Certification Program

Certified Public Communicator  Program (CPC) Certification Program

Cities and counties need to deliver critical information to residents during times of crisis to ensure public safety. To address the wide range of knowledge needed for this important work, TAMIO became the founding partner with Texas Christian University (TCU) in 2013 for the Certified Public Communicator Program.

Since that time, 136 people – from organizations across 13 states – have been awarded certifications in the 13-month program. TAMIO members have been represented in every cohort since 2013, when the entire first cohort comprised 28 TAMIO members. A new cohort starts each summer; registration is rolling across the year.

“As an organization of professional government communicators, TAMIO is impressed by TCU’s vision and honored by the university’s commitment to present this program,” said Shannon Gowan, 2012-2014 TAMIO president. “With nothing of its kind in the country, the Certified Public Communicator program has national significance for thousands of communicators, videographers, webmasters and public information officers.”

The curriculum, developed by TCU strategic communication professors Jacqueline Lambiase and Laura Bright, offers 95 hours of leadership training and coursework designed for the complexities and challenges of communicating with citizens and stakeholders. It is designed for public information managers and professionals working for cities, counties, school districts, and other public and public-private agencies and organizations.

“Participants stay on campus for a week during two summers, so that they can engage in focused study with other public-sector professionals,” Lambiase said. “They’ll also develop three-year communication plans for their organizations, working with public relations, advertising and marketing experts. So, their cities and counties will gain from the experience, too.”

Subject areas for the first summer are theory-focused on public relations, advertising and marketing, with the second summer’s focus on professional application of these disciplines. Both summers present an integrated communication approach that is infused with ethics, creativity, place-making, digital media, and public affairs perspectives.

For more information on the program or to register for the next session, please visit www.certifiedpubliccommunicator.org.

Cohort VIII is now being formed, through applications for the next session that will meet on the TCU campus on these dates:

Cohort IX

  • Summer I: July 18-23, 2021
  • Mid-winter check-in: January 7-8, 2022
  • Summer II with graduation: July 17-22, 2022

Cohort X

 

Scholarship Information and form
Deadline for scholarship is April 1, 2022.

 

Contacts

TCU

TAMIO Advisory Board

Additional Advisory Board Members