TVPPA Certificate Programs These are the certificate programs currently offered by TVPPA. Click on the name of a program for description and course curriculums. NOTE: Only descriptions for currently scheduled courses will appear. For additional information, call TVPPA Education & Training at 423.648.2464 or send e-mail to training@tvppa.com.
Note: The programs listed below are overviews. While links are available for all course requirements, only those courses currently scheduled will appear. For information on a course not currently scheduled, please call the TVPPA Education & Training department at 423.648.2464.
Certified Power Executive
TVPPA’s Certified Power Executive (CPE) is a unique program of professional certification specifically designed for management of public power distribution systems. It is designed to provide managers a better understanding of their duties and role in the utility industry.
The target group for the CPE program has been "redefined" as mid- to upper-level managers who have fundamental supervisory skills and are ready to proceed to the next level of leadership proficiency. Core competencies at this level should be:
- Planning
- Organizing
- Allocating
- Delegating
- Scheduling
- Problem-solving
- Relating
Two competencies further distinguish members of this group:
- Business planning
- Presentation Skills
The curriculum is designed to provide participants with the skills to meet the core competencies outlined above.
Guiding Model: Leadership Bridge
Prerequisite: DiSC Profile
Required Reading: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
Required Courses (Courses are to be taken in order scheduled):
Elective Courses (choose three):
All course requirements satisfactorily completed within five years of starting the program by taking a required course.
CPE certificates will be presented at the TVPPA Annual Conference. Click the Conferences link and select Annual Conference for event details.
Advanced Certified Power Executive
TVPPA’s Advanced Certified Power Executive (AdvCPE) is designed to build on the skills and knowledge gained in the Certified Power Executive curriculum. Included in this advanced program are formalized professional development, management concepts and business principles.
Guiding Model: Good to Great
Prerequisites: DiSC profile, Leadership Bridge,
Dynamics of Change
Required Reading: Good to Great, Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive
Required Courses:
Additional courses selected by the participant of 6.3 CEU's.
All course requirements satisfactorily completed within four years of starting the program by taking a required course.
AdvCPE certificates will be presented at the TVPPA Annual Conference. Click the Conferences link and select Annual Conference for event details.
Certified Power Supervisor
TVPPA’s Certified Power Supervisor (CPSv®) curriculum is designed for public power distribution system supervisory personnel. This course of study focuses on how to reduce employee grievances, customer complaints, absenteeism, job-related accidents and turnover.
The program consists of the following:
• The required core curriculum of 7.0 credit hours
• Additional courses selected by the participant of 2.8 credit hours
• All course requirements satisfactorily completed within four years of starting the program by taking a required core course.
Required Pre-Work: Online DiSC profile
Core Curriculum (to be taken in order listed):
CPSv certificates will be presented at the TVPPA Customer Service & Communications Conference. Click the Conferences link and select CS&C Conference for event details.
Certified Power Technology
TVPPA’s Certified Power Technology (CPT®) program supplements the formal education of engineers not schooled in power theory and methodology. It is also valuable for engineering technicians and associate engineers who have limited electrical power education. The CPT program addresses technological changes within the electric utility industry. Additionally, the program is designed for distributors who have acquired substations and transmission lines.
The program consists of the following:
• The required core curriculum of 9.1 credit hours
• Additional courses selected by the participant of 4.2 credit hours
• All course requirements satisfactorily completed within four years of starting the program by taking a required core course. (It is strongly recommended that Basic Power System Theory or Advanced Power System Theory be the initial CPT course)
Core Curriculum:
CPT certificates will be presented at the TVPPA Engineering & Operations Conference. Click the Conferences link and select E&O Conference for event details.
Certified Safety Coordinator Individuals responsible for safety management must have current, professional knowledge and expertise to achieve and maintain a safe work environment and work practices for utility employees. TVPPA developed the Certified Safety Coordinator (CSC®) to address modern health and safety issues. Note: Candidates must also have current certification in CPR and First Aid prior to receiving their CSC designation. The program consists of the following: • The required core curriculum of 7.7 credit hours • Additional courses selected by the participant of 2.8 credit hours • All course requirements satisfactorily completed within four years of starting the program by taking a required core course Core Curriculum:
CSC certificates will be presented at the TVPPA Utility Safety Conference. Click the Conferences link and select the Utility Safety Conference for event details.
Certificate of Customer Service
In today’s changing business environment, customers demand the best in service from their electric utility. To provide the professional skills and expertise to exceed the expectations of escalating customer requirements, TVPPA developed the Certificate of Customer Service
(CCS) curriculum.
The program consists of the following:
• The core curriculum of 3.5 credit hours made up of the four required courses
• All course requirements satisfactorily completed within three years of starting the program by taking a required course
• Additional courses are not required for participants to receive the CCS designation
Core Curriculum:
CCS certificates will be presented at the TVPPA Customer Service & Communications Conference. Click the Conferences link and select the CS&C Conference for event details.
Certified Utility Accountant (CUA)
The Certified Utility Accountant (CUA) program is designed to provide public utility accounting staff who are new to accounting or who have a non-accounting background with the knowledge and resources necessary to effectively and efficiently perform their jobs in the unique utility industry. The CUA program consists of a core curriculum of accounting which range from basic to advanced level classes and non-accounting classes. In addition to the core classes, 4.2 ccredit hours of elective credit are required for completion of the CUA.
Core Accounting Curriculum:
Core Non-Accounting Curriculum:
CUA certificates will be presented at the TVPPA Accounting & Finance Conference. Click the Conferences link and select the A&F Conference for event details.
Utility Human Resources Certification (UHR)
The Utility Human Resources Certification (UHR) program is designed to provide public utility staff who are responsible for the human resource and personnel development function within their organization with fundamental to advanced level knowledge to efficiently and effectively fulfill their role. The UHR program consists of a core curriculum of seven courses and a choice of two out of three elective courses. All courses are specific to and focused on human resources issues. Completion of the program will include class projects, which will culminate in a UHR portfolio to be presented when all courses are concluded.
Core Curriculum (Courses are to be taken in order listed):
Elective Courses (choose two):
UHR certificates will be presented at the TVPPA Human Resource Management Conference. Click the Conferences link and select the HRM Conference for event details.
Power Distribution Engineer (PDE)
The PDE is designed to significantly enhance the skills and abilities of entry-level engineers working in a distribution utility. The program is intended to provide participants with formal power engineering courses they may not have had in their undergraduate studies and will also serve very well as a refresher for those seeking to “brush-up” their day-to-day engineering skills.
The PDE curriculum is made up of four courses, three of which were developed and will be delivered by Dr. Jack Lawler of the University of Tennessee’s School of Electrical Engineering. The fourth was developed in conjunction with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).
PDE certificates will be presented at the TVPPA Engineering & Operations Conference. Click the Conferences link and select the E&O Conference for event details.
Certified Secured Information Specialist (CSIS)
NEW! The Red Flags amendment to the FACT Act requires utilities to takes steps to secure customer information which could be used for identity theft. The major requirements involve strategies for validating identity when opening accounts and authenticating transactions on existing accounts. While this effort requires coordination and support from all utility employees, special skills are required by Customer Service Representatives (CSR) as well as other employees who handle secure information.
Federal mandates include education for utility employees on a “need-to-know” basis. This creates the responsibility of providing specialized training to those employees who have direct access to secured information. The Certified Secured Information Specialist (CSIS) program is designed to enhance confidence and competence in validating customer identification procedures.
The CSIS program is a series of six (6) online training modules, each requiring 20-30 minutes to complete. Because the training is available online, scheduling is flexible and employees can go through material at their own pace. Online training also provides an economical and effective way to meet FACT Act training requirements. CSIS training is targeted for CSRs and designated employees in accounting and IT.
Each module can be taken individually or the entire series can be taken at once. If someone is interrupted or needs to stop at any point, the program will bookmark their location and the next time they login, they will automatically begin where they left off. There is a test at the end of 5 of the 6 modules, which must be successfully completed with a score of 70 or higher to receive credit for the program. Individuals that successfully complete the CSIS program will receive a completion certificate and a lapel pin.
Register today via the Public Power Academy. |