State of NJ Certified Public Manager® Program (CPM)

Upon completion of the NJ CPM Program, participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate the knowledge necessary to be successful public sector managers, supervisors, and leaders
• Effectively align resources and lead people to accomplish agency goals
• Demonstrate high levels of commitment to public service, personal integrity and continuous learning
• Practice results-driven management and act as an effective change agent
• Become a member of a network of public leaders and managers in the American Academy of Certified Public Managers (AACPM)
• Apply up to 15 undergraduate credits or 9 graduate credits toward a degree at Rutgers University and possibly at other institutions of higher learning
• Students that have professional certifications from the NJ  Dept. of Community Affairs receive one (1) CEU for Fire Administration and nine (9) CEUs each for Municipal & County Finance Officer, Qualified Purchasing Agent, Public Works Manager, Tax Collector, and Municipal Clerk.

The NJ CPM Program consists of:

• 22 courses which meet one workday every week over a period of 10 months
• 252 classroom hours plus a 50-hour work-related capstone project
• A cohort model, where the same students attend all courses together
• The option to select one of various locations throughout New Jersey

Coursework
Courses are highly interactive and include case studies, presentations, papers, projects, self-assessments, and review of current literature that relate directly to workplace issues and will positively impact the participant's capabilities in their work setting.

Capstone Project
Each participant will select a project with her/his supervisor that will benefit their organization. The participant will apply CPM concepts, skills, and learning while working on the project throughout the nine months of the program.

CPM Core Competencies

The NJ CPM Program is designed around the core leadership requirements established by the National Consortium of Certified Public Managers. The curriculum was developed jointly by Rutgers University–Newark's School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) and the State of New Jersey's Civil Service Commission to meet the complex demands and challenges of the 21st-century public management environment.

The core competencies of the New Jersey Certified Public Manager Program are:

• Public Service Focus
• Quantitative Techniques
• Communication
• Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Strategic Thinking
• Analytical Thinking
• Administrative Law
• Budgetary Process
• Management Information Systems
• Personal and Organizational Integrity
• Managing Work
• Leading People
• Developing Self
• Systemic Integration
• Change Leadership

Schedule Options
See Schedules & Locations for cohort start dates and locations.

Flexible Framework
Flexible start dates, locations, and class schedules can be arranged for groups of 15 or more. Contact Jane Sharp, Director of the Certified Public Manager Program, at cpmspaa@rutgers.edu or 973-353-3979.

To be eligible for the NJ CPM Program, candidates must be a manager, administrator, or supervisor in a public organization in New Jersey – such as state, county and municipal governments, boards and associations – and have at least two years of supervisory experience. Candidates who do not currently supervise staff but have responsibility for managing, coordinating, or overseeing a program area whose deliverable has an impact beyond their current work unit will also be considered. Candidates must have the approval and support of their current supervisor and department/agency.

A college degree is not required and participants are not required to enroll in or complete an academic degree program; however, Rutgers will accept college credits for completion of the NJ CPM Program.

The cost includes all materials required for the program and is $4,100 per participant as of October 2022.

Courses are taught by Rutgers full-time faculty and qualified practitioners in their areas of competence. CPM faculty and mentors are selected for their academic qualifications and for their demonstrated excellence as practitioners in public management and business. In addition to quality instruction, each participant receives coaching from faculty members throughout the program.

The NJ CPM Program is operated under a contract with the School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) at Rutgers University–Newark. The New Jersey Civil Service Commission oversees the NJ CPM Program.

• Rutgers University–Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration
  Jane Sharp, MPA
  Director, Certified Public Manager Program
  cpmspaa@newark.rutgers.edu
  973-353-3979

• State of NJ Civil Service Commission
  (for application and eligibility requirements)
  Tira McCants
  CPM Coordinator
  Office of Administration and Training
  njcpm@csc.nj.gov
  609-777-1599

This PDF contains a list of the Capstone Titles for CPM graduations 2013-2022. You can use the search feature to find topics of interest. Agencies where students worked at the time of their participation are listed alphabetically. 

If you are interested in more information on a particular topic, send a request to cpmspaa@newark.rutgers.edu with the Capstone Title and Agency.  We will contact the graduate and share your information. It is up to the graduate to determine if he or she wants to respond. We never share Capstone Projects without written student permission.

Thank you for your interest in the CPM Capstone Projects.