Local Finance Officer Certification Program - Level I
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Local government clerks, finance officers, and other nonelected personnel who have responsibility for a local government's financial management and accounting records benefit from Level I courses. These courses provide basic instruction in financial management and give local government personnel a valuable introduction to local government finance.
The Finance Officer Certification Program-Level I consists of six required topics (seven courses) in financial management, each of which is offered at central locations in the state.
Participants must complete all seven courses within a three-year timeframe. Upon successful completion of each course, a participant receives notification from the University of Georgia. If a participant does not score at least 70 percent on the required course examination, the test may be retaken once. If the participant continues to score below 70 percent, the course must be retaken.
Certificates are mailed quarterly. In order to maintain Level I certification once it has been earned, a participant is required to complete 15 hours of approved continuing professional education every two years from the date of certification. Please refer to your certificate for your certification date. Level II courses can be used as continuing professional education credit for Level I.
Level I Certification Requirements
- Successful completion of all seven courses
- The courses Introductory Governmental Accounting Parts I and II must be taken within a three-year timeframe or will need to be retaken.
- Attendance is required at all sessions of each course; up to a half day can be missed for emergencies.
- Successful completion of a final examination for each course
A Certified Finance Officer (CFO) is required to complete 15 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) over a two-year period to maintain active certification. Read more about CPE requirements.
Local Finance Officer Certification Program >>
