Project Management Leadership Academy

The Project Management Leadership Academy (PMLA) is a 10-week program specially developed for public sector professionals who wish to develop and grow critical project management leadership skills. Due to the rigor associated with this academy, it is helpful to possess at least one year of working directly or indirectly in a project management role.

While the PMLA welcomes applications from all candidates, those considered most ideal fall within one of the following categories:

• Those who are currently working as project managers but are newer to this career field and wish to enrich their skills in this area;
• Those whose primary job is not project management, but who manage projects on an informal basis or function in a support role;
• Those who wish to enter the project management career path or who simply want to strengthen their foundational skillset in project management; or
• Those who have private sector experience in project management but are new to the state’s unique practices.

As a result, students should anticipate a mixture of levels, abilities, and experience within their cohort.

In an effort to incorporate a more unique and varied curriculum within the PMLA, the 5-day Foundations of Project Management Framework class traditionally offered through UC Davis, Continuing and Professional Education, is no longer offered as part of the PMLA. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that students complete this course (or a foundational course equivalent in project management concepts) prior to the start of the PMLA if they have not done so already and/or are limited in their understanding of basic principles associated with project management.

Examples of principles and processes that are beneficial for students to have some familiarity with include a high-level awareness/understanding of California’s Project Management (PM) Framework, the state’s Project Delivery Lifecycle (PDL) process (formerly PAL), and California’s standards for project oversight and reporting, all of which are addressed within the course listed above.

To accommodate those who want/need to complete this course, the Department of Technology (CDT) will offer a virtual 5-day Foundations of Project Framework session on March 23 – 27, 2026, via open registration. For more information, visit our Course Schedule or have your department’s Training Coordinator contact Training@state.ca.gov.

Students who forego completing any foundational coursework do so with the understanding that the program curriculum frequently weaves in concepts based on this framework and assumes a baseline level of student knowledge and understanding.

The program cost is $4,800 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 to the student’s department. For more detailed information regarding this additional charge, please see CDT’s Service Rates webpage.

PMLA participants will develop their project management skills through formal classroom training led by certified trainers and subject matter experts in project management. In addition, students will benefit from the shared experiences of their fellow students throughout the academy.

In addition, each academy class also has one or two carefully selected Program Coach(es) who is/are highly experienced in the field of project management. PMLA Coaches attend class sessions, share their leadership and project management best practices, challenges, and lessons learned, and provide guidance and support to students during the program.

Due to continued student interest in completing our training academies using both remote and in-person course offerings, the 2026 PMLA will offer a mix of platform delivery methods. Remote sessions will be conducted via Zoom, and in-person sessions will take place at the CDT’s Training and Education Center (TEC), located in Rancho Cordova, CA.

It is important to note that while CDT always encourages non-local (outside the Sacramento area) students to apply for the PMLA, the expectation is that all students should make arrangements to attend in-person classes regardless of location. In-person sessions are not recorded and are not offered via hybrid. In addition, there are no make-up sessions for classes missed.

To assist with planning, the PMLA 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.

All PMLA students are expected to actively participate in the academy’s “Project Management Experience” component. Each student will be paired with a highly experienced project manager and will then shadow and/or meet with that individual for at least one hour minimum per week over the course of the academy (10 – 12 hours on average). Based on a preliminary skills assessment the student will complete, the assigned project manager will use this information to determine what experiences will provide the most value, such as shadowing specific meetings, providing advice/insight regarding areas of project management where the student is less experienced, and sharing tacit knowledge, lessons learned, and best practices gained over the project manager’s career.

It is important to note that this component is expected to take place outside of class time and can either occur virtually, in person, or a combination of both, based on the student and project manager’s availability and comfort level.

The PMLA provides many opportunities for students to grow professionally through networking with fellow students and curriculum focused on the specific needs of public sector’s project management workforce. From shared experiences, challenges, and departmental best practices, students learn from one another and gain valuable knowledge, skills, and abilities they can implement within their departments.

The PMLA application period is now open and closes at 5:00 p.m. on March 23. The following documents must be submitted for your application to be considered complete:

• Formal application
• A signed Chief Information Officer (CIO) (PDF) . Please secure this prior to beginning your application as you will be unable to save information once you begin the process.

Important: 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 be carefully and thoughtfully reviewed before submission, as answers cannot be adjusted or augmented once submitted.

For further information and/or to address questions, contact the Office of Professional Development at PMLA@state.ca.gov.

What is the cost for the 2026 PMLA?

The cost for the 2026 PMLA is $4,800 per student and is paid for by their department/agency.

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 to the student's department. For more detailed information regarding this additional charge, please see CDT's Service Rates webpage.

When does the 2026 PMLA start and end?

The 2026 PMLA formally takes place from May 20 – July 23, 2026. This does not include a pre-program Administrative Review session developed to assist new students in being successful, or any pre-program meetings scheduled with the student's assigned leader for the PM Experience.

What level of expertise and experience are you seeking from a candidate?

While the PMLA welcomes applications from all candidates who have a desire to enrich their project management skills, ideal candidates are project managers and project support personnel who are newer to this role (e.g., test managers, business analysts, contract managers). Due to the rigor associated with this academy, it is recommended that candidates possess at least one year of working directly or indirectly in a project management role, but candidates need not be highly experienced to be successful in the program.

Staff who wish to enter this career path or who simply want to strengthen their foundational skillset in project management are also welcome to apply. In addition, candidates who have private sector experience in project management but who are new to the state's unique practices are also ideal candidates for this academy. As a result, students should anticipate a mixture of levels, abilities, and experience within their cohort.

What is the time commitment required for this academy?

Students should expect to attend sessions three (3) days per week, on average.

In addition to class sessions, students will be expected to commit to meeting with their assigned project manager for at least one hour per week outside of class time throughout the program. It is important to note that the Project Management (PM) Experience has been specially designed to provide students with access to seasoned project managers who are eager to share not only their knowledge but access to high-value opportunities that arise throughout the program. Therefore, students should anticipate dedicating a significant amount of time to the program, both in and outside of class.

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

Due to continued student interest in completing our training academies using a combination of remote and in-person delivery models, the 2026 PMLA will include a thoughtful mixture of sessions using both formats. 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 the PMLA, the expectation is that all students should make arrangements to attend in-person classes regardless of location. In addition, there are no make-up classes for sessions missed.

To assist with planning, the PMLA 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.

The PMLA will be using Microsoft Teams to house all program-related documents and Zoom will be the primary 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 and engage in class sessions.

What are the core hours for the academy?

The core hours for the PMLA are 9am – 3:30pm, whether remotely or in-person. To verify connectivity, virtual class sessions will be open at 8:30 a.m. Students are encouraged to log in early to network and chat with one another.

How many candidates will be accepted into the program?

With only 22 spots in the program, the application process is highly competitive. Student selection is based on the quality and thoughtfulness of their 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, students should carefully craft and review their answers to ensure they thoroughly address each question.

What specific topics are covered in the curriculum, and how in-depth is the training?

The course topics have been carefully selected to provide a meaningful blend of both technical and soft skills critical for the public sector's project management 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).

• *Getting to Know You
• *Leadership for Project Managers
• The State's Budget Process
• Budget Change Proposal (BCP) Workshop
• The Role of Control Agencies
• *Leadership Branding
• Transformation Through Communication
• Top Project Challenges (The Dirty Dozen)
• *Organizational Change Management for Project Managers
• *Business Chemistry and Business Chemistry 2.0
• *Decision Making for Project Managers
• *Human Centered Design
• *Enterprise Communications
• Building High Performance Teams
• IT Project/Budget Timeline
• Project Governance
• *Agile Essentials
• Project Planning and Procurement/Project Delivery Lifecycle
• *Contract and Vendor Management
• AI For Project Managers
• Effective Presentation Skills
• *Conflict Resolution
• *PMLA Graduation

*These sessions will be conducted in-person only, will not be recorded, and will not be offered via hybrid (with the exception of the PMLA graduation event); therefore, students are expected to make arrangements to attend.

Do I have to attend all the training sessions to remain in the academy?

The PMLA covers a great deal of curriculum within its 10-week program; however, students are allowed three (3) absences. Students who exceed this limit will be withdrawn from the program. There are no make-up sessions for missed classes and sessions are not recorded. Therefore, candidates who have vacations or other planned time off during the academy that will significantly interfere with their attendance and/or ability to meet with their assigned leader for their PM Experience 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 significant commitment level associated with this academy and the probability that their workload will need to be redistributed if accepted.

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

The PMLA is intended to be a comprehensive experience that provides students with a great deal of knowledge and exposure within a short amount of time. In addition to attending class sessions, students are expected to complete their PM Experience component outside of scheduled class sessions as much as possible (minimum of one hour per week while completing the program). In addition, students should be open to attending other high-value opportunities provided by their assigned leader that extend beyond the one hour per week commitment.

It is also worth noting that one class session, Presentation Skills, requires students to prepare a speech outside of class for workshopping and delivery.

What is the drop policy for the PMLA?

After formally accepting, students who wish to drop from the PMLA do so with the understanding that their home department could incur up to 100% of the program's charge. Requests for removal from the program must be in writing.

Below is an overview of the charges that will be incurred depending on the date of the drop request:

Date of request	Charges incurred to home department
Requests to drop after April 29	50% charge of program amount ($2,400)
Requests to drop after May 6	100% program cost ($4,800)

As a result, candidates who are offered a spot to join this year's cohort should carefully and thoroughly review the program schedule and calendar that will be provided upon acceptance before formally confirming and/or contacting the OPD for clarification or resolution of specific questions or concerns regarding their ability to fully engage.

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 PMLA@state.ca.gov.