Become a Certified Public Manager with Ball State's accredited program.

Submit Your Application

If you are looking to advance your career in public management, Ball State offers a unique training opportunity. The Indiana Certified Public Manager® Program is offered exclusively by the Bowen Center for Public Affairs in cooperation with Lifetime Learning as a key initiative of its Institute for Public Service. The Indiana CPM Program provides government and non-profit employees with a comprehensive course of study that has recognized public management theories and best practices at its foundation. The program trains public managers to apply these theories and practices to the challenges they face in public service. After completing the required 300 hours of learning activities, each public manager will receive the nationally recognized designation as a Certified Public Manager®.


Fill out this online program application to express interest in our accredited program. Our Career Success Coach will share details on the registration and payment process and share the program commitment/employer signature form with you. If you are attending as part of a group and paying by invoice, a custom registration promo code will be sent to you directly. 


If you have any questions, please email lifetimelearning@bsu.edu.

National Accreditation

The Indiana CPM Program is fully accredited by the National Certified Public Manager® Consortium. The consortium establishes and enforces accreditation standards for the CPM programs offered in approximately 40 states. Bowen Center for Public Affairs is the exclusive authorized provider of Certified Public Manager® training in Indiana.


The accreditation guidelines demand that the program curriculum require intensive study, application of important concepts in the work environment, and completion of a significant capstone project. Participants are required to demonstrate their proficiencies in seven fundamental public management competencies:

  • Personal and Organizational Integrity
  • Leading People
  • Developing Self
  • Change Leadership
  • Managing Work
  • Systemic Integration
  • Public Service Focus

Program Overview

This 300-hour nationally accredited program is offered in two modalities: in-person at Ball State Fishers and online. Program content is delivered in two phases for maximum effectiveness. This program requires employer signature to ensure commitment to the schedule is pre-approved.

Once Phase I is complete, managers may progress into Phase II. 

PHASE 1: Supervisory Training113 total hours

PHASE 2: Managerial Training187 total hours

Employee Value

  • Amplify your existing leadership strengths.
  • Expand your intergovernmental networks.
  • Evaluate opportunities and innovate effectively.
  • Learn skills that you can take back to work with you and apply immediately.
  • Upon graduation, you'll qualify for membership in the American Academy of Certified Public Managers®.

Phase II presents concepts and tools that a manager uses to analyze the external environment of his or her agency. This allows a public manager to identify the other political actors with influence over the agency and determine which of these actors are likely to support or oppose initiatives. This knowledge of the external environment will aid a manager in crafting a politically feasible and technically practical strategy that will create value for the public.


Cost*

$1,895 In-person

$1,595 Virtual

Learn the tools, techniques, and concepts that help a public manager direct and manage personnel within the manager’s organization. The methods taught in Phase I facilitate the adoption of a results-oriented perspective toward public management. By “beginning with the end in mind” public managers can better organize their own activities and the activities of their staff members to produce public value.


Cost*

$1,795 In-person

*Prices include all books, materials, and course access. In-person courses also include free parking and lunch on the day. 

"...it allows me to glean ideas that I can take back and put into practice to become a more efficient, high-performing unit of government, to give the taxpayers, which is our customers, a return on investment.

"The collaboration between myself and the other participants, knowing that there are other communities with the same type of needs and being able to discuss that in an open environment, has been very helpful."

EMPLOYER VALUE

Why do state agencies and municipalitieslove our program?

Todd Burton

City of Westfield, IN

Beth Shellman

Town of Albion, IN

Employers find value in the program for succession planning to fill upcoming vacancies, for bringing knowledgeable staff up to speed quickly, as part of an employee development and mentoring plan, to obtain national recognition, to champion efficiency, ensure effectiveness, and more!

2024-2025 Course Schedule

Phase 2  
Phase 1 

Meets at Ball State Fishers*

Meets at Ball State Fishers and Online*

3/12/24

Overview: Leadership in Public Organizations

4/09/24

Tools for Gaining Influence and Authority

5/14/24

Selecting Managerial Strategies

6/11/24

Change Leadership

7/09/24

External Communications and Media Relations

8/13/24

Responding to Crisis

09/10/24

Long-Term Managerial Strategies

10/08/24

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

11/12/24

Labor-Management Relations

12/10/24

Working with a Legislative Body or Council (I)

1/13/25

Working with a Legislative Body or Council (II)

2/11/25

Career Management and Project Presentations

* Meets on 2nd Tuesdays of the month in Fishers. An alternate virtual session with the same content meets the 3rd Thursdays of each month at 10:00 am (EST) / 9:00 am (CST) using videoconferencing technology for approximately 2.5 hours, starting 3/21/24.

3/14/24

Overview: Managing for High Performance  

4/11/24

Emotional Intelligence

5/09/24

Organizational Integrity and Ethical Behavior 

6/13/24

Managing Work

7/11/24

On-boarding New Employees  

8/08/24

Focusing on Public Service 

9/12/24

Performance Improvement 

10/10/24

Performance Measurement

11/14/24

Process Improvement 

12/12/24

Financial Stewardship

1/09/25

Effective Communication

2/13/25

Life and Career Management

* Meets on 2nd Thursdays of the month in Fishers. An alternate session with the same content meets the third Tuesday of each month to accommodate varying schedules, starting 3/19/24. 

LOCATION

Ball State Fishers

Ball State University Center for

Academic and Economic Innovation

12175 Visionary Way

Fishers, IN 46038

Why Fly with Ball State 

At Ball State, we offer a learning community to help you chart your flight path to a fulfilling career and a meaningful life.

Career Focus, Student Support

Flexible Delivery Tailored to Adult Learners

As a respected research university, Ball State provides lifetime learners with access to the very best knowledge and skills of faculty, industry experts, and success coaches who help you align learning opportunities with individual career goals and job options.

Our seamless experience is on personal terms—your schedule, your lifestyle, your goals. It also means quicker access to knowledge and skills that you can put to work right away. Let us meet you where you are and take you where you want to go.

Credit for Prior Learning 

Learn about ways to accelerate your academic flight plan and earn college credit for what you already know to fly further, faster! Your life experience has taught you something. As a parent, employee, community volunteer, or military veteran, you know how to lead, motivate, manage, communicate, and connect. At Ball State, we evaluate your already acquired knowledge and award credit in multiple ways to maximize your success and save you time and money. 

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