North Carolina Certified Economic Developer (NCCED) Program
Offered in partnership with the North Carolina Economic Development Association (NCEDA), the certification program provides practical knowledge concerning the practice of economic development in North Carolina to economic development personnel, elected officials, business leaders and others interested in the field.
Participants who wish to earn the certification must complete seven (7) courses and a capstone project for a total of 84 contact hours. Participants must successfully complete the course of study and pass the capstone project review to earn the North Carolina Certified Economic Developer designation from NCEDA. Program courses may be taken as desired without formal matriculation in the certification program.
All are welcome to take NCCED courses, while only economic development practitioners are eligible to complete the Capstone and become certified. Economic development practitioners are defined as those working in a local, regional, or state economic development organization, a utility provider who works in the company’s economic development division or resource providers whose jobs have at least a 75% focus on economic development. Please contact NCEDA directly liz@nceda.org with any questions regarding certification eligibility.
Criteria for Certification
- Complete all coursework and the Capstone project
- You must be a NCEDA Member
Additional Criteria for all candidates seeking certification starting on or after January 2024.
- Must be a practicing Economic Developer
- If you plan to seek certification, you must have two consecutive years of practicing experience; years of experience as a practitioner can be served while completing the NCCED coursework.
- Participants have 5 years to complete the program from the first course to completion of the Capstone and certification.
Format
Most courses will be hosted on ECU’s campus in the Willis Building Auditorium located at 300 E. 1st Street in Greenville, NC.
Schedule
| Day 1 | 8:30 am - 5:00 pm |
| Day 2 | 8:30 am - 12:30 pm |
Course Schedule
| Annual Dates | Course Title | Location |
| Offered Annually | IEDC Basic Course | UNC Chapel Hill, NC |
| 1/21/2026 | Retention and Expansion | ECU Greenville, NC |
| 4/15/2026 | Innovation and Entrepreneurship | ECU Greenville, NC |
| 5/13/2026 | Attraction in North Carolina | TBA |
| 9/16/2026 | Data and Analytics for Economic Developers in North Carolina | ECU Greenville, NC |
| 11/12/2026 | Organization, Operation, and Strategy for Economic Developers in North Carolina | ECU Greenville, NC |
| 12/10/2026 | Legal Framework for Economic Developers in North Carolina | ECU Greenville, NC |
| December | Capstone Process Begins | Virtual |
IEDC Basic Economic Development Course
Offered at the UNC School of Government
https://www.sog.unc.edu/courses/basic-economic-development
Recertification Guidlines
NCCED Recertification Guidlines Document
FAQ's
Estimated Program Costs
- $445 per Core Corse ($3,115 total)
- IEDC Basic Course at UNC, Estimated at $750
- Membership with NCEDA
- Travel Expenses
- NCEDA Annual Conference (Certification Ceremony)
Most of the courses are offered on ECU Campus.
The Basic Course is offered by and held at UNC School of Government
You may start the course work at any time:
- Each course is offered once per year.
- All courses must be completed before you may take the Capstone Project, which is offered annually.
- Capstone Project applications are accepted in December and the course begins in January.
For more information on the North Carolina Certified Economic Developer program, contact Annette Kariko at karikoa21@ecu.edu