South Carolina law requires every appointee and staff official involved with local planning and zoning to complete mandatory training sessions. When officials do not fulfill this requirement, they can be removed from their position and can open the city or town to legal challenges of the actions taken by a board or commission with untrained members.
For several years now, the Municipal Association has offered an online version of the six-hour orientation course to help officials fulfill the training requirement. There is no charge for the training, and no need for in-person proctors or facilitators. Individuals can complete the training from any laptop, tablet or mobile device with an internet connection at any time.
The South Carolina Planning Education Advisory Committee approved this curriculum, which teaches the tools necessary for officials and staff to perform their duties responsibly and effectively. The online training comes in the form of six, one-hour sessions, and includes video exercises to complete using the Comprehensive Planning Guide for Local Governments, knowledge check quizzes and other reinforcement activities. Each of the sessions provides its own completion certificate and the Municipal Association also creates course transcripts for municipal planning officials.
State law also requires officials to complete three hours of continuing education training each year to remain compliant. Several of the Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government courses can count toward this requirement, including "Forms of Municipal Government," "Municipal Economic Development" and "Freedom of Information Act in SC." The SC Association of Counties developed videos that can count toward the requirement as well.
Learn more about available planning and zoning training, as well as other resources, online.