The Wisconsin Certified Public Manager® (WCPM) Program is a professional development program for public managers administered by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The WCPM program consists of three phases, totaling 300 instructional hours. Certification is available in a cohort/colleague group format; a self-directed format is currently under evaluation. Phases I and II are worked on concurrently. for questions please contact daniel.foth@wisc.edu.

PHASE I: SUPERVISION (72 Hours)

• MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT (6 Hours)
  All students enrolled in the CPM program are required to complete the one-day course Management Assessment for Public Managers.
• SUPERVISORY TRAINING (60 Hours)
  Currently, the WCPM Program does not offer supervisory training on a regular basis. Classes may be scheduled on request. Most students have met this requirement through university credit or non-credit courses, state-sponsored classes, training offered through governmental units, technical college classes and professional training seminars focused on supervision.
• INDIVIDUAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PLAN (2 Hours)
  This self-assessment is submitted as part of the Leadership for Public Managers Core class.  
• SUPERVISORY PAPER (4 Hours)
  A written report approx. 10 pages, double-spaced. This may either be a description of a supervisory situation in which you were involved or a reflection on effective supervisory practices.

PHASE II: MANAGEMENT (132 Hours)

• MANAGEMENT CORE CLASSES (48 Hours)
  The following eight one-day courses are part of every cohort:
  The Public Management Profession and Environment
  Presenting for Influence in the Public Sector
  Strategic Thinking and Planning for Public Managers
  Productivity and Quality Improvement for Public Managers
  Problem Analysis and Problem Solving for Public Managers
  Ethics, Values, and the Public Manager
  Leadership for Public Managers
  Effective Workplace Writing for Public Managers
• MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ELECTIVE CLASSES (84 Hours)
  Students will take at least two classes in each of the five categories below:
  • Quantitative Methods and Tools
    Topics include quantitative decision making, systems thinking/techniques,
    technology in public administration, productivity measurement, and others.
  • Public Policy
    Topics include communication, policy analysis and implementation, media
    relations, customer/client relations, developing public-private partnerships, and others.
  • Organizational Management
    Topics include communication skills, emotional intelligence, teambuilding, change management, conflict management and others.
  • Resource Management
    Topics include budgeting, information management, risk management, program
    evaluation, project management, grant writing and others.
  • Personnel Management
    Topics include human resource management, performance evaluation, coaching, delegation, managing difficult people and others.

• WRITTEN REVIEW (12 Hours)
Monthly reflective essays that provide evidence of synthesis and application after each class and receive peer as well as director feedback. For those still completing the self-directed format, a take-home “Phase II Review” take-home exam is required.

PHASE III: EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT (84 Hours)

• DECISION MAKING CASE STUDIES (24 Hours)
  Four days devoted to analyzing cases which synthesize management practices and theory.
• CLASS PROJECT (18 Hours) Students apply managerial skills and knowledge to a real-world management situation through a collegial team effort, contributing to the improvement of a public or non-profit organization.
• INDIVIDUAL APPLIED PROJECT (18 Hours)
  A project benefitting the candidate’s organization or agency. Can be done as an individual or a team.
• LEADERSHIP SEMINAR (12 Hours)
  Presentation of project or case study to other class members, and discussion of topics such
  as the future of public management, public management challenges, or other timely topics.
• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ELECTIVES (18 Hours*)
  Electives may be general or profession-specific management classes. Students may
  choose general management classes from CPM offerings or from classes provided by
  other approved sources. It is strongly recommended that students arrange prior approval
  for a class not provided by a UW System campus or government unit. Professional Development Electives may be taken at any time during the program.* Colleague Group cohorts may require fewer hours, depending on number of programmed classes