TVPPA Certification Programs
These are the certification 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
(Program revisions effective Jan. 2005. Individuals who started the CPE® program prior to 2005 will receive credit for classes taken under previous program requirements.)
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
- Public speaking
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):
- Leadership Bridge (new)
- Understanding Human Resources
- Dynamics of Change (new)
- Utility Law (same)
- Business & Financial Applications (revised Budgeting, Finance & Accounting)
- Fundamental Meeting Management (new)
Elective Courses (choose three):
- Effective Public Speaking Skills (prerequisite Leadership Bridge)
- Time Management (prerequisite Leadership Bridge)
- Facilitating Effective Meetings (prerequisite Fundamental Meeting Management)
- Conflict Mediation (prerequisite Leadership Bridge and Dynamics of Change)
- Components of Strategic Planning (prerequisite Leadership Bridge and Dynamics of Change)
All course requirements satisfactorily completed within five years of starting the program by taking a required course.
Advanced Certified Power Executive
(Program revisions effective Jan. 2005. Individuals who started the AdvCPE® program prior to 2005 will receive credit for classes taken under previous program requirements.)
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:
- Case Studies in Leadership
- Executive Leadership
- Designing & Implementing Organizational Change
- Long-Range Strategic Planning
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.
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):
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:
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:
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:
Utility Marketing Certificate Program
As electric utilities focus more on selling products and services, utility employees may not have the skills needed to market products and services in a non-monopolistic environment. The Utility Marketing Certificate (UMC) series was developed to help utility employees learn marketing basics, and then apply them to residential, commercial, and industrial customer groups.
The program consists of the following:
• The core curriculum of 4.2 credit hours made up of the six 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 UMC designation
Core Curriculum:
Certified Utility Accountant (CUA)
NEW! 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:
Utility Human Resources Certification (UHR)
NEW! 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):
