Leadership Certificate Program

The Leadership Certificate Program (LCP) is a challenging, 400-hour program designed to develop leadership excellence.

It is designed to enhance leaders serving as or preparing to someday serve as criminal justice executives (chiefs, deputy chiefs, chief deputies, wardens, civilian support administrators, etc.). Recognizing that every agency’s budget is strained, the NCJA enables participants to attain advanced leadership development at minimal cost. Most program courses are free to participants, apart from standard travel and per diem costs. This program also seeks to reduce the time students spend away from home and work by incorporating enhanced class schedules and virtual and online options for several elective courses. Further, we recognize that many students have already attended leadership development training through other excellent schools, and some of that training may be eligible for credit toward elective requirements for the LCP. Most students can satisfy the requirements of the LCP in less than two years, but we also understand that life happens and priorities change over time, so you are allowed up to ten full years to complete the program. If you are ready to take your leadership skills to the next level, the LCP is a great place to start!

Eligibility Requirements:

• The LCP is open to both sworn and non-sworn leaders
• The student must have a minimum of three (3) years of full-time experience with a criminal justice agency (in-state or out)
• The student currently serves as sergeant or above or is ranked as a non-sworn supervisor. (Administrators – if your rank structure is such that your first-line supervisors are ranked below sergeant, or if your candidate has extenuating circumstances, you may contact the Program Coordinator to discuss a possible waiver of this requirement)
• Each student must submit a completed application (see link at the bottom of this page for online enrollment)
• At the time of application, the student must attach an endorsement from their agency administrator or a member of the agency’s executive team (Administrators: By endorsing, you confirm that you will allow the student’s participation in any required courses needed to complete the program, that they meet all eligibility requirements, and that this student demonstrates a commitment toward excellence in leadership).

Program Requirements:

• Complete a minimum of 400 hours of leadership-based training.
  • Mandatory Core Requirements (160 hours):
    • The NCJA Leadership Institute (120 hours) is the primary core requirement offered twice per calendar year (Spring and Fall). It is held on the Salemburg campus and is limited to 50 students per year. LCP participants are allowed priority enrollment in this class. However, based on the number of participants in the program, the waitlist to gain entry to the class is one to three years, depending on the number of hours you have remaining versus the length of time you have been enrolled in the program. Enrollment in this course is initiated by the Program Coordinator once a year to fill seats for the following calendar year. This is an unpublished course, so you will not find it listed in your student portal. Any questions regarding the L.I. course should be directed to the Program Coordinator, Kevin Tingen, at ktingen@ncdoj.gov.
    • The second core requirement (40 hours) is to attend at least one of the following *NCJA courses:
      • First Line Supervision
      • First Line Supervision for Detention
      • Tactical Leadership: Critical Lessons Learned
      • Field Training Officer
      • Detention Field Training Officer
      • Telecommunicator Supervisor Training (24 hours) plus a minimum 16-hour course from the list of electives (this option is for non-sworn only)
      • NCACP Chief’s Leadership Institute (Note: this class may require a fee)
      • Leadership Development for Law Enforcement Managers
  • The remaining 240 hours* are elective credits. These can include any of the courses listed in the table below and may include other courses that hold value toward leadership training, as determined by the Program Coordinator.
  • If you have outside (or non-NCJA) leadership training, you are encouraged to submit a copy of those records or certificates to the Program Coordinator to be reviewed for elective credits, not to exceed 120 hours. Examples of eligible outside credits include AOMP, West Point Leadership, Credible Leadership, FBI-NA, FBI-LEEDA, other formal leadership programs, or courses through community colleges that are equivalent to those in the NCJA elective list.

Length of Program:

• All LCP requirements must be completed within ten (10) years of your date of application to the program.
• Note that credit is allowed for courses completed prior to the start of the LCP as long as they do not exceed ten years from the time you finish the program.
• Once you submit your application, the Program Coordinator will check your NCJA transcript and provide you with an overview of credited hours along with recommendations for any remaining courses needed.

LCP Courses List:

Note: The hours listed for each course below can vary. You will receive credit only for the hours actually awarded in your official transcript. Each course in this list is based on the value it adds to leadership in the field of criminal justice.

 NOTE: All credited hours are pursuant to the approval of the Program Coordinator

*Denotes Core Eligible

**Instructor Training (General Instructor) is considered to add value in leadership development and is therefore eligible for elective credit up to a maximum of 80 hours (effective 4/1/2024). Specialized Instructor courses, or courses such as Police Law Institute, also have a leadership-based component, but their primary focus is typically on other subject matter; they are credited at 10% of the total course hours awarded for those courses. Note that Instructor Training completed anywhere other than at NCJA is credited only as outside hours. If taken at NCJA, those hours apply toward regular electives.

***Other courses are sometimes added on a temporary basis at NCJA and hold value as leadership-based training, such as occasional mandatory in-service classes. Examples include courses on media, accreditation, and other topics with which CJ leaders should be familiar but are not offered on a regular rotation. All non-listed courses are subject to review by the Program Coordinator to determine its potential value for credit toward the LCP.

Contact Us

For More Information, contact:

Kevin Tingen, Program Coordinator
(910) 926-6076

Program Application