OACA Certification Program

INTRODUCTION

Initiated in 1985-86 by the Oregon Association for Court Administration (OACA), the certification program was established to assist members to enhance their training and education in judicial administration. The program provides guidance in obtaining a comprehensive educational program and assisting members in receiving recognition for their knowledge and achievement.

GOALS OF THE PROGRAM

OACA’s goals for the program include the following:

  • will be available to all members;
  • costs of completion will remain reasonable;
  • time of completion of a tier should normally take no more than three years;
  • will be comprised of educational content designed to improve the participants’ effectiveness as court professionals; will enable those participants to receive proper recognition for completion.

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

     To be eligible for participation in the certification program, each member must:

  1. Complete the educational program requirements as described in Education and Certification Program Handbook and,
  2. Submit an application for certification and include all documentation of educational program credits claimed for application toward certification.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Certification as an OACA Certified Court Manager requires successful completion of 100 Educational credit hours. 

Certification as an OACA Professional Court Manager requires successful completion of the Certified Court Manager program and an additional 100 Educational credit hours (200 credit hours total).

Certification as an OACA Professional Court Leader requires successful completion of the Certified Court Manager, the Professional Court Manager program, and an additional 100 Educational credit hours (300 credit hours total). 

EDUCATIONAL CREDIT AREAS

Within the required 100 credit hours for completion of each of the three levels, (OACA Certified Court Manager; OACA Professional Court Manager; and OACA Professional Court Leader), the distribution of Educational credit hours must be as follows:

  1. LEGAL/COURT PROCEDURES = 16 credit hours (16%)
    Legal/court procedures credit hours consist of education in such topics as criminal procedure, civil procedure, handling judgments and executions, processing traffic cases, etc. This area contains credit hours that look at the courts microscopically, in nuts-and-bolts detail.

  2. PERSONNEL/PEOPLE SKILLS = 25 credit hours (25%)
    Personnel/people skills credit hours consist of education in such topics as supervisory skills, effective time management, delegation of authority, etc. This area generally contains credit hours that improve a person’s ability to interrelate with coworkers both laterally and vertically within an organization.

  3. JUDICIAL ORGANIZATION AND THEORY = 16 credit hours (16%)
    Judicial organization and theory credit hours consist of education in such topics as court structure, history of court reform (i.e. unification and state funding), the judiciary’s role in constitutional government, public vs. private sector management, inherent powers and the courts, etc. This area contains credit hours that look at the courts macroscopically.

  4. OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT = 33 credit hours (33%)
    Operations management credit hours consist of education in such topics as financial management, budget administration, caseflow management, jury management, records/facilities management, automation in the courts, security/threats, and inter-agency relations. This area contains credit hours that look at the court operationally.

  5. ELECTIVES = 10 credit hours (10%)
     Elective credit hours may be acquired in any one of the other four required areas so that an applicant may specialize in one area or take further courses of interest. These credit hours must be related to the function as a court clerk or to court administration.

TOTAL:      100 credit hours (100%)