Specialty Certification

Typically following the completion of the core certification, specialty track classes are designed to engage the learner at a much deeper level. The course topics are more refined in scope and class participants have more opportunity to become truly immersed in the subject matter. To obtain a specialty track certification, a participant must complete eight courses in the track [a minimum of five courses in any track must come from the list of primary courses as designated below, with the remainder coming from the same list or from designated ‘cross-over’ courses]. The specialty certification program is designed to be flexible in order to provide training on current issues and best practices. Each specialty certification requires an additional 48 hours of coursework.

• Citizen Engagement

  An active, involved public is essential to the proper functioning of government. This track seeks to provide county officials information on strategies to motivate your citizens to become involved and stay involved with their county government. Communication, customer service and accessibility highlight the courses in this track.

  Primary Classes:

  • Bringing People Together
  • Civic Engagement
  • Community and Media Relations
  • Improving Organizational Effectiveness
  • Managing Change
  • Strategic Planning
  • Transparency in Government
  • Policy Development and Implementation

  Crossover Classes:
• County Operations and Management

  Efficient and cost-effective processes and procedures are necessary for successful county governments. This track focuses on ways to ensure that your county is operating at its peak. Technical assistance, human resource administration including risk management and retirement, and planning are stressed in this track.

  Primary Classes:

  • Capital Improvement Planning
  • Commission and Staff Relations
  • County Insurance and Risk Management
  • County Retirement Plans
  • Environmental Management
  • Management and Human Resources Responsibilities
  • Managing Meetings
  • Public Works and Transportation
  • Technology Solutions
  • Water Management

  Crossover Classes:
• Economic & Community Development

  A vibrant economic base is vital to all communities and county officials play an important role to certify that their county is meeting this need. This track explores the many facets of economic and community development so that all the pieces of this important puzzle are understood. Land use planning and management, the financial implications of economic development, and the role of training and education are a few of the featured topics of this track.

  Primary Classes:

  • Global Commerce and Georgia's Targeted Industries
  • Land Use and Planning
  • Managing Growth
  • Regional Economic Development Training
  • Revitalizing Your Community
  • Tax Incentives and Financing for Economic Development
  • Understanding Local Economic Development Assets
  • Work Force Development and Education

  Crossover Classes:
• Intergovernmental Relations

  It’s getting clearer every day that a county commission does not work in a vacuum; outside influences factor into local decisions consistently. This track looks at the other groups county officials work with and the ways they work with them in order to achieve success for their county, region and state. A study of the other “teams” involved with county commissions and methods for efficient interaction with them are the basics of this track.

  Primary Classes:

  • City-County Relations
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Constitutional Officers
  • Crisis Management
  • Federal and State Relations
  • Negotiation and Mediation
  • Regional Cooperation
  • Working with School Boards, Authorities and Other Partners

  Crossover Classes:
• Leadership Development

  Leadership is necessary for the success of communities and finding ways to identify and prepare leaders is not always simple. This track examines how you can bring out the leader in yourself and others. Working together, developing personal leadership skills, and understanding leadership styles and motivation are the nucleus of this track.

  Primary Classes:

  • Board Dynamics
  • Collaborative Leadership
  • Leadership in Local Government
  • Motivation and Management
  • Personal Power and Influence
  • Team Building
  • Understanding Leadership Styles
  • Voice of Leadership

  Crossover Classes:
• Public Safety

  One of the primary responsibilities of county commissioners is securing safety for their citizens. This track outlines the many facets of public safety and its implications for you as a commissioner. Law enforcement, emergency management, and the impact public safety issues have on your community are among the issues included in this track.

  Primary Classes:

  • Behavioral Health and Development Disabilities
  • Citizen Public Safety Initiatives
  • County Law Enforcement
  • Courts and the Justice System
  • Emergency Management
  • Family and Children's Services
  • Fire, EMS and 911
  • Public Safety Policies and Practices that Strengthen Communities

  Crossover Classes:
• Revenue & Finance

  All public servants have goals and dreams for their communities but none of those can be accomplished without the dollars! This track tackles the task of managing your county’s money and ways to increase revenue. Budgeting, financial policies and enhancing financial efficiencies are some of the subjects discussed in this track.

  Primary Classes:

  • Budgeting for Long-Term Fiscal Sustainability
  • County Audit Process
  • Debt Financing
  • Developing Financial Policies
  • Efficiencies in County Financing
  • Federal and State Budgeting
  • Intergovernmental Agreements and Private Partnerships
  • Revenue and Tax Policy

  Crossover Classes:
• Quality of Life/Social Issues

  Everyone wants to live in a nice place – and county commissioners are an integral part of making sure that counties meet that goal! This track surveys the many factors involved in providing livable communities. Community health, parks and sustainability, and policy decisions regarding these complex issues are some of the topics studied in this track.

  Primary Classes:

  • Arts, Culture and Tourism
  • Complex Community Issues
  • Demographics and Diverse Perspectives
  • Health and Wellness
  • Identifying Funding for Community Enhancements
  • Parks, Recreation and Active Living
  • Public Health
  • Sustainability

  Crossover Classes:

Registration and More Information

Please contact your county clerk for more information on how to register for conferences and training programs offered through ACCG.

For questions or more information on the ACCG Lifelong Learning Academy, contact:

More Academy Information