The Texas Municipal League Institute (TMLI)
About the Texas Municipal League Institute (TMLI)
The Texas Municipal League Institute provides a variety of educational programs to improve the policy-making and leadership skills of elected city officials.
All elected officials are encouraged to learn as much as possible about their governance roles and city government in general. In an effort to reward that commitment to knowledge, special recognition is given to those who complete 42 or more continuing education units in one year.
The TMLI year is defined as January 1-December 31. CEU credits are earned during this 12-month period. In order to receive TMLI credit toward your recognition, you must complete a CEU form and return it to TML within 10 working days of completing each educational event.
The NEW Certified Municipal Official Designation
As of January 1, 2008, an elected city official who completes 72 or more continuing education units in one year will obtain the designation of Certified Municipal Official (CMO). The 72 hours must include two hours of open government training (one hour on the Open Meetings Act and one hour on the Public Information Act), which are required by the State of Texas. All CMOs will receive a lapel pin each year they complete the 72 required hours.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Elected city officials may obtain TMLI continuing education units by attending any TML- sponsored event (an educational program or activity in which TML plays the primary role, including program development, on-site logistics, and/or staff participation). Official TMLI CEU forms will be provided at all TML-sponsored events. Examples of these events are:
- TML Annual Conference
- Elected Officials’ Conference
- TML/AMCC Newly Elected City Officials’ Orientation
- TML-sponsored workshops and pre-conference events
- TML regional meetings
- TML Small Cities’ Problem-Solving Clinics
- Service on a TML committee
- Service on the TML Board or a TML affiliate board
In addition to receiving credits for TML events, up to 19 credits are also awarded for training offered by other organizations (subject to approval). Examples of these events are:
- Training offered by outside organizations
- College courses
- National League of Cities events
- Audio and video tapes (up to 6 CEUs per year)
- Other professional education
If you wish to receive credit for an event that is not directly sponsored by TML, please send a copy of the program indicating the sessions you attended.
Award Levels
You will be awarded one TMLI credit for every 50 minutes of education you receive. The award levels are:
- Award of Recognition 42 CEUs
- Award of Achievement 54 CEUs
- Certified Municipal Official (formerly Certificate of Outstanding Accomplishment) 72 CEUs
- Award of Excellence (an elected official who has received TMLI recognition for five consecutive years)
- Award of Leadership (a city that has had any elected official or combination of elected officials receive a TMLI certificate for at least five consecutive years)
Recognition
- Your name on a plaque in the TML office in Austin.
- Your name listed in the final programs for the Elected Officials’ Conference and the TML Annual Conference.
- Your name listed in the TML magazine, Texas Town & City.
- Use of a TML press release for your local media.
Updated List of TML Educational Programs
To see a current list of TMLI educational programs, click on “Conferences & Education,” or call TML at 512-231-7400.
CEU Statements Online
To view your current statement, click on “Conferences & Education,” and then click on “Current TMLI Participants.”