Federal and State Officials

High School

Courses in government, civics, and history will give you an understanding of the structure of state and federal governments. English classes are important because you need good writing skills to be able to communicate effectively with constituents and other government officials. Math and accounting courses help you to develop the analytical skills needed for examining statistics and demographics. You should take science courses because you'll be making decisions concerning health, medicine, and technological advances. Journalism classes will help you learn about the print, electronic, and broadcast media and the role they play in politics. Take public speaking classes because communicating verbally is fundamental to a career as a public official. A foreign language (especially Spanish) will come in handy when interacting with constituents who do not speak English.

Postsecondary Training

State and federal legislators come from all walks of life. Some hold master's degrees and doctorates, while others have only a high school education. Although a majority of government officials hold law degrees, others have undergraduate or graduate degrees in areas such as journalism, economics, business, political science, history, and English. Regardless of your major as an undergraduate, it is important to take classes in English literature, statistics, foreign language, Western civilization, and economics. Graduate studies can focus more on one area of study; some prospective government officials pursue master's degrees in public administration or international affairs. Consider participating in an internship program that will involve you with local and state officials. Contact the offices of your state legislators and of your state's members of Congress to apply for internships.

Certification

Some colleges and universities offer certificate programs in government, public policy, leadership, and related areas. Programs typically last six months to a year and are available in online, in-person, and hybrid formats. For example, the University of Virginia's Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy offers graduate certificates in public policy and public leadership. Visit https://batten.virginia.edu/academics/graduate-programs/graduate-certificates for more information. Contact schools in your area for information about available programs.

Other Education or Training

The Council of State Governments provides free webinars on such topics as communicating with constituents and tax policy reform. It also offers formal programs to legislators to help them develop their leadership skills, make informed decisions, and become strong policy analysts. The National Conference of State Legislatures provides webinars, conference seminars, and other continuing education opportunities on topics that are of interest to state legislatures and their staffs. Recent webinars included Courteous and Effective Communication: Social Media and Email, How to Be an Effective Legislator, and Report Writing. Contact these organizations for more information.