Congratulations to Our County Officials Institute Graduates!

COI Graduation Ceremony

This September, more than 25 county elected officials and staff will earn their County Officials Institute (COI) certificate, and IAC couldn’t be more proud to celebrate them during our 50th anniversary year. The graduation ceremony will take place during the Annual Business Meeting on Wednesday, September 23, at 10 a.m., as part of the 2026 IAC Annual Conference in Boise (register here).

Getting there wasn’t easy, and that’s the point. Each graduate completed 18 core credits and 12 elective credits, and our county commissioners tackled an additional 10 commissioner core credits on top of that. That’s a lot of sessions attended, drives made between counties, and evenings spent learning after a full day on the job. What they’ve gained goes well beyond a certificate: sharper skills for the office they hold, a stronger network of peers across Idaho, and the confidence that comes with knowing they’re better equipped to serve their communities.

One graduate is going even further, earning the Advanced COI certificate by completing 35 additional COI credits beyond the standard requirement. That kind of commitment to lifelong learning doesn’t happen by accident, and we can’t wait to celebrate!

Looking Ahead

This graduation is also a good moment to share what’s coming next for COI. IAC staff has been working to refresh the course curriculum with the help of IAC’s Education Committee, made up of members of our Board of Directors and established as part of our 2025-2028 Strategic Plan. It’ll be released soon, with updates built to keep pace with the ever-changing landscape of laws and challenges facing Idaho’s counties, so the training you invest your time in stays just as relevant next year as it is today.

And there’s more on the horizon: this fall, keep an eye out for an early look at a new leadership certificate in the works, one more way to grow the skills that help you personally, help your office run better, and help your community thrive.

Please join us in congratulating this year’s graduates on September 23! We can’t wait to see the leadership (and the well-earned bragging rights) they bring back to their counties.