CCLP

Certified Community Leadership Practitioner (CCLP)

Launched in 2019, the Certified Community Leadership Practitioner (CCLP) Certification is designed to enhance individual performance, elevate professional standards, and recognize Association, Chamber of Commerce, and other Non-Profit 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 Mastery (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.

Questions about the CCLP Program? Contact Jessie Baginski, Director of Programs.

Upcoming Courses for CCLP Certification

2025 CORE TRAINING

The 2025 CORE Training Course will take place over five sessions. CORE Training is offered virtually, once per year.

The 2025 CORE Training will take place over three-hour sessions on the following days:

Monday, January 13
Monday, January 27
Monday, February 10
Monday, February 24
Monday, March 10

All sessions will be held from 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM PT.

REGISTER HERE

Participants must participate fully in all CORE Training sessions to successfully complete the 16-hour course.

MASTERY (PRE-DESIGNATED) COURSES

Each of the six Mastery (pre-designated) courses is offered once per year in a virtual format. Each course is four hours long, held from 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET.

November 4 | Financials, Accounting, Fundraising, and Other Revenue Streams
December 16 | Developing and Managing Volunteers and Boards

Requirements for CCLP Certification

The steps in the CCLP process are designed to be completed 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 but development of competencies. Earning the CCLP designation is contingent on each individual passing the certification exam, which is based on the program content. Course recordings are available for review and exam preparation.

STEP 1 | CORE Training Course - 5 Modules +

The CORE Training is facilitated virtually via Zoom over the span of four four-hour sessions. The CORE course encompasses the following five modules and is the first step in the CCLP designation process.

Dick Hammond, Leadership on the Move (TX), and Christine Kennedy, Leadership Lynchburg (VA), will facilitate the 2025 CORE Training in collaboration with Jessie Baginski, Director of Programs for the Association of Leadership Programs. Attendance and full participation at each of the sessions is expected.

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)

STEP 2 | Mastery (Pre-Designated) Courses +

The second step in the certification process is the completion of the following Mastery (pre-designated) Training Courses. Each course is offered once per year in an online format and can be taken 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. 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. 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 - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (4 hours) Achieving greater Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a complex process that requires change in various dimensions—policies, practices, attitudes, and behaviors. This session will address diversity, equity, and inclusion issues and topics; information will be presented focused on unconscious bias, cultural competencies, equity audits, and building allies to create and leverage diversity. Course Objectives: Examine group norms and common vocabulary Explore cultural history Create awareness and identify unconscious bias Lens of Inclusion with examples of language and best practices Learn and discuss equity audit
4 - Financials, Accounting, Fundraising, and Other Revenue Streams (4 hours) One of the leading reasons for underperformance and job loss in the nonprofit industry is poor fiscal stewardship and management. Don‘t let this area be the cause of your demise. Learn about the core financial building blocks for a fiscally strong Community Leadership Program and how to enhance sustainability and continuity. Course Objectives Explore the key components of financial health to gain a better understanding of your balance sheet and the importance of building operating reserves. Examine the key budgeting concepts needed to put together meaningful budget-based financial reports to help you better manage your organization‘s financial resources during difficult times. Learn about effective financial messaging strategies and tactics and how to use financial dashboards to communicate effectively with leadership and staff. 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. 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. 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.

STEP 3 | Electives +

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. The candidate selects these courses based on their individual training needs, but credit must fall under one of the following categories:

Program Scope Program Strategies Program Specifics Program Success Strategies Program Sustainability Content Relevant to Pre-Designated Coursework
Courses completed within the 12 months prior to your participation in the CORE Training Course can be considered for credit for elective coursework. Participants are responsible for tracking the completion of electives.

STEP 4 | Application For Exam +

Application Information

Upon completion of the training courses and all program requirements, the next step in the certification process is the submission of the application to sit for the certification exam. A score of 70 or higher must be received on the application to be approved.

Requirements
The Certified Community Leadership Practitioner (CCLP) certification designates a committed association professional who has demonstrated a wide range of knowledge essential to managing a community leadership program.

Eligibility to submit this application includes:

Completion of 16-hour CORE Training
Completion of 24 hours of Pre-designated Coursework
Completion of 10 hours of Elective Coursework
Three (3) years of continuous employment and/or involvement in the community leadership field
Be an organizational or individual member of ALP
All associated fees must be paid in full

Use the CCLP Application Guide link below to receive a copy of an application guide. This Application Guide provides information that you need to have available to complete the online application. There is no fee to obtain the application.

The final application must be completed online (contact programs@alpleaders.org for the link) and submitted for approval prior to obtaining the exam. A notice will be sent to the candidate within 24 hours after application submission with Exam procedure information.

STEP 5 | Sitting for the Exam +

Exam Information

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 multiple choice, essay, matching, true/false, and fill-in-the-blank questions and is proctored online at a time you schedule upon the completion of all requirements.

Before sitting for the exam, please be aware of the following:

The test covers the material contained in the CCLP program and is not specific to your Community Leadership Program.
You should allow adequate time to complete the exam.
80% is a passing score. You may retest one time without an additional fee.
Once you click Submit Form at the bottom of the page, all answered and unanswered questions are locked in and cannot be changed!
- You may temporarily skip a question and then come back to answer or change your answer at any time before clicking submit.
Ask your Proctor any procedural questions before you begin.

For more information, contact: programs@alpleaders.org

RE-CERTIFICATION | Requirements +

To ensure a CCLP designee remains progressive and knowledgeable in the profession, re-certification is required every three 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.

Fee Structure

Session	Course Hours	Member Rate	Non-Member Rate
CORE Community Leadership Practitioner Course	16 hours	$600	$1,000
Adult Learning - Pre-Designated Course	4 hours	$150	$300
Advanced Facilitation - Pre-Designated Course	4 hours	$150	$300
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion - Pre-Designated Course	4 hours	$150	$300
Financial/Accounting/Fundraising Revenue Streams - Pre-Designated Course	4 hours	$150	$300
Leadership Theories and Applications - Pre-Designated Course	4 hours	$150	$300
Developing and Managing Volunteers and Boards - Pre-Designated Course	4 hours	$150	$300
Application/Exam		$300
TOTAL:	40 hours*	$1,800
Completion of an additional 10 hours of elective coursework is required to meet the 50 hours of required training. The applicant bears any expenses incurred in the procurement of this requirement. *Non-Members may take courses for professional development purposes. See registration link for pricing.

Current Certified Community Leadership Practitioners

Since the inception of the program in 2019, 14 individuals have completed all the required coursework, sat for and passed the exam, and earned their CCLP designation.