The North Carolina State Budget Professional Certification is a collaboration between the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) and the UNC School of Government to develop and offer an academic state budget certification program. Upon successful completion of the program and exams, students will be certified as a state budget professional from OSBM. 

Participants can register for one week at $670 each, or register for all three weeks and receive a 10% discount.

This course will be held in-person at the School of Government in Chapel Hill, NC

The North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management, through consultation with an Advisory Board of state Chief Financial Officers, Budget Directors, and others, has identified training and career advancement opportunities for state budget professionals as key to enhancing the work product of budget professionals statewide and increasing retention rates among state budget professionals.  

Foundational skills and knowledge identified by OSBM, the Advisory Board and the School of Government include: 

Week 1: Introduction to North Carolina’s Budget Process: 
Overview of the State of North Carolina’s Structure and History
Primer on State Revenues
State Budget Administration and Law for Operating Budgets
State Budget Administration and Law for Capital Budgets

Week 2: Understanding the Data:
Budget Strategy and Analytical Thinking
Performance Management, Program Evaluation, and Strategic Planning
Data Analytics

Week 3: Understanding the Systems and the Language of Budgeting 
Communicating about the Budget
Accounting for Budget Professionals
Purchasing and Contracting
Federal Grants Management
Primer on Local Government Budgeting

TENTATIVE FUTURE DATES: 
Make-up exams will be held on Monday mornings

2025:
Week 1: Feb 24-28 
Week 2: June 2-6
Week 3: Oct 13-17

2026:
Week 1: April 27 - May 1
Week 2: June 1-5
Week 3: October 12-16