--- title: How do I earn professional development education hours? description: Annual opportunities to earn certification education hours include online courses, conferences, dialogues, and summits, with quizzes required for education credit eligibility. --- [Skip to content](https://www.lgc.montana.edu/knowledge-base/how-can-i-earn-municipal-clerk-/treasurer-professional-development-education-credit#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [More support](https://www.lgc.montana.edu/knowledge-base/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) [Ticket System Portal](https://lgc.montana.edu/tickets-view?hsLang=en) [![LGC Color-1](https://www.lgc.montana.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/LGC%20Color-1.png?width=100&height=100&name=LGC%20Color-1.png)](https://www.montana.edu/extension/localgov/index.html) - [Submit a Ticket](https://www.lgc.montana.edu/knowledge-base/kb-tickets/new) - [View Tickets](https://lgc.montana.edu/tickets-view) - [Subscribers Portal](https://lgc.montana.edu/tickets-view?hsLang=en) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Submit a Ticket](https://www.lgc.montana.edu/knowledge-base/kb-tickets/new) - [View Tickets](https://lgc.montana.edu/tickets-view) - [Subscribers Portal](https://lgc.montana.edu/tickets-view?hsLang=en) - English Show submenu for translations - [More support](https://www.lgc.montana.edu/knowledge-base/kb-tickets/new) - [Ticket System Portal](https://lgc.montana.edu/tickets-view) - [Request a Training](https://40zxa7.share-na2.hsforms.com/2mMH41wA3QYGtjwc4OPWO3w) [Request a Training](https://40zxa7.share-na2.hsforms.com/2mMH41wA3QYGtjwc4OPWO3w) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [MSU Extension Local Government Center](https://www.lgc.montana.edu/knowledge-base?hsLang=en) 2. [Process guides](https://www.lgc.montana.edu/knowledge-base/process-guides?hsLang=en) April 17, 2026 # How do I earn professional development education hours? Attending the [Montana Municipal Institute annual conference](https://www.montana.edu/extension/localgov/newsandevents/municipal-institute.html) each May is the easiest way for Clerks, Treasurers, and Finance Officers to earn education hours for certification. Participants can typically earn about 30 hours per conference and can meet the 100- to 120-hour requirement within four years. But the LGC offers multiple ways to earn education hours including: - [Athenian Dialogues](https://www.montana.edu/extension/localgov/newsandevents/atheniandialogue.html)offered twice a year: - One held during the Institute conference in May - One held alongside the League conference in October - Virtual Athenian Dialogues are also available through IIMC’s website - Each Dialogue is worth 6 hours (3 points) - [Fundamentals of Montana Municipal Government Online Course](https://www.montana.edu/extension/localgov/newsandevents/fundamentals_onlinecourseregistration.html) offered twice a year, once in the spring and again in the fall - the 6-unit course counts for 12 hours but may be counted for credit only once - [Municipal Summits](https://mtleague.org/events/2026-municipal-summits) - Hosted by MMIA, these single-day educational events are offered at locations across the state during the summer. The same sessions are presented at each location. Attendance is worth 6 hours. - Montana League of Cities and Towns Pre-Conference (2 hours) - Participants can earn 2 education hours by attending the League’s annual pre-conference session and completing the quiz component. If no quiz is offered, attendees can earn 1 experience point for participation. - [Montana Rural Water Systems Annual Conference](https://mrws.org/conferences/) - Education hours are not available to earn at this event, but participants can earn experience points by attending the conference, held each March. Please note:  In order to count, education-earning opportunities must: - Be sponsored or co-sponsored by the LGC - Require attendance at all sessions to receive credit - Include a learning assessment (short quiz) participants must complete and pass for each session attended - [FAQs](https://www.lgc.montana.edu/knowledge-base/faqs?hsLang=en) - [Process guides](https://www.lgc.montana.edu/knowledge-base/process-guides?hsLang=en) - [White papers](https://www.lgc.montana.edu/knowledge-base/white-papers?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Voter Review](https://www.lgc.montana.edu/knowledge-base/white-papers?hsLang=en#voter-review) - [Glossary of terms](https://www.lgc.montana.edu/knowledge-base/glossary-of-terms?hsLang=en) - [Product or service descriptions](https://www.lgc.montana.edu/knowledge-base/product-or-service-descriptions?hsLang=en) - [Online Courses](https://www.lgc.montana.edu/knowledge-base/online-courses?hsLang=en) - [LGC Services and Pricing](https://www.lgc.montana.edu/knowledge-base/service-and-pricing) - [Request a Training](https://40zxa7.share-na2.hsforms.com/2mMH41wA3QYGtjwc4OPWO3w) - [Ask the LGC Team a Question](https://40zxa7.share-na2.hsforms.com/2_ory1YLOQQe3qA3hzpNAkg) [![LGC Color-2](https://www.lgc.montana.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/LGC%20Color-2.png?width=100&height=100&name=LGC%20Color-2.png "LGC Color-2")](https://www.montana.edu/extension/localgov/index.html) Resources prepared by the MSU Extension Local Government Center are intended for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. 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