Is travel difficult? Can't get away? We understand!
We have developed several online certifications to help you meet your continuing education goals. Our online certificates are SELF-PACED so you can complete them as your time allows. They are ONLINE, which helps you avoid the burden of travel when it may not be feasible.
Click the menu on the left to explore your self-paced training options.
The County Elected Officials Certificate Program provides important continuing education for elected officials in a wide variety of topics related to county leadership and office operations.
Participants earn this certificate upon completion of the required twenty-one (21) courses for a total of twenty-three and a half (23.5) credits. The program consists of a variety of topics directly related to the skillset elected officials need to perform their duties successfully.
This certification program is 100% online.
There is a $150 enrollment fee. It is open only to elected county officials.
For more information, contact us: ctas.support@tennessee.edu.
All courses are required for completing this program.
| Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| LEGAL | |
| Overview of Personnel Issues | 1 |
| Overview of Public Meetings & Managing Public Records | 1 |
| BUDGETING | |
| Preparing for the Budget Season | 1 |
| Maintenance of Effort | 1 |
| Budget Committee: Working with Elected Officials and Department Heads | 1.5 |
| Approving, Submitting, and Managing the Budget | 1.5 |
| Letters of Agreement and Mid-year Raises | 1 |
| FINANCE | |
| Basic Understanding of Governmental Fund Financial Statements | 1 |
| County Government Environment | 1.5 |
| Internal Controls and Audits | 1 |
| Purchasing and Risk Management | 1.5 |
| INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | |
| Cybersecurity for Small and Medium Businesses: Essential Training | 1.5 |
| Cybersecurity at Work | 1 |
| Cybersecurity Awareness: Building Your Cybersecurity Vocabulary | 1 |
| LEADERSHIP | |
| Decision-Making Strategies | 1 |
| Leading Yourself | 1 |
| Leadership Foundations | 1 |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | |
| Unconscious Bias | 0.5 |
| Working with Upset Customers | 1 |
| COMMUNICATIONS | |
| Effective Listening | 1 |
| Communication Foundations | 1.5 |
The County Administrative Professional Certificate is designed for individuals who want to develop skills for a variety of administrative job functions or professional growth in county government offices.
Participants earn this certificate upon completion of the required sixteen (16) courses for a total of seventeen (17) credits. The program consists of a variety of topics related to technology, communication, and interpersonal skills.
This certification program is 100% online.
There is a $100 enrollment fee. It is open to everyone, but it is geared toward those who directly deal with customers and those whose primary job functions are administrative in nature.
For more information, contact us: ctas.support@tennessee.edu or (615) 532-3555.
All courses are required for completing this program. Register now in k@te.
| Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| 1. Customer Service Foundations | 1.5 |
| 2. Working with Upset Customers | 1 |
| 3. Effective Listening | 1 |
| 4. Communication Foundations | 1.5 |
| 5. Phone-Based Customer Service | 1 |
| 6. Writing Customer Service Emails | 1 |
| 7. Improving Your Mental Health at Work | 1 |
| 8. Productivity Tips: Finding Your Productive Mindset | 1 |
| 9. How to Be an Adaptable Employee During Change & Uncertainty | 1 |
| 10. Leading Yourself | 1 |
| 11. Decision Making | 1 |
| 12. Efficient Time Management | 2 |
| 13. Interpersonal Communication | 1 |
| 14. Unconscious Bias | 0.5 |
| 15. Communicating Across Cultures | 0.5 |
| 16. Introduction to County Government | 1 |
The Cybersecurity Awareness Training Certificate is designed for individuals who want to have a solid understanding of cybersecurity, what it entails, and what you should do to prepare for a cyber-attack.
Participants earn this certificate upon completion of the required ten (10) courses for a total of twelve (12) credits. The program consists of various topics related to computer and internet safety, malware, phishing, and how to develop an incident report plan for cyberattacks.
This certification program is 100% online.
There is a $50 enrollment fee. This certificate is for county employees who want to be proactive and make a difference in their county office’s security.
For more information, contact us: ctas.support@tennessee.edu or (615) 532-3555.
All courses are required for completing this program. Register now in k@te.
| Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| 1. Cybersecurity for Small and Medium Businesses: Essential Training | 1.5 |
| 2. Cybersecurity at Work | 1 |
| 3. Cybersecurity Awareness: Building Your Cybersecurity Vocabulary | 1 |
| 4. Cybersecurity Awareness: Malware Explained | 1 |
| 5. Cybersecurity Awareness: Phishing and Whaling | 1 |
| 6. Security Awareness: Social Engineering | 1 |
| 7. Learning Computer Security and Internet Safety | 1.5 |
| 8. Securing Your Home Office | 1 |
| 9. Learning Android Security | 1 |
| 10. Learning iPhone and iPad Security | 2 |
The CTAS online Basic County Finance certificate program includes “how to” courses for newly hired finance and budget staff employees, and elected/appointed officials such as county commissioners, mayors, highway officials, and directors of schools.
These courses enable users with limited financial knowledge or experience to better understand how to initiate, record, and process various governmental fund transactions. Courses are designed for employees who work in the budget/finance department or in other county elected offices or departments.
There is a $150 enrollment fee required to participate in this program.
The recorded courses are approximately 30 to 90 minutes each, self-paced, and offered online through K@TE and can be taken one at a time. Participants can complete all 11 courses or take individual courses at their discretion. Participants must answer knowledge check questions during the course; however, there is no testing.
Upon completion of all 11 courses, participants will receive a CTAS Basic County Finance certificate. It is recommended that courses be completed within one year of starting the program and in the following sequence:
| Course Title | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introductions to Governmental Fund Accounting | 1.5 |
| 2 | Cash Receipts, Deposits, Revenues, and Accounts Receivable | 1.0 |
| 3 | Accounts Payable | 1.0 |
| 4 | Bank Reconciliations | 0.5 |
| 5 | Payroll Processing | 1.0 |
| 6 | Payroll Liabilities | 0.5 |
| 7 | Budget Amendments | 0.5 |
| 8 | Debt Transactions | 0.5 |
| 9 | Capital Expenditures, Assets, and Depreciation | 1.0 |
| 10 | Understanding Governmental Fund Financial Statements | 1.0 |
| 11 | Fiscal Year-End Closing and the Audit Process | 1.5 |
| Total Program Hours | 10.0 |
Individuals with limited experience can complete the Basic County Finance program before enrolling or while enrolled in the CTAS Certified County Finance Officer (CCFO) program courses.
These program courses DO NOT qualify for CCFO continuing professional education (CPE). The courses are presented by the CTAS CCFO Program staff.
Note: Individuals who complete all 11 Basic County Finance online program courses can qualify for up to 10.0 hours of County Officials Certificate Training Program (COCTP) choice elective credits.
Please contact ctas.support@tennessee.edu with any questions about this program.
Participants enrolled in the County Officials Certificate Training Program must meet certain requirements to be eligible for completion of the program. Among these criteria include earning 65 credits in two categories: 35 County Electives and 30 Choice Electives. Participants may earn these elective credits in many ways: in-person classes, virtual live classes, and self-paced online classes.
Participants who complete our online certificate programs are eligible to transfer a certain number of credits from the completed online certificate program. Number of eligible credits depends on the certificate program and type of COCTP elective credit.
If you are currently enrolled in COCTP and are looking for elective credits and have not yet completed one or more of our certificate programs, we encourage you to consider taking advantage of transferring credits.
If you are currently enrolled in one of the certificate programs and not yet enrolled in COCTP, we also encourage you to consider enrolling in COCTP. There is a one-time enrollment fee and other completion requirements aside from earning 65 credits and you can learn more on our COCTP Enrollment page.
