Municipal clerks may participate in distance education courses and programs without leaving their offices or homes. Some electronic learning options include on-line internet classes, simulcast programs broadcast to remote locations, and Web conferences. These distance learning opportunities, combined with the traditional classroom education that is offered to us, will help ensure we have the necessary skills to be successful municipal clerks in our continually changing communities. In addition to on-line certification courses, distance education provides clerks with opportunities for professional growth, including studies in records management, parliamentary procedures, management and leadership, budget and finance and legal issues pertinent to the duties of the clerk.

Below is a list of some, but not all, distance learning opportunities for municipal clerks: 

• International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC, includes certification opportunities)
• Colleges, Universities and Community and Technical Colleges
• Association of Records Managers and Administrators (ARMA)
• National Association of Parliamentarians (NAP)
• American Management Association (AMA)
• The Friday Center (includes simulcast programs, which are courses conducted at the Center and broadcast to remote sites)
• North Carolina Bar Association (courses are geared to paralegals)
• Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)
• International Public Management Association for Human Resources (IPMA-HR)
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
• UNC School of Government (most education opportunities are traditional learning)
• North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and History (NCDCR)