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How to Become Certified
The Certified Economic Developer exam tests a practitioner’s broad-based knowledge in the economic development field.
Rather than testing individuals on their specialties, the CEcD test is intended to unite the field of economic development and establish a baseline of what is considered the core body of knowledge for economic developers. As such, the key subject areas covered in the exam include:
- Business Retention and Expansion
- Strategic Planning
- Marketing/Attraction
- Technology-led Economic Development
- Real Estate Development and Reuse
- Economic Development Finance / Credit Analysis
- Workforce Development
- Neighborhood Development Strategies
- Management Economic Development Organizations
- Entrepreneurial and Small Business Development Strategies
IEDC’s professional development series are designed to give practitioners an in-depth understanding of these subject areas. The course offerings are detailed in the Economic Development Training Courses Overview.
Requirements to Sit for the CEcD Exam
IEDC has developed a process to prepare professionals to take the CEcD examination which combines:
- Experience as a practitioner
- Professional development at practitioner-based training events
- Recognition of other distinctions/certifications that can be related to the competencies of economic development
1. Experience Requirement
Candidates are required to have at least four years of consecutive, paid, full-time economic development related experience. Positions should be directly related to economic development activity. Candidates must provide a recent, detailed resume to verify this criterion.
In the event that a candidate’s years of experience is sufficient, but is interrupted before submission of the application, the four consecutive years must come within six years of the application.
IEDC is no longer accepts CEcD applications under the 10-year experience waiver. All applicants must meet the professional development requirement to be eligible to sit for the exam.
2. Professional Development Requirements
IEDC emphasizes professional development for the Certified Economic Developer. In order to qualify for the exam and ensure that the candidate is exposed to the various aspects of economic development, practitioners will be expected to attend practitioner-based training courses. Practitioner-based training courses are available through:
Candidates are required to take a minimum of six courses. Candidates are encouraged to attend additional courses as they see fit, with the understanding that they will be tested in the eight competency areas.
- First Requirement
Candidates with less than five years experience in economic development must:
- Attend IEDC's Introduction to Economic Development course
- Attend an IEDC-accredited Basic Economic Development Course (BEDC)
- Complete a graduate program in economic development
Candidates with more than five years of paid experience in economic development may choose to waive the required Intro/Basic course, but will be required to show professional development in at least three other electives (see Additional Requirement for Those With Over Five Years Experience below).
Candidates who have completed a graduate program in economic development may waive the requirement of one more additional course, in addition to the introductory course waiver.
- Second Requirement
The second requirement is the equivalency of training in three core competency areas, which are:
- Real Estate Development and Reuse
- Economic Development Credit Analysis
- Business Retention and Expansion
This requirement may be fulfilled by attending these IEDC courses and/or courses offered by the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute (EDI).
CCIM
The CCIM or a demonstrated mastery through the Society of Industrial & Office Realtors (SIOR) in the field of Real Estate Development may be applied to fulfill the Real Estate Development and Reuse requirement.
EDFP
Completion of the finance course or certification through the National Development Council's (NDC) Economic Development Financial Professional (EDFP) may be applied to fulfill the Economic Development Credit Analysis requirement.
At this time, the education and certification committee does not recognize any substitutions for the Business Retention and Expansion course requirement for the CEcD program.
- Third Requirement
The third requirement is the equivalency of 16 hours of professional development in two additional areas of economic development. This may be fulfilled by:
- Taking an additional two IEDC course
offerings based on the professional development needs of the candidate to prepare for the CEcD test.
- Taking an equivalent number of hours of courses through EDI in two additional competency areas (16 hours in a competency area can be substituted for one of the IEDC electives).
- One IEDC two-day course and the equivalency of 16 hours in a single competency area at EDI.
IEDC elective courses include:
- Economic Development Finance Programs
- Economic Development Marketing & Attraction
- Strategic Planning
- Entrepreneurial & Small Business Development Strategies
- Managing Economic Development Organizations
- Neighborhood Development Strategies
- Technology-led Economic Development
- Workforce Development
Additional Requirement for Those with Over Five Years of Experience
Those who have opted out of taking the intro/Basic Course, based on having more than five years experience, will be required to take three electives through IEDC (instead of two) or the equivalent in hours through EDI.
Graduate Degree in Economic Development
A candidate having graduated with a graduate degree in economic development will be granted one additional waiver from one of the three core courses or one of the two electives in addition to the waiver of not having to take an Intro/Basic Course. Candidates with graduate degrees will be required to complete a total of four courses.
Application Forms
Completed exam applications with payment must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the exam date for which you would like sit. The certification committee will thoroughly review candidate applications. Candidates will be notified of their approval or non-approval status one month before their exam date.
Please be sure to read the entire booklet before submitting the application.
» Download CEcD application form (116 Kb PDF)
The CEcD exam retake application form is also available:
» Download CEcD exam retake application (24 Kb PDF)
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