1. ICMA Voluntary Credentialing Program A Personal Commitment to Professional Development

2. 2 ICMA Voluntary Credentialing Program Promotes unique expertise that managers bring to the profession and demonstrates professionalism Demonstrates commitment to professional development and high standards of integrity Adds value to communities served Gives you access to programs like Legacy Leaders and the ICMA and SEI Gettysburg Leadership Institutes

3. 3 Credentialing Program Background ICMA Executive Board adopted policy outline of program at July 2001 meeting First credentials were granted by the Executive Board at May 2002 meeting The program has grown from an initial group of 75 to over 1,300 ICMA Credentialed Managers and Candidates

4. 4 Credentialing Eligibility Requirements ICMA Full Member Meet education and experience criteria Have Applied Knowledge Assessment results that are less than 3 years old Committed to professional development

5. 5 Credentialed Manager Education & Experience Requirement MPA and 7 years of local government executive or deputy/assistant experience Other Masters and 8 years Baccalaureate and 9 years Less than Baccalaureate and 15 years (CAO experience only) Local government department head experience receives half credit CEO experience from other sectors may receive half credit

6. 6 Credentialed Manager Candidate Education and Experience Requirement MPA and 5 years of local government executive or deputy/assistant experience Other Masters and 6 years Baccalaureate and 7 years Less than baccalaureate and 13 years (CAO experience only) Local government department head experience receives half credit CEO experience from other sectors may receive half credit

7. 7 Executive Experience Definition The professional role must include all of the following executive level responsibilities in local government: – Staff management – Financial management – Policy facilitation and implementation – Service delivery

8. 8 Applied Knowledge Assessment Developed by ICMA, Georgia State University, and ICMA member-managers in 2001 Revised by ICMA, Kryterion, and Credentialed Managers in 2008 Self-assessment of knowledge; 116 questions Takes 1.5 to 2 hours to complete online You can save and return later as needed Confidential, topical scoring is provided immediately – (Agreement with GSU prohibits ICMA from sharing correct answers) State associations receive annual aggregate summary of results upon request

9. 9 Credentialing Application Process Complete AKA and receive results Submit application (which includes professional development plan based on AKA results) CA Board reviews after application deadline Recommended names are listed in newsletter for member review Approval is granted by executive board 3 months after application deadline ICMA offers lapel pin, certificate and sample press release

10. 10 How Do I Apply for the Credential? The easiest way to apply is online Go to icma.org Click on Members then Credentialing Click on Application & Report Deadlines are January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1

11. 11 What is the Cost? $50 for online application The Applied Knowledge Assessment is $75 and can be ordered at webassessor.com/aka (you can also access this link through the Credentialing section of icma.org)

12. 12 Professional Development Plan Includes: – Learning goal(s) – Potential Activities Ensures conscious intent and focus Visit Credentialing Resources section of icma.org for sample plans, recommended reading, etc.

13. 13 Professional Development Plan Sample Learning Goal – This year I plan to focus on media relations & presentation skills. My goal is to improve my ability to speak publicly and communicate with citizens and the media so that I can, for example, do a better job of communicating the reasons for decisions that are made by the local government. Potential Activities – I will read and study ICMA’s Ten Steps to Effective Presentations Training Workbook. I will look for sessions on media relations and presentation skills when I register for the ICMA Annual Conference and state association meetings. I will take a college-level course on media relations, and will identify what I have learned from all these activities when I submit my annual report. *A detailed sample can be found in the Credentialing Resources section of icma.org. Please be specific and do not include work activities.

14. 14 Professional Development Plan – What Counts? Formal learning programs like conferences, workshops, and seminars Informal activities like management-related book clubs Webcasts and audioconferences University courses Mentoring through formal programs The CAB is flexible. Just keep in mind that work activities are not professional development. For example, strategic planning is work. Going to a seminar on strategic planning is professional development.

15. 15 Maintaining the Credential Maintain ICMA Membership Submit annual report outlining professional development and what you learned Complete a multi-rater assessment at least once every 5 years – Credentialing Advisory Board is very flexible in regard to extenuating circumstances

16. 16 Annual Reports Annual reports are due one year after approval, on the first day of the month Instructions will be e-mailed or mailed three times, starting three months in advance of the deadline

17. 17 Annual Reports An annual report should: – Specifically address the professional development needs identified through assessments or other feedback – Fully explain how the participant engaged in each professional development activity – Give one specific example of something learned from each activity (most important part) An annual report should not: – Simply provide a listing of professional development activities – Address work activities

18. 18 Annual Report: Sample Activity Entry What I Did: At the ICMA Annual Conference, I participated in a facilitator workshop conducted by Study Circles Resource Center; an ICMA University Workshop "Essential Management Skills;" and an ICMA University Forum "Ethics and the Public Trust.“ What I Learned: I learned the importance of being proactive in engaging citizens to assist the governing body in developing the policy agenda for the community. As managers, we need to develop mechanisms to put public in public policy. We need to develop resources for automatically finding and engaging vested parties in the decision making process. Practice Area(s) Addressed: Policy Facilitation

19. 19 Multi-Rater Assessment: What Is It? Assessment of practice You choose participants – Works best with a mix of elected officials or supervisors, department heads, and administrative staff You also assess yourself Way to sharpen the saw and get upward feedback Way to focus professional development efforts Results are confidential and only provided to you

20. 20 Multi-Rater Assessment Alternatives Choose from a list of preapproved multi-rater assessment tools; orpreapproved multi-rater assessment tools Complete other multi-rater assessment chosen by you – E-mail credentialing@icma.org for pre-approvalcredentialing@icma.org – Speak up if you’re in a difficult political or financial situation

21. 21 What is the Credential Called? ICMA Credentialed Manager (ICMA-CM) These initials can be added after your name on letterhead, business cards, websites, etc.

22. 22 What if I Retire? You are eligible for the Retired Credentialed Manager designation if you: Are currently credentialed Are retiring from full-time local government employment Have been credentialed for at least 5 years

23. 23 Voluntary Credentialing Program Administration ICMA Credentialing Advisory Board – Advises on implementation – Reviews applications – Recommends applicants to ICMA Executive Board

24. 24 Credentialing Advisory Board West Coast RegionMidwest RegionNortheast Region Chester A. Newland Douglas Schulze Patrick A. Cannon Jamie Verbrugge George D. Goodman Daniel W. Fitzpatrick Carol M. Granfield Robert D. McEvoy Mountain Plains RegionSoutheast Region Michael M. Penny Greg R. Sund Pamela Brangaccio G. Curtis Branscome, Chair Tom Lundy James B. Oliver, Jr.

25. 25 Ethics as Related to the Voluntary Credentialing Program All Full members are required to do 40 hours of professional development under Tenet 8; what distinguishes credentialing participants is commitment to reflect and document what they learned. A member’s credential may be revoked if the member is found to have violated the ICMA Code of Ethics Members who receive a public censure must wait 5 years before they are eligible to receive a credential

26. 26 What if I Need Help? E-mail credentialing@icma.orgcredentialing@icma.org Jenese Jackson, Credentialing Program Manager, will be happy to help.

27. 27 Any Questions? Thank you for your participation, and for your interest in the ICMA Voluntary Credentialing Program.