The Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program is designed to enhance the skills of the District government’s managers and provide them with the tools to be more effective leaders. The nationally accredited CPM program is administered by the District of Columbia Department of Human Resources. Academic rigor is brought to the program through strategic partnerships with The George Washington University, as well as renowned government, nonprofit and private sector practitioners who bring the best of leadership and management theory and practice to the classroom.

The Certified Public Manager Program consists of approximately 300 hours of graduate-level instruction, beginning with a week-long Basic Leadership Course (BLC) and concluding with an intensive "capstone" experience. BLC concentrates on team building and leadership to provide a solid foundation for subsequent coursework, while the capstone simulation integrates numerous aspects of the Program’s content in a practical exercise that simulates the "real world" of municipal management.

In addition to working with an outstanding faculty, CPM participants have the opportunity to:

• Enhance management and leadership skills through instruction on topics such as Human Resource Management, Strategic Planning and Organizational  Change, Leadership Values and Ethics, Communicating in Organizations and Project Management;
• Network with managers and supervisors in other agencies;
• Earn a nationally accredited certification through the National Certified Public Manager Consortium; and
• Earn credits that may be transferred to some Master’s Degree programs at The George Washington University and Howard University.