Leadership Education and Development LEAD) Certificate FAQ S s1

Leadership Education and Development LEAD) Certificate FAQ’s

I’m interested in the LEAD Certificate Program and have some questions. Who do I contact? Email your questions to the LEAD Certificate Program Manager at [email protected] or 202-606-1652

What is the process to get a LEAD certificate? The LEAD certificate program is a self-paced program, which means OPM is not formally involved until you complete the 5 required courses for a given level of leadership. This also means you register for each course individually as you progress through the courses.

Once I have completed the 5 courses for a level of leadership, how do I get my LEAD Certificate? Within 90 days of completing the last of the five courses at a given level, email a list of the five courses with their start dates to validate completion within the three year period to the OPM LEAD Certificate Program Manager at L EA D @op m . g o v , then the guidelines for your last requirement, the 4-6 page capstone paper will be sent to you. If you are outside the three year timeline, you may email a request for a waiver on the timeline to the OPM LEAD Certificate Program Manager.

Once OPM has verified that you have completed your required courses, you will have 90 days to complete a capstone paper. You will email the paper to the LEAD Certificate Program Manager at L EAD @ o p m . go v . An OPM Program Director/Faculty Member will evaluate the paper on a Pass/Fail basis to ascertain your ability to clearly communicate the key lessons gained from the courses and how you applied at least one of those lessons back at your agency.

Once you receive a "Pass" rating on your capstone paper, the LEAD Certificate Program Manager will email your notification as your official record for personnel. Then your LEAD Certificate signed by the Director of OPM will be mailed to you.

Does it matter what order I take the 5 courses in LEAD Certificate level? It is recommended, but not required, to complete the Assessment and Core courses first, before taking the Policy and Skill categories.

If I have three years to complete a LEAD Certificate, when does the clock start ticking? All training programs for a LEAD Certificate must be completed within 3 years of the start date of the first course taken. But due to Agency budget cuts, OPM is being very flexible on the timeline.

What if I have taken OPM courses previously that are listed in the LEAD Certificate Program, can they count towards a LEAD Certificate? Yes, but remember to keep in mind that the three year window for the LEAD Certificate will begin as of the start date of the first course taken; be sure to leave yourself enough time to complete the necessary courses for the LEAD Certificate. Due to agency budget cuts OPM is being extremely flexible on the timeline.

Can I substitute coursework from other programs to count towards a LEAD Certificate? Only OPM training programs listed for a given level of leadership will count towards a LEAD Certificate at that level.

Can I take a LEAD course above the level of my current position? You may earn a LEAD Certificate for a level of leadership, even if you are not at that level except the Executive level, where you must be at least a GS-14. We strongly recommend checking with your training manager to see whether your agency has any specific rules regarding taking courses for a higher level than your current position. Will a LEAD certificate translate into points on a job application? No, but the certificate will show your employer that you have mastered a certain body of knowledge that OPM recommends for a specific level of leadership.

Can a LEAD Certificate count towards a Master's Degree? Many courses offered in the LEAD Certificate Program are certified by the American Council on Education (ACE) for college or graduate credit. The credit hours vary depending on the length and content of the course. ACE serves as a registry for students to collect ACE-certified course credits for nontraditional training courses. After paying a one-time fee to establish a transcript with ACE, students can use ACE to collect and maintain a permanent record of classes and credits. The ACE transcript is accepted for transfer credit at most colleges and universities, depending on specific degree programs. The transcript also serves as an easy way for degreed participants to document continuous learning. For further information, contact Mylene Billmyer at My l ene.B i ll m y er @ o p m . g o v or 202-606-0470. The ACE website is: h t t p : / / w w w .a c enet.ed u/ P a g e s / d efau l t.a s p x .