WCPC - Wisconsin Certified Professional Clerk 

The Wisconsin Certified Professional Clerk (WCPC) program and all post-certification learning experiences should question current knowledge, exchange new information, challenge personal beliefs and assumptions, inspire and motivate, and undertake to share wisdom, insights and new perspectives.

• Maintain active WMCA membership for the last 3 consecutive years immediately prior to application.
• Hold a WCMC.
• Serve as a Municipal or Deputy Clerk or person that performs duties of the Clerk’s office for 8 years.
• Reaffirm the WMCA Code of Ethics.
• Accumulate a minimum number of points in two categories:

1. Advanced Education (Minimum: 120 points)
2. Professional and social contributions. (Minimum: 25 points)

• Submit required application, documentation and $100 fee 

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WCMC Frequently Asked Questions

Question: The WMCA Certification program requires 3 years of continuous membership in the WMCA. What is the definition of 3 years?
Answer: A 3-year continuous membership is defined as a 36 month period.

Question: The deadlines are listed as October 1st and March 1st – What does this mean?
Answer: All applications must be POSTMARKED on or before these dates to be included in that review session.

Question: How long will the Committee allow grandfathering of a CMC or MMC into a WCMC or WCPC?
Answer: The grandfathering procedure will be allowed as long as your CMC or MMC certification is current.

Question: I served on the UWGB Advisory Board. Why don’t points count for the WCMC?
Answer: In obtaining the WCMC, you are taking training and in the WCPC you are developing training.

Question: I have attended IIMC Region Meetings and in 2007 they began offering educational sessions. Where do these count?
Answer: For the WCMC program, hours count on pg. 6 at 1 pt. per 4 hours (education & meeting combined); for the WCPC program, hours count on pg. 3 #1 at 1 pt. per educational hour attended and for those who also attend the meeting, an additional 2 pts. may be earned on pg. 6 #6 per event.

Question: How do I or WMCA know how many hours I attended a session if no certificate is given?
Answer: It is the clerk’s responsibility to ask the presenter to sign, date and affix the number of session hours so you have the correct documentation.  You may also prepare an Affidavit of Training (session agenda attached) documenting the date and hours attended.

Question: What if I have special circumstances regarding my application?
Answer: Enclose a letter to the WMCA Certification Committee at time of application explaining those circumstances.

Question: How do I know which classes count or do not count for various election or Board of Review topics?
Answer: All classes taken will count as of 3/12/09 as long as they fall under the written guidelines. This is a change. SVRS Application Training and Municipal Clerk Training (MCT) now count and are included in the updated applications.

Question: In the Career & Lifelong Learning Experience, in the last section-College or University courses: does the 7-year limit apply to college courses?
Answer: Yes, the 7-yr. limit does apply in this section of the WCMC application. You can use a College degree (no date restriction) to supplement or use in lieu of the education portion of the application. The Career and Lifelong Learning Section sets a 7-yr. limit.

Question:  Can I use the completion of a UWGB Municipal Treasurer’s Institute program to satisfy the WCMC 50 point Education requirement?
Answer: No, unless you complete the fourth year Clerk’s Completion portion of the Institute program.  Proof of attendance at both programs must be provided.  You may use the class hours from the Treasurer’s Institute for your WCMC under Career and Lifelong Learning and for the WCPC as approved Master Academy classes.
Question: What if I have attended the UWGB Institute Treasurer’s Completion or Administrator’s Track – Can these hours be used for certification?
Answer: Yes, these classes can be used for your WCMC under Career and Lifelong Learning and for the WCPC as an approved Master Academy class.

Question: Can I prorate my years of employment and receive partial points?
Answer: No – Points for employment cannot be prorated. Full years of service will be required.

Question: Do I need to send proof of employment?
Answer: Yes. This requirement may be met in a several ways. For your current employment, you may ask your municipality to provide a letter documenting your dates of employment or you may send in a copy of a current certificate of election, an oath of office or the official proceedings confirming your appointment.  For past employment, documentation, including a detailed description of job responsibilities as it relates to the clerk’s profession, must be submitted.

Question: Do I need to send proof of CMC or MMC certification to be grandfathered?
Answer: Yes, proof of certification is required. This may be as simple as taking your CMC or MMC plaque off the wall and making a photocopy of it.

Question: What if I leave employment? Can I still use the WCMC or WCPC designation?
Answer: Continuous membership in the WMCA is required to maintain and use the certification. (See the Clerk-in-Transition membership category, if you are not currently working for a municipality.) If there is a change in your employment status, be sure to contact WMCA Coordinator Faith Elford to explain the circumstances. A lapse in your employment may/may not affect the use of your designations.

Question: What if I attend the Institute for 3 years and also have an advanced degree in a related field?
Answer: You may use the Institute hours as your education points for your WCMC and the advanced degree for hours toward your WCPC designation.

Question: What if I have a Masters Degree – How is this used as credit for education points?
Answer: The WCMC requirement is for 3 years of Institute Training, a Bachelors Degree supplemented with 1 year of Institute Training, or an Associate's Degree supplemented with 2 years of Institute training. If you have a Masters Degree, you can use the additional hours of education beyond the Bachelors Degree as education points toward your WCPC designation.

Question: If I teach a class will I earn the same number of points as the individuals taking the class I am teaching?
Answer: Yes – you will earn points for each event using certain criteria and teaching falls into Career & Lifelong Learning on the WCMC app (pg. 6) and Professional and Social #7 on the WCPC app. If you teach a class more than once in a year (multiple sessions of BOR), you may count it once. If you teach the same class in multiple years, you may count it multiple times. If you teach multiple topics in the same year, each topic will count once.
 

WCPC Frequently Asked Questions
 

Question: The deadlines are listed as October 1 st and March 1 st – What does this mean?
Answer: All applications must be POSTMARKED on or before these dates to be included in that review session.

Question: How long will the Committee allow grandfathering of a CMC or MMC into a WCMC or WCPC?
Answer: The grandfathering procedure will be allowed as long as your CMC or MMC certification is current.

Question: I earned the WCMC and later the WCPC, do I use both sets of initials?
Answer: No, you will use the higher designation only, the WCPC.

Question: I served on the UWGB Advisory Board. Why don’t points count for the WCMC?
Answer: In obtaining the WCMC, you are taking training and in the WCPC you are developing training.

Question: I have attended IIMC Region Meetings and in 2007 they began offering educational sessions. Where do these count?
Answer: For the WCMC program, hours count on pg. 6 at 1 pt. per 4 hours (education & meeting combined); for the WCPC program, hours count on pg. 3 #1 at 1 pt. per educational hour attended and for those who also attend the meeting, an additional 2 pts. may be earned on pg. 6 #6 per event.

Question: How do I or the WMCA know how many hours I attended a session if no certificate is given?
Answer: It is the clerk’s responsibility to ask the presenter to sign, date and affix the number of session hours so you have the correct documentation.  You may also prepare an Affidavit of Training (session agenda attached) documenting the date and hours attended.

Question: What if I have special circumstances regarding my application?
Answer: Enclose a letter to the WMCA Certification Committee at time of application explaining those circumstances.

Question: Will I earn points by serving as secretary or treasurer of my WMCA district?
Answer: Yes.  In Section 10, you can earn 1 point per year for an Officer in a related professional association.

Question: How do I know which classes count or do not count for various election or Board of Review topics?
Answer: All classes taken will count as of 3/12/09 as long as they fall under the written guidelines. This is a change. SVRS Application Training and Municipal Clerk Training (MCT) now count and are included in the updated applications.

Question: I am the Public Information Officer for my municipality's Emergency Government. I am required to take FEMA tests on-line and attendance at tabletop exercises. Is the position eligible under the Professional & Social category of the application form for WCPC?
Answer: Yes, you may use this under the Professional and Social category. It will fit in items 8 or 9 as long as this is a continuing position and not just a one-time event.

Question: What if I have attended the UWGB Institute Treasurer’s Completion or Administrator’s Track – Can these hours be used for certification?
Answer: Yes, these classes can be used for your WCMC under Career and Lifelong Learning and for the WCPC as an approved Master Academy class.

Question: Do I need to send proof of CMC or MMC certification to be grandfathered?
Answer: Yes, proof of certification is required. This may be as simple as taking your CMC or MMC plaque off the wall and making a photocopy of it.

Question: What if I leave employment? Can I still use the WCMC or WCPC designation?
Answer: Continuous membership in the WMCA is required to maintain and use the certification. (See the Clerk-in-Transition membership category, if you are not currently working for a municipality.) If there is a change in your employment status, be sure to contact WMCA Coordinator Faith Elford to explain the circumstances. A lapse in your employment may/may not affect the use of your designations.

Question: What if I attend the Institute for 3 years and also have an advanced degree in a related field?
Answer: You may use the Institute hours as your education points for your WCMC and the advanced degree for hours toward your WCPC designation.

Question: What if I have a Masters Degree – How is this used as credit for education points?
Answer: The WCMC requirement is for 3 years of Institute Training, a Bachelors Degree supplemented with 1 year of Institute Training, or an Associate's Degree supplemented with 2 years of Institute training. If you have a Masters Degree, you can use the additional hours of education beyond the Bachelors Degree as education points toward your WCPC designation.

Question: If I teach a class will I earn the same number of points as the individuals taking the class I am teaching?
Answer: Yes – you will earn points for each event using certain criteria and teaching falls into Career & Lifelong Learning on the WCMC app (pg. 6) and Professional and Social #7 on the WCPC app. If you teach a class more than once in a year (multiple sessions of BOR), you may count it once. If you teach the same class in multiple years, you may count it multiple times. If you teach multiple topics in the same year, each topic will count once.
 

The Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association (WMCA) is a professional organization of municipal clerks who have united to:

• Impart standards of quality and integrity so that the conduct of the members shall be above reproach and merit public confidence
• Promote the professional development of its members
• Enhance and promote the professional management of governmental records
   

To further these objectives, certain principles shall govern the conduct of every member of the WMCA.

1. To recognize that my chief function at all times is to serve the best interests of the people;
2. To uphold both the letter and the spirit of the government and laws of the State of Wisconsin, my county and municipality;
3. To devote my time, skills, and energies to my office, both independently and in cooperation with other professionals;
4. To so conduct my public and private life as to be an example to my fellow citizens;
5. To be sensitive and responsive to the rights of the public and its changing needs;
6. To impart to my profession those standards of quality and integrity that the conduct of the affairs of my office shall be above reproach and will merit public confidence in my community;
7. To maintain my neutrality and impartiality, rendering equal service to all and extend the same treatment I wish to receive myself;
8. To respect and protect privileged information to which I have access by virtue of my office;
9. To not knowingly be a party to or condone any illegal, immoral, or improper activity; and,
10. To use neither public property nor resources for my personal or political gain.
     

I do hereby subscribe to this Code of Ethics, which I affirm will govern my professional and personal conduct as a Wisconsin Municipal Clerk.

This application is designed for annual recognition of your extraordinary efforts for completing additional education to gain knowledge of the current laws and processes to assist you and your municipality towards a productive and efficient office.

Send in this application on or before June 1st each year and attach the required documentation for proof of attendance.  The Certification Committee will review your annual application and verify the points you have earned. Then you will be recognized at the annual WMCA Conference and receive a Diamond, Gold or Silver Certificate for your achievements.*

The Certificates are based on the following hours per year:
Silver Certificate for 25-50 hours
Gold Certificate for 51-74 hours
Diamond Certificate for 75+ hours

In addition, all courses listed in this application count toward state certification and will be tracked and documented for you by the WMCA. After you have accumulated the required points for certification, you will send in the certification application with a copy of the annual certificates you have received.  You will not need to send in all of the individual certificates of attendance again!  The $20 annual fee will be deducted from the regular certification fee for every annual certificate you use.

*You do not have to be working toward certification to qualify for the annual certificate.

If you have any questions about allowable courses, contact one of the Certification Committee Chairs or the WMCA office at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 1-920-568-9278.

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Put the 2012 WMCA Conference in your budget!

15th December 2011

You can make your hotel reservations now at Madison Marriott West in Middleton.