Certified Municipal Officer (CMO)

The Premier Designation for Municipal Managers & Leaders

Today's ever-evolving municipal environment demands management professionals to possess diverse skills and knowledge such as visionary leadership, and keen problem-solving. The Certified Municipal Officer (CMO) accredits these core skills, along with the knowledge and expertise required to be a successful local government leader.

The CMO showcases your knowledge of local government management, your professional readiness and commitment to career-long learning and ethical practice. The CMO is the leading local government designation in Ontario — successful completion and approval of the requirements confer the right to use the initials CMO after your name.

Getting Started

To apply for the CMO Program you need the following:
- Must be a current AMCTO member in good standing
- Must be employed by a municipality (or related organization) with at least three (3) years of municipal management/leadership experience
- Must have completed the AMCTO Municipal Administration Program (MAP) or an acceptable equivalent. Find out if you are eligible for an exemption by reviewing Section 5 in the Diploma in Municipal Administration (DMA) Terms of Reference.
In order to be granted the CMO designation, you must be able to demonstrate applied knowledge and skills in eight (8) areas of competency, using municipal experience and practical examples:
1. Municipal Operations
2. Communication
3. Service Delivery
4. Government Relations & Citizen Engagement
5. Strategic & Organizational Management
6. Human Resources Management
7. Financial Management
8. Leadership
Review the CMO Competency Framework (PDF)
We encourage those who are pursuing their CMO for the first time to review the CMO Manual and below sample application prior to completing and submitting their own. This is to help ensure that all applicants have a thorough understanding of all application areas and have time to provide the relevant supporting documents to have their application be successful.
Our accreditation team will do a preliminary review of your application once submitted and provide any additional feedback or tips to help ensure your final application is successful.
Review Sample Application (PDF)
Once you have completed and submitted your application, members of our AMCTO Accreditation Review Teams will review and provide their recommendations on your application:
- Three CMO-certified reviewers will independently review your submission
- If you meet the threshold of 85% approval from 2/3 reviewers, you will be recommended for approval for accreditation
- Granting of the designation by the AMCTO Board of Directors at their next meeting
The CMO Maintenance Program replaces the CMO recertification requirement. As a current, active AMCTO member who holds the CMO designation, you are not required to prove competency again, however, you will be required to maintain the designation within the established three (3) year professional development unit (PDU) maintenance program. This will require you to participate in professional development activities over a three (3) year cycle and report the activities to AMCTO in a PDU Log.
You will receive a notice from our accreditation team every three (3) years asking for submission of the PDU Log in order to maintain your CMO designation. You are required to keep supporting documentation for all PDUs claimed, as random audits will be conducted, however, supporting documentation will not be required at the time of submission of the PDU Log.
Anyone who obtained their CMO prior to 2016 will be required to submit a PDU Log prior to December 31, 2018, in order to continue to use the CMO designation. Note: you may claim activities undertaken since June 2015.
60 PDUs are required in one (3) year cycle. PDUs claimed must relate to one of the eight (8) competencies. There must be a minimum of 30 PDUs claimed under continuing education and professional development and the other 30 can be claimed in any category. The categories in which PDUs may be claimed are:
- Continuing education and professional development (1 hour of activity = 1 PDU)
- Professional writing (1 hour of activity = 1 PDU)
- Knowledge-sharing (1 hour of activity = 1 PDU)
- Teaching and presenting (1 hour of activity = 1 PDU)
- Community involvement (1 hour of activity = 1 PDU)
- Self-directed, non-structured learning (2 hours of activity = 1 PDU)
Review PDU Log FAQs (PDF)

Ready to Apply?

Submit your CMO Application

CMO Testimonials

"My recent completion of the CMO program and achievement of my CMO designation is by far my crowning education and professional achievement to date. I found the process and completion of the requirements provided me with a greater personal insight, understanding, and appreciation for the professional attributes attained throughout my career."

- Sheridan L. Graham, CMO
Chief Administrative Officer & Deputy Clerk/Treasurer
County of Peterborough

"By obtaining my CMO, I know I am in a class of astute professionals that have clearly demonstrated both working and practical knowledge in all areas of municipal government."

- Michael Galloway, CMO
Chief Administrative Officer
County of Essex

"The CMO designation is unquestionably the premier qualification for senior municipal officers in local government. While the requirements are extensive and extremely relevant; the process inspired a thorough self-reflection of my leadership and management achievements garnered over my municipal career. "

- Shellee Fournier, CMO, Dipl.M.A.
Chief Administrative Officer/Human Resources
Town of Gananoque

"Preparing my CMO applications was the best personal reflection exercise I have ever done. I have never before taken the time to review my career accomplishments. It proved to be very self-fulfilling"

- Amy Vickery, CMO
City Manager, City of Temiskaming Shores

"The CMO demonstrates a culmination of your municipal governance skills and qualities developed to date, and signifies that you are committed to a career of continual education and self-improvement to the benefit of yourself and your municipality."

- Paul J. Shipway, CMO, AOMC, Dipl.M.A.
Legislative Services Manager/Clerk
County of Middlesex

Become a CMO Today

Cover Photo
Dominika Roseclay

Certified Municipal Officer (CMO)

The Premier Designation for Municipal Managers & Leaders

Getting Started

CMO Testimonials

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