Certification in Professional Main Street™ Management Institute

The National Trust Main Street Center’s Certification in Professional Main Street™ Management Institute ("Certification Institute") provides advanced-level training and certification in the Main Street Four-Point Approach™ to commercial district revitalization.

Who Should Apply?
Admission Criteria
Benefits for You
Curriculum
Tuition
Location and Schedule
Exams & Certification
Important Dates

Who should Apply?

The Certification Institute is not a course for beginners; it is designed to give seasoned professionals advanced tools and problem-solving skills. Although it is not restricted to only people involved in a Main Street program, the methodology taught is grounded in the Main Street Four-Point Approach™, and those attending should be well-versed in its principles. Applicants must demonstrate they have had training in the basics of the Main Street Approach.

Anyone involved in the revitalization of a traditional downtown or neighborhood commercial district can attend. However, attendees must have "field" or direct experience managing a revitalization effort for at least three years using a comprehensive, community-driven approach similar to the Main Street Approach.

Admission Criteria

Interested professionals must meet the criteria outlined below and complete and pass the admissions exam.

1. Professional experience—The Certification in Professional Main Street™ Management Institute is designed to certify a professional’s ability to manage the revitalization of commercial districts using the Main Street Four Point Approach™. We require that applicants have direct field experience managing a commercial district revitalization effort.

Applicants must have a minimum of three-year experience* either:

managing a commercial district revitalization organization or an initiative. The organization could be a Main Street program or another entity that is using a community-driven, comprehensive approach to revitalizing a commercial district; OR
managing other economic or community development organizations or initiatives. The National Trust Main Street Center will consider these applicants on a case-by-case basis.

*The three-years of experience does not have to be consecutive or with one organization or initiative. However, professional experiences with multiple employers, when considered in total, must be on a managerial level and be comprehensive (i.e., involves work around all four points of the Main Street Approach).

2. Prior training in the Main Street Approach™ - The Certification Institute trainers assume that applicants have a basic, if not intermediate, understanding of the Main Street Approach. Participants who do not have command of the basics will find it difficult to participate in the training and pass the unit exams required for graduation. Prior to admission to the Certification Institute, applicants must have:

Successfully completed the Main Street Basic Training offered by the National Trust Main Street Center or
by a Main Street coordinating program.

3. Complete and pass the entrance essay exam

Benefits for Main Street Professionals

Establish yourself as an expert in the revitalization field.
Build your professional skills to manage a commercial district revitalization program and resolve complex problems;
Receive Certified Main Street Manager credentials (CMSM) and gain national recognition;
Explore current revitalization issues presented by industry experts; and
Network with other seasoned professionals

Certification Institute Curriculum

Certification Institute curriculum is divided into four units. Two units are offered each annual session.

Organization — fund raising, office administration, accounting, selection of a nonprofit status, volunteer development, how to facilitate change, and conflict resolution.
Promotion — tourism, image campaigns, special event management, and developing a comprehensive marketing plan.
Economic Restructuring — real estate development, community initiated development, demographics and retail market analysis, business development, and recruitment.
Design — design principles, history of commercial architecture, storefront design, design management, and effective design committees.

To graduate and receive CMSM credentials, a participant must pass a written exam for each of the four units. A participant can graduate from the Certification Institute within two years if he/she is admitted to each of the four units and successfully passes each unit exam given during the February sessions.

Tuition

2008 Admissions Applications must be received on or before October 29, 2007

Tuition covers class instruction, educational materials, and, upon graduation, a certification certificate and pin. Participants are responsible for travel, room, and board. Tuition must be paid in full by December 5, 2007. Space is limited. Payment of tuition reserves a student’s place. Education materials will not be sent without payment.

The 2008 tuition fee schedule is as follows:

	Member Rate*	Non-member Rate
Both Units per session:	$995	$1,218
One Unit:	$498	$610

*Join the Main Street Network and receive lower rates for tuition and conferences as well as other great benefits.

Location and Schedule

The Certification Institute is held each winter at the National Trust’s headquarters at 1785 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20036.

The upcoming session schedule is:

2008 session	Organization and Promotion units	January 21-25, 2008
2009 session	Design and Economic Restructuring units	Please note: The 2009 session is closed to new registrants. If you are interested in learning about future sessions, please email us at mainstreet@nthp.org.

Exams and Certification

Certification Institute students must complete and pass a written exam at the end of each unit. To receive certification, you must complete all four units of the curricula and receive passing scores on all exams. Certification Institute must be completed within four years after attending the first unit.

Students who successfully pass the written exams receive their Certified Main Street Manager (CMSM) credentials, a certificate and pin. They are invited to attend graduation ceremonies held during the opening plenary session of the National Main Street Center’s annual conference in the spring. The National Trust for Historic Preservation publicizes the graduate’s certification status through national, state, and local media.

* PLEASE NOTE: National Trust Main Street Center may change the Certification Institute training and exam delivery to an online system in future years. If so, students accepted to the 2008 session may be able or required to complete their second year virtually. The National Trust will keep accepted students informed about changes, if any.