Municipal Elected Leaders Certificate (MELC)

MELC

The Municipal Elected Leaders Certificate (MELC) is a formal recognition of an elected official’s commitment to excellence in municipal leadership and governance.  Developed by the Elected Officials Education Program (EOEP) in partnership with the University of Alberta’s Augustana Extended Education , the MELC is awarded to those who complete all seven core EOEP courses.

Together, these courses form a clear and intentional pathway for professional development in local government.  The MELC reflects your dedications to informed decision-making, collaborative leadership and continuous learning.

Course Credit & Completion Requirements

To earn the Municipal Elected Leaders Certificate (MELC), elected officials must successfully complete all seven EOEP core course.  These courses may be taken in any order and are available through in-person and virtual formats.

Elected officials who completed EOEP courses in a previous council term maintain credit for those course.  There is no need to retake them and they can continue working toward their MELC at their own pace.

Course credit is granted only upon successful completion, in accordance with EOEP’s attendance and cancellation policy.  Registration alone does not guarantee credit.

To confirm which course you have completed or to determine what remains, contact EOEP’s Registrar at registrar@eoep.ca

Program Structure

While each course can be taken independently, they’re all connected by the shared themes of good governance to create a comprehensive learning experience that builds confident, well-rounded municipal leaders. To earn the MELC, elected officials must complete the following seven core EOEP courses:

Course

Focus

Munis 101

Foundations of municipal government, council roles, budgeting, planning and public engagement.

Budgeting & Finance

Financial oversight, budgeting processes, funding sources, and fiscal responsibility.

Land Use Planning & Development

Planning frameworks, long-term land use strategy, development processes and appeals.

Public Engagement

Building trust, managing expectations and integrating public input into decision-making.

Regional Collaboration

Building intermunicipal partnerships, navigating complex relationships and fostering consensus.

Service Delivery

Understanding service models, funding tools, sustainability and performance monitoring.

Strategic Planning

Aligning municipal goals with community needs, setting shared vision and leading with purpose.