What is the County Officials Institute (COI)?
The County Officials Institute is IAC’s professional development program for Idaho’s county elected officials and staff. It exists to do what IAC has committed to since 1976: equip county leaders with the knowledge to govern well and the confidence to make sound decisions on behalf of the people they serve. Click here to view the new 2026 – 2028 Course Curriculum and educational tracks.
Why participate in the County Officials Institute (COI)?
This program delivers a range of outcomes, foremost among them officials and staff who understand their responsibilities well enough to act on them with confidence. Participants leave each session with practical knowledge they can apply immediately — in budget decisions, policy questions, personnel matters, and the daily judgment calls of public service. Over time, that knowledge builds into a professional foundation: a clearer grasp of the role, of county government, and the standing that comes from taking the job seriously.
How is progress recognized?
Every step forward is marked — through formal recognition at IAC events and a series of milestones built into each track: certificates, lapel pins, name badge ribbons, challenge coins, things you can point to and be proud of.
What you walk away with runs deeper than any credential: practical knowledge you can put to work immediately, the confidence to act instead of guess, a reputation among peers as someone who takes the role seriously, and relationships with officials who get the job the way you do — the people you’ll actually call when it matters. Together, that’s a professional foundation, and the standing that comes from doing it well.
How much does it cost to participate in the County Officials Institute (COI)?
There is no fee to participate in COI. Virtual webinars are always free and available on-demand, so you can complete coursework on your own schedule. In-person events — Fall COI, Spring COI, the IAC Midwinter Legislative Conference, the IACC Annual Conference, and the IAC Annual Conference — carry their own registration fees, separate from COI itself.
I’m in! How do I enroll in the County Officials Institute (COI)?
There’s no application and nothing to sign up for in advance. Attend any IAC or IACC event that offers COI credits, or watch a virtual webinar, and you’re automatically enrolled — no extra steps on your end. Just be sure to record your attendance at each event using the sign-in sheet or QR code; from there, IAC tracks your progress toward every track you’re pursuing.
Questions?
If you have any questions about your COI credits or about the COI events and registration, please contact Savannah Renslow at srenslow@idcounties.org or 208.514.0413.