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County Officials Certificate Training Program

About COCTP

The County Officials Certificate Training Program (COCTP) is a comprehensive training program administered by the University of Tennessee (UT) County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS). COCTP is designed to provide specialized, office-specific, technical, administrative, managerial, and leadership training to elected officials and their employees. The goal is to help them run their office more efficiently and effectively. It also offers a comprehensive knowledge of the inner workings of county government. CTAS believes that having a broader understanding of county government operations will help officials and their employees serve their constituencies better. In short, graduates of COCTP will obtain a thorough knowledge of county government and will be designated as Certified Public Administrators.

Program Fees

$300 Enrollment Fee

A one-time fee paid to enroll in the COCTP. Participants may enroll using k@te (the CTAS training environment). COCTP course credit will only be given for courses completed within 180 days of enrollment fee payment.

$300 Capstone Fee

A one-time fee paid to attend the Capstone event of the COCTP. You will receive an invitation from CTAS notifying you of your eligibility.

$100 Annual Recertification Fee

A yearly fee assessed to all officials and employees who obtain the Certified Public Administrator designation. It is valid for one year and must be paid by September 1st of each year. This fee is waived during the first year of recertification due to attendance at the Capstone event.

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COCTP Upcoming Training
Date Title Location
02/04/2026 Financial Series: Certified Tax Rate - (CO) -1.5 Credits Online (Zoom)
02/11/2026 Financial Series: Grants Management - (CO) -1.5 Credits Online (Zoom)
02/18/2026 Financial Series: Centralized Finance - (CO) -1.5 Credits Online (Zoom)
02/25/2026 Financial Series: Maintenance of Effort - (CO) 1.5 Credits Online (Zoom)
03/04/2026 Ask CTAS: County Commissioner 101: What You Need to Know (CO)- 1.5 credits Online (Zoom)
03/04/2026 ASK CTAS: Straight from CTAS Attorneys: FAQ's (CO)- 1.5 credits Online (Zoom)
03/19/2026 Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations - (CO) 3 Credits Jackson
03/24/2026 Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations - (CO) 3 Credits Nashville
03/31/2026 Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations - (CO) 3 Credits Knoxville
04/02/2026 Workers' Comp & Federal/State Pregnancy Act -(CH) 4 Credits Knoxville
04/09/2026 Ask CTAS: County Commissioner 101: What You Need to Know (CO)- 1.5 credits Online (Zoom)
04/09/2026 ASK CTAS: Straight from CTAS Attorneys: FAQ's (CO)- 1.5 credits Online (Zoom)
04/16/2026 Workers' Comp & Federal/State Pregnancy Act -(CH) 4 Credits Nashville
04/23/2026 Workers' Comp & Federal/State Pregnancy Act -(CH) 4 Credits Jackson
04/29/2026 COCTP Capstone Event Franklin
06/02/2026 COCTP Capstone Event Franklin
09/08/2026 Hiring & Firing (CORE)- 4 Credits Knoxville
09/15/2026 Hiring & Firing (CORE)- 4 Credits Nashville
09/22/2026 Hiring & Firing (CORE)- 4 Credits Jackson
09/24/2026 Ethics - (CORE) 4 Credits Jackson
09/24/2026 Ethics - (CORE) 4 Credits Knoxville
09/29/2026 Ethics - (CORE) 4 Credits Nashville
10/13/2026 Salary Suits- (CH) 4 Credits Knoxville
10/15/2026 Salary Suits- (CH) 4 Credits Nashville
10/20/2026 Media Relations for Newly Elected Officials - (CH) 4 Credits Knoxville
10/22/2026 Media Relations for Newly Elected Officials - (CH) 4 Credits Franklin
10/27/2026 Media Relations for Newly Elected Officials - (CH) 4 Credits Jackson
10/29/2026 Salary Suits- (CH) 4 Credits Jackson
11/04/2026 Communicating Like a Pro- (CH) 1 credit Online (Zoom)
11/04/2026 Communicating Like a Pro- (CH) 1 credit Online (Zoom)

Contact

For questions or comments, contact the CTAS training staff:

(615) 532-3555