IAP2 USA ONLINE COURSES

Global Certificate in P2 Courses

IAP2 Certificate in Public Participation – We are very excited to be launching the next evolution of training that builds on our foundational best practices. Our flagship Foundations training program has been updated and now consists of three core courses. Visit our training calendar to register for updated course offerings.

IAP2 USA's Certificate in Public Participation (P2) consists of 3 core courses - Fundamentals of Public Participation, Designing Public Participation, and Applying Methods. Based on IAP2's internationally recognized Global Learning Pathway, this professional development certificate program builds on the foundations of public participation training and best practices from around the globe to provide participants with approximately 30 hours of effective training in public participation and engagement.

Fundamentals of Public Participation (Prerequisite to other courses)

Who: For all practitoners

This course:

  • Explores IAP2’s best practices and underlying frameworks to create meaningful participation and reflect on one’s own existing practice
  • Centers diversity, equity and inclusion in the practice of engagement
  • Allows participant’s to apply this knowledge to their own public participation practice

Designing Public Participation

Who: For practitioners who are leading the planning and implementation of public participation processes

This course:

  • Helps practitioners design an engagement process and plan for a real-world scenario

Applying Methods

Who: For practitioners who are part of a team implementing a public participation process and are looking for the practical skills to be effective in designing and applying methods.

This course:

  • Provides opportunities to practice and evaluate methods
  • Demonstrates ways to blend methods into hybrid techniques
  • Shares techniques to craft questions to draw out meaningful input
Learn More!

As a key leader in the public participation sector IAP2 USA provides skills-based learning to people and organizations on what they need to know and do, so that they can successfully develop, deliver, and lead authentic engagement processes.

"I wanted to tell you that I’m getting great feedback from everyone and it’s truly been a life changing experience for some, which I knew it would be. I can’t thank you enough for your help this past week and I look forward to two more trainings for the rest of my Public Outreach & Engagement Peer Group. We have about 45 people all being trained with IAP2. Just think what a difference that will make in our Agency moving forward!"

Deanna J. Desedas, Public Outreach & Engagement Manager
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

All Upcoming Courses

  • IAP2's Applying Methods in Public Participation

    • September 17, 2024
    • September 20, 2024
    • 4 sessions
    • Online with Trainer Kimberly Horndeski
    • 20

    IAP2 Applying Methods

    IAP2’s Applying Methods introduces practitioners to a large number of public engagement methods, working through the selection, design, question development and implementation considerations for how we bring people together in person and online. Learning by doing, practicing, experiencing and leading methods is core to this participatory course that gives participants access to tip sheets and ‘how to’ info for more than 75 methods.

    By the end of the section participants will be able to:

    • Identify a range of methods which can be used for various P2/engagement purposes and processes, and strategies to select the most appropriate method/s for an P2/engagement project/ process

    • Research, design and test a F2F and/or online method using a range of tools and resources.

    • Apply the 4 steps of designing a method incorporating the 8 key components of method design:

    • Develop rational and experiential aims

    • Design an appropriate format

    • Design questions and process

    • Develop appropriate communications

    • Combine methods to achieve P2/engagement goals and objectives and test for appropriate sequencing

    • Incorporate inclusion and diversity principles

    • Identify data management needs, evaluation points and measures

    • Identify resources required

    • Explore a variety of both F2F and online methods/techniques that are more structured process and have nested methods within them (E.g., Deliberative processes, Appreciative Inquiry and Open Space Technology)

    • Analyze the specific requirements for online and digital methods, identify and select appropriate platforms and tools to meet needs, and strategies to develop these methods for delivery

    • Identify principles for monitoring online activity

    • Test the design by running elements of the method and submitting to peer review using a checklist

    • Apply methods to achieve P2/engagement goals and objectives including using effective communication skills, and test for appropriate sequencing

    • Design key messages and communication tools that build trust and integrity, and meet the needs of diverse audiences

    Dates: 

    This course consists of four - 4 hour live virtual sessions. Sessions will be held on September 17 - 20, 2024  from 1:00 to 5:00 ET.

    Click here to register on trainer's website! 

    Trainer: Kimberly Horndeski

    Kimberly is a certified mediator, facilitator, and the Executive Director for Community Consulting LLC. Her work focuses on integrating policy and science to engage stakeholders, develop strategic plans, promote collaboration, and transform conflict into successful strategies for the future. She has led multiple state and national working groups to overcome challenges and reach consensus. Her projects include bottom-up approaches, such as working with nonprofits to develop effective strategies to engage elected officials in adopting initiatives, and top-down approaches, such as assisting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service throughout the nation to incorporate stakeholder values in the decision-making processes for federally-listed threatened and endangered species.

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  • IAP2's Understanding People and Communities

    • September 19, 2024
    • September 20, 2024
    • 2 sessions
    • Online with Trainer Cassie Hemphill

    IAP2's Understanding People and Communities 



    Discover and apply deep understanding and insights into the people and communities involved in P2/engagement processes, to make the processes more meaningful and effective. This Level 1 course provides an introduction to working with diversity, equity and inclusion in P2/engagement.



    **Fundamentals of Public Participation is the prerequisites for this course

    COURSE OBJECTIVES:

    • Identify and apply an approach for understanding people and communities for P2/engagement processes
    • Reflect on factors of cultural competence and cultural humility, and assess your practice and approach against the factors to identify areas of strength and growth
    • Apply a variety of analysis and mapping tools to understand diversity and map values
    • Identify ways to increase access and center equity by reducing barriers to participation
    • Reflect on how to build rapport, trust and relationships with people and communities, and apply and assess approaches in a P2/engagement scenario
    • Assess and apply knowledge to planning and implementation of meaningful and effective P2/engagement across the Practice Framework

    MUST REGISTER ON TRAINERS WEBSITE!

    Click Here to Register!

      Professional Certification/Credits

      Trainer: Cassie Hemphill 

      Cassie Hemphill has more than 25 years of experience in designing and leading public participation and engagement processes and projects. Her work has included environmental and natural resource management, healthcare delivery, education, and community-based human services. She has been creating and delivering remote and in-person training experiences for professionals and community members for more than 15 years.

      Cassie has been involved with IAP2 since 2003. She helped create IAP2 USA’s Professional Certification program, assisted with updates and development of IAP2’s course materials, and has served on the USA and Intermountain Chapter boards. She currently serves as an IAP2 Licensing Programme Mentor, preparing candidates from around the world to become IAP2 Licensed Trainers.

      Cassie’s Ph.D. research explored public/private collaboration in environmental management. Her M.A. research analyzed decision-makers' openness to public input. She has a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution and is an IAP2 USA Certified Public Participation Practitioner (CP3), a Certified Mediator (CM), and a Certified Virtual Facilitator (CVF).



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    1. IAP2's Fundamentals of Public Participation

      • October 02, 2024
      • October 03, 2024
      • 2 sessions
      • Online with Trainer Cassie Hemphill

      Fundamentals of Public Participation

      *Fundamentals in P2 is the prerequisite course before taking Designing Public Participation and Applying Methods*


      The Fundamentals of Public Participation (P2) course is a prerequisite to other courses in the Global Learning Pathway that sets out the underpinning models and frameworks of engagement practice as defined by the IAP2 community. 

      The focus of this course is on understanding and applying the practices of meaningful and effective P2 and what participants need to know to do this well. The training explores best practices, and how to design and apply this knowledge to your P2.

      Couse Objectives

      By the end of this course participants will be able to:

      • Define P2 and related terms and what makes it unique

      • Identify what makes P2 meaningful, and reflect on the benefits, risks and myths related to P2

      • Identify the role that values play in P2 work, and the leadership attributes that will serve them in practice 

      • Reflect on and apply ethical leadership actions and abilities to P2 situations

      • Apply the Profiles of P2 model to P2, and explore organization- and community-led engagement and how that impacts the engagement process

      • Reflect on and apply the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, and explore the roles and impacts of power and influence

      • Apply the IAP2 Spectrum to P2 situations and practice

      • Explore the Practice Framework as a tool for effective planning and process, and assess the quality of the process

      _______________________________________________________________________________________________

      This is an IAP2 core training course delivered externally by an IAP2 licensed trainer. MUST REGISTER ON TRAINERS WEBSITE! 

      Click Here to Register on trainers website!

      ________________________________________________________________________________

      Professional Certification/Credits

      Cost:

      • Members $275
      • Regular/Non-Member $325

      Date/Time of Training:

      September 4 - 5, 2024 

      Schedule breakdown:

      • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM MST 
      • One hour lunch break 
      • 1:00 PM - 3:00PM MST 

      _______________________________________________________________________________________________

      This is an IAP2 core training course delivered externally by an IAP2 licensed trainer. MUST REGISTER ON TRAINERS WEBSITE! 

      Click Here to Register on trainers website!

      ___________________________________________________________________________________

      Trainer: Cassie Hemphill 

      Cassie Hemphill has more than 25 years of experience in designing and leading public participation and engagement processes and projects. Her work has included environmental and natural resource management, healthcare delivery, education, and community-based human services. She has been creating and delivering remote and in-person training experiences for professionals and community members for more than 15 years. 

      Cassie has been involved with IAP2 since 2003. She helped create IAP2 USA’s Professional Certification program, assisted with updates and development of IAP2’s course materials, and has served on the USA and Intermountain Chapter boards. She currently serves as an IAP2 Licensing Programme Mentor, preparing candidates from around the world to become IAP2 Licensed Trainers. 

      Cassie’s Ph.D. research explored public/private collaboration in environmental management. Her M.A. research analyzed decision-makers' openness to public input. She has a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution and is an IAP2 USA Certified Public Participation Practitioner (CP3), a Certified Mediator (CM), and a Certified Virtual Facilitator (CVF). 

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    2. IAP2 Working with Conflict and High Emotion

      • October 08, 2024
      • October 17, 2024
      • 4 sessions
      • Online with Trainer Cassie Hemphill

      IAP2's Working with Conflict and High Emotion


      The focus of this Level 3 course is on de-escalating and shifting conflict and high emotion to constructive participation, where forward momentum and resolution are possible.

      Participants will gain a deep understanding of the state of conflict, and work with practical, tangible approaches to deescalate and transform challenges. Over the course, we will cover tools, strategies and ways of working to resolve polarized and emotional challenges.


      **You must first complete Fundamentals of Public Participation or IAP2's previous Foundations Training to take this course**

      COURSE OBJECTIVES:

      • Assess the state of conflict and emotion in the
      • P2/engagement process, and create productive and constructive approaches
      • Work with the stages of conflict escalation and apply he concepts of de-escalation
      • Apply a variety of strategies to transform the conflict in P2/engagement
      • Identify the impact of high emotion and apply a range of approaches to deescalate challenges
      • Identify how to reduce conflict in situations of misinformation and dueling facts
      • Apply the principles of storytelling to connect people to each other, increase understanding and reduce conflict
      • Learn from mistakes and understand the role of failure in P2/engagement processes
      • Identify and apply how to mo0del integrity and behaviors hat deescalate conflict
      • Apply the strategies and tools to your own project or situation

      WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE: Level 2 and 3 practitioners who are:

      • leading and managing P2/engagement processes with challenges, scope and scale looking for tools and strategies to apply to a polarized, charged P2/engagement environment
      • Practitioners with experience in P2/engagement processes where there is conflict and/or high emotion

      By the end of Working with Conflict and High Emotion, you will be ready to travel on a journey that improves mutual understanding, changes relationships and systems to meet human needs, contributes to building peace and creates lasting change.

      ________________________________________________________________________________


      This is an IAP2 core training course delivered externally by an IAP2 licensed trainer. MUST REGISTER ON TRAINERS WEBSITE!

      Click Here to Register on trainers website! 

      ________________________________________________________________________________

      Cost:

      • Members $550
      • Regular/Non-Member $650

      Date/Time of Training:

      October 8, 10, 15 and 17, 2024 

      • 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM MST 
      • One hour lunch break 
      • 1:00 PM to 3:00PM MST 

      ________________________________________________________________________________


      This is an IAP2 core training course delivered externally by an IAP2 licensed trainer. MUST REGISTER ON TRAINERS WEBSITE!

      Click Here to Register on trainers website! 

      ________________________________________________________________________________


      Trainer: Cassie Hemphill 

      Cassie Hemphill has more than 25 years of experience in designing and leading public participation and engagement processes and projects. Her work has included environmental and natural resource management, healthcare delivery, education, and community-based human services. She has been creating and delivering remote and in-person training experiences for professionals and community members for more than 15 years. 

      Cassie has been involved with IAP2 since 2003. She helped create IAP2 USA’s Professional Certification program, assisted with updates and development of IAP2’s course materials, and has served on the USA and Intermountain Chapter boards. She currently serves as an IAP2 Licensing Programme Mentor, preparing candidates from around the world to become IAP2 Licensed Trainers.

      Cassie’s Ph.D. research explored public/private collaboration in environmental management. Her M.A. research analyzed decision-makers' openness to public input. She has a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution and is an IAP2 USA Certified Public Participation Practitioner (CP3), a Certified Mediator (CM), and a Certified Virtual Facilitator (CVF).


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    3. IAP2's Fundamentals of Public Participation

      • October 09, 2024
      • October 10, 2024
      • 2 sessions
      • Online with Trainer Craddock Stropes
      • 16
      Register

       Fundamentals of Public Participation

      First course to be taken before Designing Public Participation and Applying Methods

      The Fundamentals of Public Participation (P2) course is a prerequisite to other courses in the Global Learning Pathway that sets out the underpinning models and frameworks of engagement practice as defined by the IAP2 community.

      The focus of this course is on understanding and applying the practices of meaningful and effective P2 and what participants need to know to do this well. The training explores best practices, and how to design and apply this knowledge to your P2.

      Course objectives

      By the end of this course participants will be able to:

      • Define P2 and related terms and what makes it unique
      • Identify what makes P2 meaningful, and reflect on the benefits, risks and myths related to P2
      • Identify the role that values play in P2 work, and the leadership attributes that will serve them in practice 
      • Reflect on and apply ethical leadership actions and abilities to P2 situations
      • Apply the Profiles of P2 model to P2, and explore organization- and community-led engagement and how that impacts the engagement process
      • Reflect on and apply the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, and explore the roles and impacts of power and influence
      • Apply the IAP2 Spectrum to P2 situations and practice
      • Explore the Practice Framework as a tool for effective planning and process, and assess the quality of the process

      Professional Certification/Credits

      THIS COURSE

      #1 Fundamentals of Public Participation (2 - 4 hour sessions CM I 8 CM) 

        October 9 -10, 2024     1 PM – 5 PM ET

        Members $275 --  Regular $325

        Last day to Register July 19, 2024

         — Cancellation and Substitution policy —

        **You must first complete this module before Designing Public Participation and Applying Methods**

        ________________________________________________________________________

        NEXT COURSE

        #2 IAP2's Designing & Leading Public Participation (4 - 4 hour sessions CM I 18 CM) 

          October 15 - 18, 2024 1 PM – 5 PM ET

          Members $550 -- Regular $650 


          FINAL COURSE

          #3 IAP2's Applying Methods for Public Participation (4 - 4 hour sessions CM I 18 CM) 

            November 4 - 7, 2024     1 PM – 5 PM ET

            Members $550 -- Regular $650 


            Certificate Program - All Three Modules 

                    Regular $1,625  Members $1,375 


              Trainer:

              Craddock Stropes (she/her) is a facilitator, trainer and coach with more than 25 years of experience in the local government and non-profit sectors. Her work centers on connecting people with ideas to create inclusive, strategic and tangible solutions that make everyday lives better. She is chair of the IAP2 USA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee, a member of the American Public Works Association national DEI Committee and is active in the International Network of Asian Public Administrators. She has presented learning sessions on inclusion, public engagement and crisis communications for Connect, California Association for Public Information Officers, Public Relations Society of America, American Public Works Association and Transforming Local Government conferences. She is currently a senior management analyst for the City of Carlsbad.

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            • IAP2's Designing & Leading Public Participation

              • October 15, 2024
              • October 18, 2024
              • 4 sessions
              • Online with Craddock Stropes and Cathy Smith
              • 14
              Register

              **You must first complete Fundamentals of Public Participation before this course**

              Four 4-hour sessions

              October 15 - 18, 2024
              1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Eastern
              12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Central
              11:00 p.m. -3:00 p.m. Mountain

              10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Pacific


              Designing & Leading Public Participation

              Designing & Leading Public Participation (P2) is a Level 2 course that introduces practitioners to the design and plan phases of the practice framework, providing them with the opportunity to develop P2 plans. This includes scoping, community mapping, determining purpose and objectives and levels of influence, choosing appropriate methods and managing resources, while considering the needs of diverse audiences. The course is suitable for practitioners who are leading the planning and implementation of P2 processes.

              Course objectives:

              1. For a real-world scenario, design an engagement process and plan that includes:

              • Develop a clear scope of the work, problem or opportunity with identified negotiables and non-negotiables
              • Conduct detailed stakeholder analysis, community mapping and equity analysis
              • Identify appropriate roles and levels of influence for key participants
              • Establish clear engagement purpose and objectives and success criteria/measures to suit scenario
              • Identify relevant profiles of engagement
              • Conduct a detailed risk/opportunities assessment
              • Identify key roles for senior leaders and decision makers

              2. Explore principles and approaches for equity, diversity and inclusion, and apply them to stakeholder analysis

              3. Embed digital strategies, platforms, tools and methods as part of the plan and process

              4. Develop an evaluation framework to suit the scenario

              5. Identify key roles and resources needed to implement the P2/engagement plan

              6. Develop and apply a suitable presentation to senior leaders that will secure commitment and resources for the P2/engagement plan

              7. Identify the many different contexts of engagement, including the elements present in more complex engagement scenarios

                Professional Certification/Credits

                THIS COURSE

                  #2 Designing & Leading Public Participation (4 - 4 hour sessions CM I 16 CM) 

                    October 15 - 18, 2024       1 PM – 5 PM ET

                    Members $550 -- Regular $650 

                    Last day to Register December 8, 2023

                    PLEASE NOTE: IAP2 USA members must be logged in to receive the member rate. International IAP2 members can contact info@iap2usa.org for a code to register. 

                     — Cancellation and Substitution policy —

                    **You must first complete Fundamentals of Public Participation before this course**

                    ________________________________________________________________________

                    PREREQUISITE COURSE

                    #1 Fundamentals of Public Participation (2 - 4 hour sessions CM I 8 CM) 

                      October 9 - 10,  2024        1 PM – 5 PM ET O

                      Members $275 --  Regular $325

                      Last day to Register: December 1, 2023 

                      REGISTER FOR FUNDAMENTALS

                      FINAL COURSE

                      #3 Applying Methods for Public Participation (4 - 4 hour sessions CM I 16 CM) 

                        November 4 - 7, 2024     1 PM – 5 PM ET

                        Members $550 -- Regular $650 


                        Certificate Program - All Three Modules (10 - 4 hour Sessions) 

                              Regular $1,625  Members $1,375  


                        Trainer: Craddock Stropes

                        Craddock Stropes (she/her) is a facilitator, trainer and coach with more than 25 years of experience in the local government and non-profit sectors. Her work centers on connecting people with ideas to create inclusive, strategic and tangible solutions that make everyday lives better. She is chair of the IAP2 USA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee, a member of the American Public Works Association national DEI Committee and is active in the International Network of Asian Public Administrators. She has presented learning sessions on inclusion, public engagement and crisis communications for Connect, California Association for Public Information Officers, Public Relations Society of America, American Public Works Association and Transforming Local Government conferences. She is currently a senior management analyst for the City of Carlsbad.


                        Trainer: Cathy Smith