A community development certificate can be obtained with formal training, demonstrating a history of assisting their communities and showing competency through testing. The process is not the same in all areas, so the amount of time and expense required for certification also is not consistent. It also raises some concern about exactly what the certification means, as certification from one organization is not necessarily equivalent to certification from another.
Community development is a specialized area of public service, that may be required to gain employment in this field. Perhaps the best way to get a community development certificate is to go through a national community development organization. In the United States, this is the Community Development Council, which operates five community development institutes located in Illinois, Arkansas, Texas, West Virginia and Idaho.
The requirements for getting a community development certificate can vary drastically from area to area. Organizations that operate on the state, national or international level, or which are recognized by an accrediting agency, typically have the guidelines outlined in a handbook. For a current version of the handbook, it's necessary to contact the organization through their website, or via phone or email.
Organizations usually require a combination of education, community development experience and passing of a written examination. Education can vary from just a handful of courses to a minimum of a bachelor's degree in community and economic development. Depending on the organization, the courses or degree might be completed online or at a specialized facility run by the organization.
Those who desire a community development certificate can fulfill the experience requirements in a wide variety of jobs. For example, they might serve as members of the city council. They also can be paid or volunteer members of landscaping or architectural organizations, social groups, political agencies or academic councils. The certifying organization's handbook normally clarifies what type of experience is acceptable.
Examinations for a community development certificate often have at least two parts. In one section, the candidate must apply knowledge of the organization's community development handbook and current regulations. In another section, the candidate often is required to examine at least one case study. He then must identify the problems present within the case study community, what factors led to those issues and what might help the community recover. Typically, the candidate must pass all sections of the examination to qualify for a certificate.
To qualify to take a community development certificate examination, individuals usually have to send in a formal application to the organization that offers the certification. Once the organization receives the application, they process it, schedule the test for the candidate, oversee the testing process, evaluate the results and notify the candidate whether he passed. Many organizations charge an application fee, which covers the administrative cost of the testing process.
Obtaining a community development certificate usually takes at least one semester at a minimum, such as if a person goes through a local college. If a person goes through a larger organization such as the Community Development Council, however, the education and experience requirements can mean it takes several years to qualify for the certificate examination.