete all requirements and obtain certification. As the program expands to a larger cohort of participants, the Nebraska CPM intends to offer a totally online program as well as residential versions in various parts of the state. When this occurs, participants will be able to make up missed coursework online or at another Nebraska CPM site offering the same course. The focus of the CPM program is on learning, not on grading, so you will have opportunities to revise assignments in order to ensure that they meet standards.

17. Can participants earn college credit hours for completion of the Nebraska CPM Program?

The Nebraska CPM Program has been approved to provide 6 graduate credit hours for participants who enroll with the University of Nebraska Omaha’s Graduate Studies Office and sign up for the corresponding PA 8896 Special Topics courses. The cost of applying for graduate admission is currently set at $45 and the cost of graduate tuition is $195.75 per credit hour. Participants who wish to receive the six graduate credit hours will be expected to enroll in no more than one of the special topics courses per semester during the year in which they participate in the Nebraska CPM Program. These courses will only be open to Nebraska CPM participants.

While the 6 graduate hours have been approved, the Nebraska CPM Program is still in the process of getting approval for 15 undergraduate credit hours to be applied at no cost towards a Bachelor’s of General Studies Degree (BGS) through the UNO College of Continuing Studies.