The Maryland Certified Public Manager® Program is 300 hours, competency-based, and accredited by the National Certified Public Manager® Consortium. Participants must complete a capstone project that addresses a problem or challenge in their organization. The renowned Schaefer Center for Public Policy at the University of Baltimore offers the program, and sessions are taught by faculty from the University of Baltimore’s College of Public Affairs, experts and practitioners, and instructors from the Center’s partner organizations. The Maryland Certified Public Manager® Program is the only such program available in Maryland.1 The program is open to government and nonprofit employees who live or work in Maryland.
1 The Washington Council of Governments offers a CPM program to employees of its member agencies. Employees of those organizations who live or work in Maryland, must apply to the Washington Council of Governments’ program. If space is not available, they can apply to the Maryland Certified Public® Manager Program.
Our program is academically grounded and application-focused; it is taught by university faculty, subject-matter experts, and seasoned practitioners. Our program combines academic learningwith professional and personal leadership development skills. We blend hard and soft development skills training.
Upon successful completion of the CPM program and admittance to the University of Baltimore’s Master of Public Administration program, CPM graduates are eligible for a waiver of up to 6 graduate credits toward their MPA degree. Current MPA students may be eligible for the waiver depending what courses they have completed thus far and prior credits applied to their degree.
The Certified Public Manager® Program is designed as a 300-hour commitment over a 10-month time frame consisting of the orientation in month one, followed by 5 virtual retreat weeks over the next 9 months leading up to capstone project presentations and graduation. Your greatest value comes from your personal commitment to your growth and development through the program.
Attendance is expected at all sessions. Candidates are allowed to miss two retreat days, which requires prior approval from the program director. Certified Public Manager® Program candidates with approved absences are required to demonstrate mastery of the material by viewing the recordings of the sessions and completing the make-up assignments.