Illinois Certified Public Manager® Program
The next Illinois CPM Cohort Starts in January 2026!
See the curriculum & class schedule and apply by January 19, 2025 to reserve your spot!
Want more information? Watch the Q&A session below.
CPM
The Certified Public Manager® (CPM) Program is a comprehensive and nationally accredited professional development program designed to prepare individuals for management-level careers in federal, state, local, and tribal governments and other organizations with a public purpose. The CPM Program’s primary goal is to improve the performance of public sector managers and the organizational performance of governments and other public-serving organizations. The Government Finance Research Center delivers the only accredited CPM Program for Illinois.
The National Certified Public Manager® Consortium (NCPMC) established the CPM designation in 1979 and continues to preserve its high standards by accrediting only one program per state. The CPM credential is awarded to public sector employees who have completed 300 hours of study through an accredited CPM program.
Based upon seven core competencies, the program is a comprehensive course of study by which public managers receive the education and training needed to meet the unique demands and challenges of their profession. The curriculum uses theory as the foundation and applies it to practical problems facing managers in public serving agencies.
The mission of the Illinois Certified Public Manager® Program is to promote good governance in public institutions through education, training, and development that adheres to a collaborative, transparent, reflective, and results-oriented approach. Delivered in mixed-mode format with online asynchronous content and learning activities plus in-person instruction, participants earn their CPM credential in just 12 months! Eligibility is open to all employees of government and nonprofit agencies in Illinois.
Earn your CPM in Illinois in less than one hour per day for only $15 per credit hour!
- Program Hours: 300 Total
- Program Duration: 12 Months Total
- Program Cost: $4,500 Total
For questions, please email cpmillinois@uic.edu.
Spring 2026 Application
Overview of CPM Program
Informational Session - July 28, 2025
Why Enroll in the CPM Program?
State and local government job openings have been on an upward trend since 2010. However, hires have lagged behind openings, exacerbating the public sector talent gap. The CPM program offers public sector and nonprofit employees the opportunity to:
- Enhance personal leadership strengths
- Broaden intergovernmental networks and communication
- Increase personal awareness and effectiveness
- Evaluate and implement innovative solutions
- Become a leader in promoting quality in public services
- Take advantage of competency based learning geared toward immediate applicability
Start your leadership journey today! Apply now to reserve your spot.