Enrollment

Participants will be able to enroll in the CLPS program with the Management Assistance Team (MAT) to pursue a certificate of program completion. MAT will track each participant’s progress in the CLPS. Alternately, a state agency could track their own employees’ progress through the CLPS, and work with MAT to ensure that certificates are issued as appropriate.

Any interested state fish and wildlife agency employee whose agency determines that they would benefit from a leadership development program may enroll in the program of study. To enroll, participants will need to have their supervisor’s approval. Enrollment will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Course Registration

Currently, MAT offers courses four times per year on a quarterly basis, but not all courses are offered each quarter – depending on demand for the courses and availability of instructors. In the future, courses could be offered more frequently as needed.

MAT courses are offered to all employees of state fish and wildlife agencies. Registration preference will be given to those enrolled in the program of study.

Advising

Participants will be assigned a MAT advisor when they submit their proposal for the final project. The advisor will be available for guidance and support through the completion of the final project.

Timeframes

The program of study can be completed as quickly as a participant can meet the requirements. If the program participant takes other elective courses that meet credit requirements, the program of study can be completed very quickly. The program must be completed within 54 months of beginning the first course in the CLPS.

Credit for Other Courses and Training

Courses and training offered by other institutions or by an agency’s trainers may meet program completion requirements. Typically, program completion will require that the candidate take the core courses as listed in the Program Outline.

There is much greater latitude to meet elective requirements. Program participants can request consideration for other courses to fulfill elective requirements. For training completed prior to enrolling in the CLPS, requests should be submitted for consideration at the time of registration. For alternate courses to meet elective requirements, they must:

• Have a focus that is directly applicable to the practice of leadership.
• Be at least 12 contact hours. Courses with more than 12 contact hours will not count towards more than one course completion.
  
  

After the request is made, the MAT will evaluate the course description and determine if elective credit should be awarded. Please include a copy of your certificate of completion or transcript for the course(s) with each submission. 

Students in the CLPS program may receive credit for a maximum of two CLPS courses (no more than one substitution may be used for a core course). This is contingent upon content of substitute courses being judged appropriate by MAT.

Program Completion

When all requirements are completed, the candidate will notify the MAT to review their records. If all courses are completed successfully, the certificate of program completion will be mailed to the applicant. Those who meet the requirements of the program will be mailed a certificate of completion and could be recognized by the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies’ at the annual awards banquet or other similar recognition event.

Agency directors will be sent a listing of their employees who have completed courses on a quarterly basis.