General Manager Certificate (GMC)

General managers can take courses to earn credits toward the completion of the General Manager Certificate (GMC). The GMC program recognizes general managers who have attended the required and elective courses since the program was introduced in 2000. It does not indicate mastery of the educational content. Only courses offered by NTCA may be used to earn the certificate.

General managers are encouraged to enroll in these events and seminars, which are offered in rotation at NTCA meetings and conferences, online and at stand-alone seminars. The certificate program is designed to expose managers to principles and concepts that will help them become highly effective telco executives.

A total of 25 credits from the prescribed list of required and elective courses are needed to earn the general manager certificate. Managers of cooperatives must complete 18 required courses and seven electives. Commercial company executives must complete the first 12 required courses and 13 electives, and they are not required to take any course specific to cooperatives or cooperative boards.

Summary transcripts are sent to telco managers each December. In the intervening months, members may print the Course Requirements Checklist to track progress toward GMC program completion.

Course Requirements Checklist

NTCA General Manager Certificate (GMC) Program

The GMC program recognizes general managers who have attended the recommended and elective courses since the program was introduced in 2000. It does not indicate mastery of the educational content. Only courses offered by NTCA may be used to earn the certificate.

Twelve Required Courses: All managers of commercial and cooperative members
(1 credit each)

	Compensation Issues (M002)
	Employment Law (M003)
	Employee Performance Programs (M004)
	Hiring, Managing and Rightful Termination Practices (M005)
	Leadership (M006)
	Marketing Issues and Strategies (M008)
	Negotiation Skills (M009)
	Project Management (M010)
	Revenue Issues (M001)
	Strategic Planning (M011)
	Team Building (M012)
	Telco Executive Forum (M007)

Six Special Required Courses: All managers of cooperatives
(1 credit each)

	Board/Manager Relations (M101)
	The Board Sets Policy (M102)
	Cooperative Tax (M105)
	Director Legal Liabilities (M106)
	Reviewing and Updating Telco Bylaws (M103)
	Understanding Capital Credits (M104)

Electives (Course #200 and higher)
Cooperative managers will need an additional seven electives, and commercial company managers will need an additional 13 electives. The following is a list of some of the regularly offered courses that would qualify for the GMC Certificate. (1 credit each)

	Board Finance (Cooperatives) (M202)
	Coaching and Counseling (M204)
	Corporate Structure and Strategies (M205)
	Customer Service: Strategies for Success (M206)
	Dealing with Difficult Employees (M207)
	Effective Communications (M201)
	Finance and Accounting Conference (M209)
	Financial Issues and Strategies (M222)
	Human Resources Conference (M210)
	Industry and Regulatory Issues and Strategies (M211)
	Legal Seminar (212)
	Management Strategies & Skill Development (M213)
	PRNet/Marketing Workshop(M214)
	The Role of a Director (Cooperatives) (M215)
	Stress Management (M216)
	Succession Planning (M217)
	IP Possibilities Conference or Wireless Symposium (M219)
	Technology Developments and Strategies (M221)
	Time Management (M218)

Summary transcripts are sent to telco managers each December. In the intervening months, members may print this web page to track progress toward GMC program completion.