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County Officials Certificate Training Program

Interested in online training?

Below are descriptions of our online COCTP County Electives courses offered via k@te. Each completed course will provide you with 1 credit.

For assistance with k@te, please email us at ctas.support@tennessee.edu


Americans with Disabilities Act

A review of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The course explains the purpose of Title 1 of the ADA and discusses requirements to be in compliance with Title II of the Act.

Audit Committees

The formation and operation of audit committees is critical for good governance for counties and all local governments. A local government has the option of creating a separate audit committee or delegate this function to its governing body. Some local governments have an audit committee that is either inactive or not functioning. This self-paced course will review some of the best practices, including how audit committees are created and their objectives and desired functions. How the audit committee and management interact with the external and internal auditors is explained in detail. This course is highly recommended for county commissioners and citizens who are audit committee members.

Budget Approval for County Commissioners 

Budget Approval for County Commissioners reviews steps for developing an operating budget for approval. It is best to first complete Operating Budgets for County Commissioners. This is required orientation training for new county commissioners that did not attend the County Officials Orientation Program.

County Commission Meetings

A review of the statutory requirements for county commission meetings and parliamentary procedures.

County Government Overview

This self-paced course provides a comprehensive review of the legal and financial structure of county government in Tennessee. With a focus on the primary responsibilities of various county offices, participants will gain a thorough understanding of the interaction between county and state government. In addition, the course covers the main functions of the state constitutional offices, the structure of county government operations, and legal requirements for local governments, including open records. By the end of this course, you will have a strong foundation in the workings of county government in Tennessee.

Ethics for County Officials

A review of different conflict of interest laws as well as crimes and misconduct that could get a county official ousted from office. 

Fair Labor Standards Act

A review of the Fair Labor Standards Act including application, minimum wage and overtime requirements, public safety employee requirements, recordkeeping and enforcement.

Family and Medical Leave Act (2021) 

A review of the Family and Medical Leave Act and the compliance requirements for both employers and employees.

Hiring and Firing

A review of hiring and firing procedures including federal and state discrimination laws, employment applications, appropriate interview questions, and performance evaluation.

Introduction to County Government

A review of the legal and financial structure of county government in Tennessee as well as the primary responsibilities of various county offices.

Managing a Highway Department

A review of the laws that determine how a county highway department is structured, responsibilities toward management of highway resources, and conflicts of interest that should be avoided.

Managing Public Records

A review of Tennessee’s public records law including steps for disposing of a public record.

Open Meetings for County Commissioners 

Open Meetings for County Commissioners reviews the four requirements of the Open Meetings Act, also known as the Sunshine Law. This is required orientation training for new county commissioners that did not attend the County Officials Orientation Program. 

Operating Budgets for County Commissioners 

Operating Budgets for County Commissioners reviews the importance of operating budgets and planning steps. This is required orientation training for new county commissioners that did not attend the County Officials Orientation Program. 

Property Assessment for County Commissioners 

Property Assessment for County Commissioners reviews the job of property assessor, reappraisals, how the property tax rate is calculated, and the County Board of Equalization. This is required orientation training for new county commissioners that did not attend the County Officials Orientation Program.

Records Management for County Commissioners 

Records Management for County Commissioners reviews the importance of good records management and the responsibilities of the county public records commission. This is required orientation training for new county commissioners that did not attend the County Officials Orientation Program. 

Register of Deeds Overview

A review of the basic duties and financial responsibilities of the office of register of deeds. 

Tennessee Beer Laws

A review of the retail sale of beer, both package sales for off-premise consumption and beer sold for consumption on the premises, in Tennessee.

Tennessee County Clerks 

A review of the job responsibilities for a county clerk. Topics include interaction with the county legislative body, finance responsibilities, pawnbroker licenses, recordkeeping and privilege taxes. Marriage licenses and beer permits are covered in other classes. 

Tennessee County Legislative Body

A review of the responsibilities of a county legislative body including how the CLB interacts with other county offices. 

Tennessee Marriage Laws

A review of the Tennessee marriage laws. Includes legal qualifications, obtaining a marriage license, requirements for a marriage ceremony, and record keeping procedures. 

What is the Property Worth?

A review of the property appraisal and assessment process conducted by the assessor of property.

When a Vacancy Occurs 

When a Vacancy Occurs reviews how vacancies in county offices occur and the process a county legislative body follows for filling vacancies. This is required orientation training for new county commissioners that did not attend the County Officials Orientation Program.

Workplace Discrimination

A review of federal laws that prohibit discrimination in the workplace. Included are Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1965, Pregnancy Discrimination Act, Equal Pay Act of 1963, Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008.

Contact

For questions or comments, contact the CTAS training staff:

(615) 532-3555