The University of Tennessee recently conferred Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster with the designation of Certified Public Administrator. The program is a part of the County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS) and the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service.

The curriculum requires four core classes with exams in subjects that range from audit, capital budgeting, debt management, operating budgets, personnel, and more. Forty elective class credits are also required. These courses are designed to aid county government officials in better managing their staff and serving the public.

The Tennessee County Government Overview course and exam is then required. Following that, a closed book, proctored, exit exam is administered that is designed to test understanding of county government and services, legal issues, and county finances. The final requirement is a three-day training program intended to demonstrate leadership and management skills.

“I made it a personal goal to attain this certification during my first two years in office. I believe it is important to continue to learn, so I made it a priority to invest the time required to complete the program. I’m thankful I was able to meet that goal and believe the training may help me to be more successful for the people of Cumberland County,” said Mayor Foster.