TRAINING & EVENTS

County Commissioner Academy is a professional development program for commissioners incorporating a series of events and workshops focused on the day-to-day responsibilities of a Michigan county commissioner. 

County Commissioner Academy (CCA), first launched in 2019, has moved to its “2.0” stage to keep pace with the rapidly changing demands on commissioners via their new four-year service terms.

CCA includes:

• The ability to earn annual certificates, with graduates being honored each year at the Legislative Conference
• The participation of educational partners, such as MSU Extension, the Michigan Department of Treasury and the National Association of Counties
• The use of credits earned by attending MAC and allied events

The academy now operates with a series of one-year cycles designed around specific issue areas:

• Calendar 2026: Budgeting/finance
• Calendar 2027: County board as employer
• Calendar 2028: County board as “Legislature”
• Calendar 2025: Board operations (completed)

At the end of a four-year cycle, each commissioner who is still serving (i.e., re-elected) and who has earned all the one-year certificates is deemed “Advanced.”

How a cycle works

The four-year study cycle starts from the New Commissioner School (NCS) and ends in October prior to the next NCS. For example, the current cycle began with the 2024 NCS and will conclude in October of 2028.

Earning credits and certificates

The number of credits offered and needed for certification in an issue area will change year by year in the four-year cycle, as reflected in the table below: