VGFOA Certificate Program
To see a list of individuals who have completed the VGFOA Certificate program go HERE.

The Radford University Governmental and Nonprofit Assistance Center (GNAC) and the VGFOA have established the Virginia Government Finance Officers Certificate Program (V.G.F.O.C.). The purpose of this joint certificate program is to provide training in key areas for finance professionals working in state and local governments in Virginia . The program will ensure that individuals receiving the certificate will have a broad knowledge in government finance as well as knowledge related to governments in Virginia . Because the program is structure to provide the knowledge covered on the CPFO exams, it will provide instructional support for those who wish to pursue that Certification.

Virginia Government Finance Officers (VGFOA) certificate program provides training in many job-related areas and support for those wishing to pursue the national Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) designation.
 

(See the Calendar for scheduled courses).

Purpose of the Certificate Program 

  • Provide training in the areas of accounting, budgeting, cash management, debt, administration, internal controls, Virginia law and other topics pertinent to state and local governments.
  • Provide instructional support for those wishing to pursue the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO).

Requirements 

  • Member of the Virginia Government Finance Officers Association (VGFOA)

  • Primarily employed by a state or local government in Virginia, or last employment with a state or local government locality and seeking a current position in a government

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Technical Competencies 

  • Complete and pass the related exams of the eight core courses

  • Complete and pass the related exam of two of the elective courses

  • Complete the ten courses within a seven-year period unless an extension of time has been requested and granted by the Chairperson of the Education Committee

  • Waivers for certain classes are noted below

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Core Courses

  • Intermediate Governmental Accounting (1)
  • Advanced Governmental Accounting (1)
  • Internal Controls, Auditing and Fraud (1)
  • Operating and Capital Budgeting (3)
  • Cash Management and Banking (2) OR Short Term Investments (2) (note: either class can count as a core class or as an elective class, but one of the two classes must be completed for core courses requirements*)
  • Pensions, Risk Management, and Procurement (5)
  • Virginia Government and Law
  • Issuing Debt and Debt Management (4)

Numbers in parenthesis indicate a waiver (see waiver information below) is available for this course.

* Note: These classes replace the Cash and Investment Management class.  Anyone who has already completed the Cash and Investment Management class may take one of the new classes as an elective.

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Elective Courses  

  • Cash Management and Banking
  • Short Term Investments
  • Human Resources
  • Leadership
  • GASB 45 Training
  • Advanced Cash Management
  • Investing Beyond Short Term Funds
  • Grants Reporting and Auditing
  • Roles & Responsibilities of the Treasurer (Course offered by the Treasurers Association of Virginia)
  • Delinquent Collections (Course offered by the Treasurers Association of Virginia)
  • Bankruptcy (Course offered by the Treasurers Association of Virginia)
  • How to Prepare a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report including Government-Wide Financial Statements for submission to GFOA and ASBO certification program

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Future Courses:

  • Grants Accounting    
  • Personnel management
  • Communication skills
  • Conflict resolution
  • Internal Controls in digital government
  • Measuring & Reporting Financial Condition
  • Ethics, Law and Professional Responsibilities
  • Other classes offered by the VGFOA and approved by the Chairperson of the Education/Certification and Other Courses Committee

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Waivers 

The Core Courses noted above with numbers in parenthesis may be waived upon passing the GFOA CPFO exam noted below with the corresponding number.

(1)   GFOA Governmental Accounting, Auditing and Financial Reporting
(2)   GFOA Cash Management and Investments
(3)   GFOA Operating and Capital Budgeting
(4)   GFOA Debt Management
(5)   GFOA Pension and Benefits, Risk Management and Procurement

The Core Course Intermediate Governmental Accounting may be waived if you are a Certified Public Accountant:

Cost of the Program 

  • Membership dues

  • Registration fee for the classes

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      VGFOA - 919 East Main Street - Suite 1100 - Richmond, VA 23219 - Phone: 804-249-4525 - Fax: 804-783-2286      Email VGFOA
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