Continuing Education with NCPERS
Whether you’re a new trustee, a seasoned pension executive, or an industry professional, our extensive educational lineup of in-person and virtual programs will keep you informed on the latest issues impacting public pensions.
Continuing education (CE) helps public pension trustees, administrators, and staff strengthen their knowledge, stay current with emerging issues, and meet professional development requirements. NCPERS offers a range of programs designed to build expertise, support effective governance, and help fiduciaries serve their members with confidence.
Why Continuing Education Matters for Public Pensions
Public pension systems face ongoing regulatory changes, evolving investment landscapes, and increased scrutiny. Staying informed is a responsibility, not an option. Continuing education helps professionals:
Strengthen their understanding of fiduciary duties
Make informed decisions about plan design and investments
Stay current on federal and state policy changes
Understand emerging risks, technology, and workforce trends
Build credibility and trust with stakeholders
For some pension professionals, continuing education is also required by their board, state statute or their profession. Participants can view available continuing education opportunities and track earned CE credits directly through their NCPERS membership profile.
How Do I Know if I Need Continuing Education?
If you’re unsure if you need CE, the simplest path is to check with your system’s administrator or board staff. They can confirm whether your position, state laws, or internal policies require CE hours.
Why Do I Need Continuing Education?
You may need continuing education for one of several reasons:
1. Your retirement system or board requires it. Many public pension boards have formal policies that require new trustees to complete orientation training and ongoing education each year or each term. Some systems also set minimum hours or specify certain subject areas.
2. Your state statute mandates training. Several states have laws that require public pension trustees to complete education related to fiduciary duty, governance, ethics, investments, or board administration. If you were appointed or elected to a governing board, your system should tell you whether these rules apply.
3. Your role or profession requires it. Certain positions, such as HR professionals or accountants, may require specialized continuing education to maintain their professional standards and training similar to that of a nurse or doctor.
4. You’ve obtained a certification that requires continuing education. If you hold a credential that must be renewed on a regular basis, you’ll often need continuing education to keep it active. Many professional designations, including the NCPERS Advanced Fiduciary (AF) certification, require participants to complete a specific number of CE hours within a set cycle. These requirements help ensure credential holders stay current in their field. Reviewing the renewal guidelines for your certification will clarify exactly how many hours you need and how frequently they must be completed.
5. You want to stay current. Even when it isn’t required, CE is valuable. It helps you keep up with regulatory changes, investment trends, technology, and the best practices shaping public pensions.
Does NCPERS offer CE through other professional organizations?
Yes. NCPERS is recognized by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) to HR professionals with SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP certifications. Eligible programs, such as the Public Pension HR Summit, will be noted when SHRM PDCs are available.
NCPERS is also in the process of applying to become a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) sponsor through NASBA’s National Registry of CPE Sponsors. Once approved, qualifying NCPERS programs would be able to offer CPE credits that meet nationally recognized standards for the accounting profession. This would allow CPAs and other professionals who rely on Registry-approved education to earn credits needed to maintain their licenses and certifications.
Advance Your Expertise and Earn Continuing Education Credits with NCPERS
No matter where you are in your professional journey, NCPERS’ annual in-person events and webinar programming offer flexible, accredited opportunities to support your professional growth and connect you with peers. View our calendar of upcoming events.
Whether you’re seeking continuing education to fulfill external requirements (such as mandated fiduciary trainings), working to maintain your NCPERS Advanced Fiduciary (NAF) certification or SHRM recertification, or simply looking for professional development opportunities, our extensive educational lineup can help you achieve your goals.
NCPERS University
With three distinct programs tailored for new trustees, seasoned pension executives, or pension professionals, NCPERS University will keep you informed on the latest issues impacting public pensions and prepared for your fiduciary duties.
| Event Name | Description | CE Hours Available |
|---|---|---|
| Trustee Essentials Training | Every trustee's journey starts with a solid foundation. Held each spring, the Trustee Essentials Training (formerly known as TEDS) is an interactive, expert-led program that covers investing, actuarial science, board policies, and governance. | Earn up to 12 CE Hours |
| Fiduciary in Focus Workshop | Take your learning to the next level with the Fiduciary in Focus Workshop (formerly known as PATS). Each fall, this program dives deep into two timely, high-impact topics, giving trustees and plan staff the expertise to tackle critical challenges. | Earn up to 8 CE Hours |
| NCPERS Advanced Fiduciary Institute | Held in both the spring and fall, NCPERS Advanced Fiduciary Institute (NAF) is the next step to elevate your skills as a trustee or pension professional. You’ll gain advanced strategies to strengthen board performance, ensure compliance, manage risk, and address workforce challenges—equipping you to lead a high-performing, resilient pension fund with confidence. | Earn up to 11 CE Hours |
NCPERS Conferences
Held in both the spring and the fall, NCPERS flagship programs offer unparalleled opportunities for trustees, staff, and industry stakeholders to build their expertise and connect with peers.
| Event Name | Description | CE Hours Available |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Conference & Exhibition | As the longest-running educational conference for state and local public pensions, NCPERS Annual Conference & Exhibition (ACE) has become an essential industry event for those seeking to advance their knowledge and connections. ACE features a mix of concurrent and general sessions, making it a perfect fit for varying experience levels and areas of focus. | Earn up to 15 CE Hours |
| Public Safety Conference | Since 1985, NCPERS Public Safety Conference has provided critical education and insights for those managing the retirement security of police officers, firefighters, and other first responders, who face distinct pension considerations compared to other public-sector employees. It's the only national event dedicated to the unique challenges of public safety pension systems. | Earn up to 14 CE Hours |
| Fall Conference | Drawing more than 300 public pension professionals, the Fall Conference facilitates continued learning in a focused, discussion-driven setting. Varied session formats allow for engaging speaking opportunities that blend core topics (i.e. financial, actuarial, legislative, and legal) with emerging issues. | Earn up to 14 CE Hours |
NCPERS Forums
These focused events provide a collaborative space for policy engagement and exploration of funding strategies, helping leaders navigate complex legislative and financial challenges with clarity and confidence.
| Event Name | Description | CE Hours Available |
|---|---|---|
| Legislative Forum & Policy Day | This powerful event is perfect for those involved in pension policy and advocacy efforts. Gain key insights from industry experts, lawmakers, and regulators to better understand the state and federal policy landscape during the Legislative Forum. Then, take that knowledge to Capitol Hill for scheduled meetings with Congressional leaders during Policy Day to ensure your voice is heard. | Earn up to 6.5 CE Hours |
| Public Pension Funding Forum | From data analysis to real-world case studies, this unique event brings together trustees, administrators, finance professionals and leading academics to explore the factors shaping public pension fiscal health. Attendees will dive into current research, evaluate funding models, and examine case studies that reveal what’s working—and what isn’t—at plans across the country. | Earn up to 9 CE Hours |
NCPERS Summits
NCPERS Summits are designed for professional leaders who want to dive deep into the issues shaping their specific roles within public pension systems. Whether you’re a CEO, CIO, HR professional, communications or member services leader, each summit offers targeted education and networking tailored to your unique challenges and opportunities.
| Event Name | Description | CE Hours Available |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Officers Summit | With an agenda crafted by pension CEOs and CIOs themselves, attendees engage in joint sessions and specialized tracks that dive deep into leadership, strategic planning, human capital management, and more. This is a rare opportunity for pension leaders to collaborate, exchange invaluable insights, and develop forward-thinking strategies for the future. | Earn up to 10.5 CE Hours |
| Communications & Member Services Summit | New technologies, changing member expectations, and emerging regulations are reshaping how public pensions engage with stakeholders. With an emphasis on peer-to-peer learning, you'll find out how other public pensions are successfully reaching plan participants, educating beneficiaries, and implementing technology to better serve their members. | Earn up to 14 CE Hours |
| Public Pension HR Summit | The program—developed by fellow public pension HR professionals—offers the perfect balance between hands-on training with industry experts, networking, and peer-to-peer learning. You’ll have the opportunity to earn SHRM credits and connect with a supportive community that understands the unique dynamics shaping the future of public pension HR. |
Earn up to 12 SHRM PDCs |
National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems (NCPERS) is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities
Frequently Asked Questions: Earn Continuing Education (CE) Hours
Yes. All NCPERS programs offer continuing education credits. The number of credits varies by program. Participants receive CE certificates at the end of each program that they can submit to their board, employer, or credentialing body.
You will receive a certificate after completing a program. This information is also available in your NCPERS membership profile.
You can access your certificates directly through your NCPERS account.
CE hours earned through NCPERS are tracked through your membership profile. You are, however, responsible for maintaining a record of your CE hours from external organizations. NCPERS recommends:
- Downloading and saving certificates after each program
- Keeping a personal CE log
Best practice suggests annual continuing education, with additional training for newly appointed trustees. We suggest new trustees start with NCPERS Trustee Essentials Training to master the fundamentals.
Many systems also require refresher training during each term of service. Explore upcoming educational events here.
Yes. NCPERS webinars and virtual programs qualify for CE hours.
Yes. NCPERS is an Accredited Training Provider by the Texas Pension Review Board for CE only.
- The Public Pension HR Summit offers up to 12 PDCs.
- Select NCPERS webinars qualify for 1 PDC (indicated within the webinar description).
No, each summit, conference, and webinar offers a different amount of CE.
The NCPERS Education & Events team is here to help. If you have questions about CE requirements, certificates, NAF tracking, or external credit submissions, you can reach us anytime at education@ncpers.org. We’re happy to assist you with navigating the CE process and making sure you receive the credit you’ve earned.