CCLP

Certified Community Leadership Practitioner (CCLP)

Certified Community Leadership Practitioner Certification (CCLP) is designed to enhance individual performance, elevate professional standards, and recognize association, chamber of commerce, and other nonprofit professionals who demonstrate the knowledge essential to the practice of program development in a leadership organization.

The Association of Leadership Programs (ALP) oversees the certification process to obtain the CCLP designation. Training includes a series of learning components covering personal, practical and theoretical leadership. Candidates must complete 16 hours of CORE training, 24 hours of pre-designated coursework plus an additional 10 hours of elective coursework for a total of 50 hours prior to submitting an application to sit for the CCLP examination. The final requirement is completing and passing the written exam. All steps must be completed to be eligible to obtain the CCLP designation.

Facilitators and Trainers

Complete and submit the
online RFP here

Online RFP

Requirements for CCLP Certification

The steps in the CCLP process are designed in sequential order so that you have time to take in content as well as time to integrate learning into your daily practice. The goal is not speed. The goal is development of competencies.

STEP 1 CORE Training (16 hours)
Modules +

STEP 2 Pre-Designated Coursework
(24 hours)
Training Courses +

STEP 3 Elective Coursework (10 hours)
Electives +

Completion of the CORE course encompassing the following five modules is the first step in the designation process.

CORE Registration

Module 1: Program Scope	Community Needs Demographics Expectations Objectives Mission/Purpose/Value
Module 2: Program Specifics	Applications Recruitment Selection Diversity Requirements/Policies
Module 3: Program Strategies	Curriculum Adult Learning Skills/Issues/Awareness Facilitation/Interaction Projects
Module 4: Program Systems	Impact Studies Evaluations Pre/Post Measurement Tools Civic Engagement Social Media
Module 5: Program Sustainability	Budget Planning/Financial Reporting Community Support Logistics Management Staffing (Paid/Volunteer)

The next step in the certification process is the completion of the following pre-designated training courses. Courses can be taken in-person or online and in any order but must be completed within a 3-year period.

1 - Adult Learning (4 hours) Understanding the characteristics of adult learning and ensuring your community leadership program curriculum is set up so that your participants truly learn. Facilitator: Brendan Leahy Date and time: April 30, 2021, 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET Course Objectives: Understanding the difference between youth and adult learning Examining the principles of adult learning Evaluating your curriculum against the principles of adult learning
2 - Advanced Facilitation (4 hours) Beyond the basics. Learn the skills necessary to facilitate effective and powerful group discussions to help teams move past complex problems or controversial topics through dialogue, feedback, and consensus building. Facilitator: Griff Hall Date and time: March 31, 2021, 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET Course Objectives: Learn what it takes to move past basic group conversations Recognize group dynamics, motivations and audience feelings and how to manage Practice advanced facilitation techniques including: maintaining neutrality, building consensus, addressing resistance, how to handle problems such as hecklers, bullies and other disruptive participants, and conquering fears during hard conversations
3 - Advanced Evaluation and Measurement Tools (4 hours) What you measure matters. How you measure matters. Communicating what you measure matters. Facilitator: TBA Course Objectives: Understand what is important to measure in your community leadership program. Learn ways to measure what is important. Evaluate the relevancy of what you are measuring. Learn how to translate your data into meaningful and useful information for your stakeholders and supporters. Ensure you are meeting your mission and creating impact.
4 - Financials, Accounting, Fundraising and Other Revenue Streams (4 hours) One of the leading reasons for subpar financial performance and job loss in the nonprofit industry is poor financial managerial skills. Do not let this area be the cause of your demise. Learn what makes a Community Leadership Program fiscally sound and how to ensure your program is sustainable. Facilitator: TBA Course Objectives Establishing better comprehensive financial reporting procedures and analysis. Examine the concepts you need to put together meaningful budget-based financial reports to help you better manage your organization during difficult times. Developing program-based budgeting for tracking the real financial results and staying ahead of the curve. Exploring innovative revenue streams for your CCLP.
5 - Leadership Theories and Applications (4 hours) Every program has fundamental principles it conveys as part of their curriculum. What theory or theories best embody what you are trying to teach? How can you create activities and adult learning practices that help your participants practice those theories? Relate key learning to community leadership development responsibilities and describe the relationship between Servant Leadership and Community Leadership. Facilitator: Nancy Dering Mock Date and time: June 25, 2021, 11:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET Course Objectives: Learn & discuss the most popular theories Learn sample activities and processes to help participants grasp and begin incorporating these theories Practice sharing theory fundamentals in meaningful adult learning model techniques
6 - Developing and Managing Volunteers and Boards (4 hours) A key indicator of a successful community leadership program is its ability to identify, attract, and retain quality volunteer leaders. Examine leadership and succession programs through strategic volunteer development. Facilitators: Lauren Healey and Julie Meehan Date and time: May 7, 2021, 11:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET Course objectives: Developing volunteer leadership. Implementing successful strategies to recruit organizational leadership. Learning board best practices. Building a volunteer structure for future leaders to emerge and creating succession plans for key roles.

Completion of an additional 10 hours of elective coursework is the next requirement. Electives can be classes or webinars that align with core CCLP principles and address gaps in your knowledge/competency to effectively lead in the field of community leadership. These courses are selected by the candidate based on their individual training needs but must be pre-approved and fall under one of the following categories:

Program Scope Program Strategies Program Specifics Program Success Strategies Program Sustainability

STEP 4 Application
Link +

STEP 5 Fees
Fee Structure +

Re-certification
Requirements +

Upon successful completion of the training requirements in Steps 1 through 3, candidates must apply to be approved to sit for the certification exam.

Application Link coming soon!

Candidates who have completed the training requirements and submitted an approved application are eligible to sit for the CCLP examination. The CCLP exam content is aligned with the required training coursework which provides comprehensive, current and applicable information for leadership program practitioners. The exam includes both multiple choice and essay questions and is offered multiple times each year at ALP approved sites.

CORE Community Leadership Practitioner Course (CORE CLP)	16 hours	$600
Adult Learning (AL)	4 hours	$150
Advanced Facilitation (AF)	4 hours	$150
Advanced Evaluation/Measurement Tools/Systems (AEMTS)	4 hours	$150
Financial/Accounting/Fundraising Revenue Streams (FAFRS)	4 hours	$150
Leadership Theories and Applications (LTA)	4 hours	$150
Developing and Managing Volunteers and Boards (DMVB)	4 hours	$150
Application/Exam		$300
TOTAL:	40 hours*	$1,800
*Completion of an additional 10 hours of elective coursework are required to meet the 50 hours of required training. Any expenses incurred in the procurement of this requirement is borne by the applicant.

To ensure a CCLP designee remains progressive and knowledgeable in the profession, re-certification is required every five years. Re-certification points can be achieved through professional education, contributions to the profession, service, and participation in leadership meetings, conferences and programs. The designee is responsible for maintaining a record of all re-certification requirements. A re-certification fee of $200 must be submitted before an application for re-certification will be reviewed.