WCPC-Wisconsin Certified
Professional Clerk

WMCA CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS OFFERED

The WMCA implemented its own certification programs in July 2005. Wisconsin certifications can be obtained by earning points in education, career and lifelong learning experiences, and committing to the WMCA Code of Ethics.

The WMCA Certification Program consists of three separate programs:

To find out more on the requirements for each program, click on these links:

WCMC – Wisconsin Certified Municipal Clerk
WCMC – Recertification
WCPC – Wisconsin Certified Professional Clerk
Q & A - Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Table of Requirements for Certification

The WMCA Certification Committee reviews all applications twice a year.
Applications must be postmarked by March 1st or October 1st.

To download an application, click on one of the following:

WCMC-Wisconsin Certified Municipal Clerk Application
WCMC Recertification Application
WCPC-Wisconsin Certified Professional Clerk Application

HOW DO I OBTAIN MY WCMC?

WCMC-Wisconsin Certified
Municipal Clerk

In order to be eligible to become a WCMC-Wisconsin Certified Municipal Clerk, you must:

• Complete the 100-hour (3 year) WMCA-recognized UWGB Municipal Clerks Institute, or have obtained:
1. Bachelors degree or higher in a related field, and Clerks completion at UW-GB
2. Bachelors degree or higher in an unrelated field and 2 years of Clerk Institute training, or
3. Associate of Arts degree in related field and 2 years of Clerk Institute training.
• Be a Municipal Clerk, Deputy Clerk or perform the duties thereof.
• Be an active member in the WMCA.
• Be a member of WMCA for three (3) years.
• Reaffirm your beliefs and practice in the WMCA Code of Ethics.
• Person without title of Clerk that performs duties of Clerk’s office must provide a letter from your Municipal Clerk verifying your performance of duties which qualify for WCMC certification.
• Submit the required documentation and fees to the WMCA. Municipal Clerk, Deputy Clerk or perform the duties thereof.
• Be an active member in the WMCA.
• Be a member of WMCA for three (3) years.
• Reaffirm your beliefs and practice in the WMCA Code of Ethics.
• Person without title of Clerk that performs duties of Clerk’s office must provide a letter from your Municipal Clerk verifying your performance of duties which qualify for WCMC certification.
• Submit the required documentation and fees to the WMCA

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HOW DO I RECERTIFY MY WCMC?

This program further mandates continuous education or training for WCMCs. Persons who want to maintain the WCMC status and who do not want to pursue the Wisconsin Municipal Professional Clerk (WCPC) designation must recertify every 4 years.

In order to recertify your WCMC designation you must:

• Maintain continuous WMCA membership.
• Complete a minimum 60 hours of education, training or a combination of both, over a four-year period, commencing from the date of WCMC Certification or WCMC Recertification, whichever occurs last. Twenty hours must be in two or more of the six core areas.
• Submit documentation of this training and education.
• Submit an application for recertification either by March 1st or October 1st in the year you need to be recertified, whichever date is closest to your recertification deadline.
• Remit the required fee with your application.

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WISCONSIN PROFESSIONAL CLERK ACADEMY

The Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association is an education catalyst for Municipal Clerks. Its vision is to instill in Municipal Clerks the desire for continual learning and professional development, inviting and encouraging them to grow and extend beyond their present levels of development. To that end, the Wisconsin Certified Professional Clerk Academy (WCPC) and all post-certification learning experiences should question current knowledge, exchange new information, challenge personal beliefs and assumptions, inspire and motivate, and share wisdom, insights and new perspectives.

HOW DO I BECOME A WCPC?

• 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

  2. Professional and social contributions.

  • Submit required application, documentation and fee

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CERTIFICATION

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. Note: Remember that re-certification standards for the WCMC are 60 hours of experience and training, with 20 of those hours to be done in the core clerk areas. This differs from the IIMC requirement.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 Associates 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.

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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.

 

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Question:  Will the WMCA keep PEC (Professional Education Committee) education points certificates as records toward the WMCA Certification program?

Answer:  NO – All clerks must maintain their own records and documentation of all education.

 

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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.)

 

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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.

 

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Question:  Can I prorate my years of employment and receive partial points?

Answer:  No – Points for employment can not be prorated. Full years of service will be required.

 

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Question:  Do I need to send proof of employment?

Answer:  Yes. This requirement may be met in a several ways. You may ask your municipality to provide a letter documenting your dates of employment or you may send in a current certificate of election or a copy of the official proceedings confirming your appointment.

 

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Question:  What it 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 WCPC education points as an approved Master Academy class receiving 1 point for every hour of education.

 

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Question:  What are core classes?

Answer:  Core duties consist of: open meetings laws, Board of Review, public records laws, licensing, elections and records retention.

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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:  In the Career & Lifelong Learning Experience, in the last section-College or University courses: does the 5-year limit apply to college courses?

Answer:  Yes, the 5-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 5-yr. limit.

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Question: How do I know which classes count or do not count for various election or Board of Review topics?

Answer: Mandatory training does not count, and non-mandatory does count. Examples:  Board of Review classes are not required for all clerks, so they count. MCT (Municipal Clerk Training) is mandatory, so it does not count. SVRS Application Training is mandatory and does not count. SVRS Business Process Training is not mandatory and does count. Chief Election Inspector training is not mandatory (clerk cannot be the Chief Election Inspector) and does count.

Question: Will I earn points by serving as secretary or treasurer of my WMCA district?

Answer: No, because these offices are not required by the WMCA Constitution.

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