|
About the Montana Municipal Institute for Clerks, Treasurers, & Finance Officers
In response to the rapidly expanding responsibilities of local government officials and the growing complexity of their jobs, municipal clerks, treasurers and finance officers have recognized the need for a continuing professional education program to keep them abreast of new and more effective methods for meeting their responsibilities.
To meet this need, the Montana Municipal Clerks, Treasurers and Finance Officers Association (MMCT&FOA) Institute was organized at Montana State University in 1981. The MSU Local Government Center hosts the Institute and coordinates the professional certification training on behalf of MMCT&FOA.
The Institute’s curriculum focuses on the administrative, leadership and technical skills needed by municipal clerks, treasurers and finance officers. Instructors include MSU and visiting academic staff members, practicing experts in municipal government and resource persons from the public sector who work directly with local government.
Local government units benefit because the program content is specially designed to meet day to day requirements of the clerk’s and treasurer’s offices. In addition, participation in the Institute creates opportunities for meeting colleagues and exchanging ideas in an atmosphere conducive to professional growth. Local governments are urged to support their clerks’ and treasurers’ participation and to recognize the achievement of professional certification.
The Certification Process
The Institute consists of three (3), week-long (40 hour) sessions with one session held each year. Participants in the Institute have three options (or tracks) for certification. Participants who wish to be certified will need to select the track in which they intend to participate. The tracks are:
- IIMC Track: Certification through the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC). The Institute is certified by the IIMC and is designed for Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation over a three year period. Attendance at three annual sessions will earn participants 50 of the required 100 points for professional certification.
The International Institute of Municipal Clerks recently changed it’s certification requirements from 100 hours of instruction over a three year period to 120 hours of instruction. This change only affects those who did not begin accruing credits for certification prior to January 1, 2007.
In the past, the Montana Municipal Institute has equaled 108 hours of instruction over three years (36 hours per year). In response to the new IIMC certification requirements, the MMCT&FOA and the Local Government Center have added four hours of additional instruction to each Institute, for a total of 40 hours of instruction per year and 120 hours over three years
- APT Track: Certification through the Association of Public Treasurers of the U.S. and Canada (APT). the Institute is certified by the APT and is designed for Certified Municipal Financial Administrator (CMFA) over a three year period.
- MONTANA Track: Certification through the Montana Municipal Clerks, Treasurers, & Finance Officers Association (MMCT&FOA). In 2002, MMCT&FOA authorized their own certification program. To achieve certification by MMCT& FOA, an individual must:
- Be serving and have served for three years as a municipal clerk, clerk-treasurer, clerk of commission, treasurer or finance officer of a Montana municipality;
- Be an active member of the Association;
- Subscribe to the Association’s Code of Ethics; and
- Satisfactorily complete 108 hours of certification instruction approved by the Association and conducted by the Local Government Center at Montana State University or another program of instruction offered by an accredited institution and approved by the Association.
Upon satisfactory completion of all certification requirements and the approval of the Board of Directors of the Association, an active member of the Association may be designated as a:
- Certified Montana Municipal Clerk (CMMC)
- Certified Montana Municipal Finance Officer (CMMFO).
Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Participants successfully completing the Institute can earn Continuing Education Units for both the five day program and the three day program. To earn CEUs attendance is required and toll will be taken at each session. One Continuing Education Unit is 10 contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction and qualified instruction.
Guests
A mayor or municipal council member may attend any full day at no charge as the guest of a registered Institute participant from that city or town. Mayors and council members are also encouraged to register for the Elected Officials Workshop held from Wednesday evening through Friday noon which is programmed to meet the needs of clerks and treasurers as well as elected municipal officials.
|
