The Information Technology Leadership Academy (ITLA) is an 18-week program for public sector IT professionals with a focus on developing the critical leadership skills needed by the state’s IT workforce.

Participants in the academy are selected from state and other public agencies and departments that work in information technology programs. Individuals with a vision for enterprise-wide thinking, strong potential for career advancement into executive or senior management positions, and experience carrying out their organization’s mission and vision are encouraged to apply.

To be considered for acceptance, candidates must be currently serving in an IT managerial or IT supervisory capacity (or similar classification levels within our state’s cities and counties) and should ideally possess at least three years experience in one or a combination of both levels combined and/or have completed the Department of Technology’s (CDT) Emerging IT Leaders Boot Camp (EITL BC).

Less experienced IT managers or supervisors are strongly encouraged to attend our EITL BC first or instead, which has been specifically designed to address the leadership challenges and best practices for this demographic. To learn more, please visit our EITL BC webpage, which describes the program in greater detail.

The program cost is $5,400 per participant.

This cost does not include a 22% cost distribution fee charged by the Department of Technology (CDT) which is our standard practice and will be included in the direct billing. For more information, please see CDT’s Service Rates webpage.

ITLA participants expand their skills in leadership, executive presentations, and team building. As they hone their skills, students also learn about strategic planning, coaching, and mentoring best practices to ensure good succession planning. ITLA also incorporates best practices and strategies needed to lead successfully in a remote/hybrid environment throughout the curriculum. 

ITLA includes classroom sessions taught by vendor partners, IT executives, and prior graduates. Throughout the program, students contribute to lively group discussions, share their experiences, and collaborate to address real-life scenarios that address the state’s unique leadership challenges. To ensure participants have a positive experience, each academy class also has two carefully selected Program Coaches who are typically prior graduates of ITLA. Coaches attend class sessions, share their leadership best practices and challenges, and provide guidance and support to students along the way.

Before applying for acceptance, candidates should carefully consider the time commitment associated with this academy, which includes not only attending scheduled courses three (3) days per week for the duration of the program but also the completion of several additional program activities which are discussed below in more detail within the Frequently Asked Questions section. Since student workload will very likely need to be redirected to accommodate ITLA’s programmatic expectations, candidates are strongly encouraged to discuss the commitment level with his/her direct supervisor/manager first and ensure he/she has the full support of their management team.

Due to continued student interest in completing our training academies primarily using a remote platform, many class sessions for the 2026 program will be conducted online using Zoom. However, due to the high value associated with completing certain courses in-person, students should anticipate attending some sessions in-person at the CDT’s Training and Education Center (TEC), located in Rancho Cordova, CA. Dates for all class sessions will be provided if accepted into the program.

It is important to note that while CDT always encourages non-local (outside the Sacramento area) students to apply for ITLA, the expectation is that all students should make arrangements to attend in-person classes regardless of location. To assist with planning, the ITLA 2026 Program Schedule and Calendar will be provided to all students accepted into this year’s program for careful review before formally committing to the program and will identify which sessions will be conducted online versus in-person only so appropriate arrangements can be made. Sessions delivered in-person will not be recorded, are not offered via hybrid, and cannot be made up at a later date.

Participants will meet interesting and dynamic peers who are recommended by their department’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) and selected for the program. In addition, they will also have the opportunity to collaborate with guests and experts from other state agencies and leaders in the state’s IT community

ITLA 33 is open to candidates who are currently serving within IT managerial or IT supervisory classifications (or similar classifications within our state’s cities and counties) who ideally possess at least three years’ experience in one or a combination of these roles and/or who have completed the CDT’s Emerging IT Leaders Boot Camp (EITL BC), though the completion of the EITL BC is not a required pre-requisite for acceptance.

The ITLA application period is now open and closes at 5:00 p.m. on October 29, 2025. The following documents must be submitted for your application to be considered complete:

• Formal application
• A signed Chief Information Officer (CIO) Authorization form – Please secure this before beginning your application, as you will be unable to save information once you start the process. (NOTE: Form must be downloaded to sign)

Important Note: To ensure your application package is verified as being complete by the Office of Professional Development (OPD), applicants should submit their application responses and their CIO Authorization Form on the same date. Due to the high volume of applications received, candidates who submit these documents on different dates risk their package not being fully accounted for and included for scoring and selection.

Finally, candidates should keep in mind that acceptance is based on the quality of their application responses. Therefore, responses to the application prompts should thoroughly address each question and should be carefully and thoughtfully reviewed before final submission.

For questions and further information, please contact the Office of Professional Development at ITLA@state.ca.gov.

What is the cost for ITLA 33?

The cost for ITLA 33 is $5,400 per student and is paid for by their department/agency.

When does ITLA 33 start and end?

ITLA 33 starts on January 7, 2026, and ends on May 6, 2026.

How many class sessions are scheduled each week?

Students should expect to attend class sessions three (3) days per week, on average, for the duration of the program. The Office of Professional Development (OPD) will provide the Program Schedule and Calendar to students upon acceptance into the program for their review and will identify which sessions are scheduled to be conducted in-person versus remotely.

How will class sessions be conducted, and what are the technical requirements for attending?

Due to continued student interest in completing our training academies primarily using a remote platform due to many departments’ incorporation of a remote/hybrid workforce model, many of the class sessions for the 2026 program will be conducted online using Zoom. However, due to the high value associated with completing certain courses in person, students should also anticipate attending multiple sessions in-person at the CDT’s Training and Education Center (TEC), located in Rancho Cordova, CA. Dates for all class sessions will be provided if accepted into the program.

It is important to note that while CDT always encourages non-local students to apply for ITLA, the expectation is that all students should make arrangements to attend in-person classes regardless of location. To assist with planning, the ITLA 2026 Program Schedule and Calendar will be provided to all students accepted into this year’s program for careful review before formally committing to the program and will identify which sessions will be conducted online versus in-person so appropriate arrangements can be made.  

ITLA will be using Microsoft Teams to house all program-related documents and Zoom will be the delivery medium for all remote class sessions. Students must be able to access these platforms. In addition, students are expected to possess a fully functioning camera and microphone so they can actively participate in class sessions.

What are the core hours for the program?

Core hours for ITLA 33 are 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., whether remote or in-person. In order to verify connectivity, virtual class sessions will be open at 8:30 a.m. Students are also encouraged to log in to sessions early to network and chat with one another.

How many candidates will be accepted into the program?

With only 30 seats in the program, the application process is highly competitive. Student selection is based on the quality and thoughtfulness of application responses. Essentially, candidates should approach the questions as if they were providing a response to a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) prompt. Therefore, before submitting their application, candidates should carefully craft and review their answers to ensure they thoroughly address each question.

Do I need to have managerial or supervisory experience to be accepted?

Candidates must currently be serving in a managerial or supervisory capacity to be considered for acceptance, ideally with at least three (3) years of experience in one or a combination of both levels and/or have completed CDT’s Emerging IT Leaders Boot Camp. Less experienced IT supervisors and managers should consider registering for the EITL BC first or instead.

What topics are covered in the curriculum?

The course topics have been carefully selected by the Executive Sponsor and take into consideration the recommendations of past ITLA students to provide the leadership skills critical for the state’s IT workforce. Classes are a mix of half and full-day sessions depending on the subject matter. Below is a tentative course listing for the 2026 program. Please note that course topics may be subject to change and that circumstances beyond our control may require adjustments to the program schedule. In addition, it is important to note that refunds will not be provided after the onset of the program (see below for further details on our refund policy).

• ITLA 33 Kickoff Event & Getting to Know You*
• Exemplary Leadership for IT Professionals*
• Business Chemistry and Business Chemistry 2.0*
• Team Building for ITLA Team Class Exercise Success*
• Human-Centered Design*
• 360 Leadership Workshop with 1:1 Coaching Session*
• Building Your Leadership Brand*
• Data Analytics*
• Decision Making for Executives*
• Strategic Planning: A Tactical Approach for Leaders*
• Conflict Management Strategies*
• Executive Presentation Skills (in person)*
• Executive Presentation Skills (remote)
• Enterprise Communication
• What Executives Need to Know about IT Projects, Procurement, Security, Contract/Vendor Management, Critical Services, and Budgets
• Lab for Leaders & Building Trust to Accelerate Change
• Budget Change Proposal (BCP) Workshop
• Foundations of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Executives
• Organizational Behavior
• Executive Speaker Sessions
• ITLA 33 Team Class Exercise Presentation*
• ITLA 33 Graduation Event*

*These sessions will be conducted in-person only and will not be recorded, will not be offered via hybrid, and cannot be made up at a later date; therefore, students are expected to make arrangements to attend.

In addition to the classes listed above, students will be expected to attend several Team Class Exercise work sessions in-person at CDT’s Training and Education Center.

What are some additional activities we will be participating in?

In addition to the formal training sessions, there are several events that help make ITLA a unique and rewarding experience.

Class Exercise:

All students are expected to complete a Class Exercise where they will work in small teams to complete an assignment related to leadership. Students should anticipate completing most of this assignment outside of class time and will be expected to deliver a collaborative presentation in-person at the end of the program.

CIO Academy:

The 2026 CIO Academy is scheduled for April 14 and 15, 2026. Students will benefit from assisting with a breakout session, learning from some of the state’s most seasoned IT executives, and promoting their unique Class Exercise assignments with their classmates.

Walk Like a Leader:

Students will have the opportunity to participate in ITLA’s Walk Like a Leader Experience, which provides exposure to a respected leader in state government. More details on the format and expectations for this component will be shared if accepted into the program.

1:1 Coaching Session:

As part of their 360 Leadership Workshop session, all students will be required to schedule and attend a coaching session with the instructor to discuss their specific leadership challenges and best practices for improvement. More details regarding this experience will be provided once the program begins.

Do I have to attend all sessions to remain in the program, and what is the commitment level?

Attendance is mandatory throughout the 18-week program; however, students are allowed three (3) absences. There are no make-up sessions for missed classes, and sessions are not recorded.  If you have vacations or other planned time off during the academy that will significantly interfere with your participation, you are encouraged to apply to a future academy that will not have conflicting dates.

In addition, before applying, it is strongly recommended that interested candidates have a frank conversation with their immediate supervisor/manager about the commitment level associated with this academy and the probability that their workload will need to be redistributed if accepted. Due to the combination of courses, the Walk Like a Leader experience, CIO Academy, and the Class Exercise component, students should expect to spend a significant amount of time outside of class working on related assignments or tasks either independently or with assigned teammates.

If I drop out of the academy after it starts or if I am withdrawn due to excessive absences, will my department receive a refund?

Students who wish to drop out must do so no later than ten business days before the academy’s start date or your department will be charged the full program amount. Those who drop from the academy less than ten days before the program start date, or who are withdrawn due to excessive absences, will also incur charges to their department for the full amount of the program.

Will I be expected to complete assignments outside my regular work schedule?

Both the “Walk Like a Leader” and CIO Academy experiences will require time outside of class to prepare and/or complete. In addition, while some Class Exercise Check-Ins will be scheduled throughout the program either remotely or in-person to allow time for students to collaborate and discuss their efforts with Program Coaches and Sponsors, students should still expect to spend significant time outside of scheduled sessions to complete this assignment. Finally, to allow for significant time for personal feedback and discussion, the Executive Presentation Skills class will also require students to prepare a speech before their scheduled session.

What if I need a reasonable accommodation?

The OPD is dedicated to providing an inclusive, welcoming environment for all academy and boot camp students. If a student accepted into the program needs a reasonable accommodation, s/he should make this request as soon as possible to allow our team sufficient time for planning and preparation before the start of the program.

Where do I direct my questions?

Please contact the Office of Professional Development for questions and further information at ITLA@state.ca.gov.

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