A Certified Public Manager® program is a nationally accredited comprehensive management development program specifically for managers in federal, state, and local government. The program’s primary goal is to improve the performance of public sector managers and the organizational performance of state, local and federal government. It is a comprehensive course of study by which public managers can acquire and apply the best practices and theory to their management behaviors and strategies using prescribed sets of professional competencies. The curriculum uses theory as the foundation and applies it to practical problems facing the participant, their agency/department, and the citizens. Those who complete the program are awarded the certified public manager® (CPM) designation which is a registered service mark of the National Certified Public Manager Consortium.

The Certified Public Manager® Program has many different benefits it offers to both the participants and their respective agencies. Some of the many benefits to CPM participants include the following:

-The enhancement of personal leadership strengths.
-An increase in intergovernmental networks and communication.
-An increase in personal effectiveness.
-Innovative solutions.
-The promotion of quality in public service.

Successful graduates are eligible for membership in the American Academy of Certified Public Managers.

In addition, in many of the member programs, participants can earn undergraduate and graduate credit upon completion of the program.

Some benefits to the participants’ agency include the CPM projects, which illustrate effective, efficient, or cost-saving alternatives. Agencies also experience improved management skills from the participants. The benefits listed above are only a few of the many ways the participant and the agency can benefit by earning the certified public manager® designation.

The Certified Public Manager® (CPM) Program is a nationally recognized professional development program for supervisors and managers in government. It is a training system that develops and measures competencies in the field of public management. The National Certified Public Manager® Consortium establishes accreditation standards, monitors and reviews for continued accreditation 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

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

The curriculum includes the following competencies:

Personal and Organizational Integrity
Increasing awareness, building skills and modeling behaviors related to identifying potential ethical problems and conflicts of interest; appropriate workplace behavior; and legal and policy compliance.

Managing Work
Meeting organizational goals through effective planning, prioritizing, organizing and aligning human, financial, material and information resources. Empowering others by delegating clear job expectations; providing meaningful feedback and coaching; creating a motivational environment and measuring performance. Monitoring workloads and documenting performance. Dealing effectively with performance problems.

Leading People
Inspiring others to positive action through a clear vision; promotes a diverse workforce. Encouraging and facilitating cooperation, pride, trust and group identity; fostering commitment and team spirit. Articulating a vision, ideas and facts in a clear and organized way; effectively managing emotions and impulses.

Developing Self
Demonstrating commitment to continuous learning, self-awareness and individual performance planning through feedback, study and analysis.

Systemic Integration
Approaching planning, decision-making and implementation from an enterprise perspective; understanding internal and external relationships that impact the organization.

Public Service Focus
Delivering superior services to the public and internal and external recipients; including customer/client identification, expectations, needs and developing and implementing paradigms, processes and procedures that exude positive spirit and climate; demonstrating agency and personal commitment to quality service.

Change Leadership
Acting as a change agent; initiating and supporting change within the organization by implementing strategies to help others adapt to changes in the work environment, including personal reactions to change; emphasizing and fostering creativity and innovation; being proactive.

Each course offered through an accredited CPM program must be competency-based (as of 9/2010).

The program is open to state, local and federal government employees. Application for Associate status must be from the head of a governmental organization or an institution of higher learning interested in sponsoring a CPM program in that state. Once a request for admission to the Consortium is approved no other CPM program will be approved in that state.