The Certified Court Manager (CCM) credential is for court professionals who manage people, budgets, records and operations. It is awarded by the Institute for Court Management, National Center for State Courts. This page explains how the program works and gives you free practice sets on governance, jury operations, security, records, technology and leadership.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Time limit (Online Self-Study) | 90-day window per self-study course[1] | icmelearning.com · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Passing score | 70% accuracy[2] | ncsc.courtlms.org · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Exam fee | $495 per course[1] | icmelearning.com · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Retake policy | Faculty may return assignments for corrections[2] | ncsc.courtlms.org · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Validity | 7 years to complete all six required courses[3] | Institute for Court Management, National Center for State Courts · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Delivery | Live virtual, in-person, or online self-study[3] | Institute for Court Management, National Center for State Courts · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Eligibility | Completion of all six CCM courses[3] | Institute for Court Management, National Center for State Courts · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Registration deadline | Registration open up to course start date[1] | icmelearning.com · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Testing window (Workforce Management) | December 2-3 & 9-10, 2026[1] | icmelearning.com · Oct 28, 2026 |
According to Institute for Court Management, National Center for State Courts, “Complete all assignments and quizzes with a minimum of 70% accuracy with a minimum of 2 weeks left in your 90-day window to ensure faculty have time to grade your assignments.”[2]
The CCM is a certification built from coursework rather than a single sitting exam. The Institute for Court Management, part of the National Center for State Courts, awards it. Eligibility means completing all six CCM courses. The program tracks your progress and awards the certification once all six are finished.
Courses can be taken in different ways: live virtually, in person, or as online self-study. Self-study courses are listed at $495 per course, and each one has a 90-day window to finish. Candidates are expected to complete assignments and quizzes with a minimum of 70% accuracy, and to do so with at least 2 weeks left in that window so faculty have time to grade the work.
Faculty may return assignments to you for corrections, so a first submission is not always the last. You have up to 7 years to complete all six required courses, which lets you spread the work around your job.
Registration stays open up to each course start date. The schedule lists Workforce Management on December 2-3 and 9-10, 2026. If a course has low registration, ICM may cancel it in advance, so check the current schedule. Fees, dates and formats can change, so confirm them on the official NCSC and ICM pages before you enroll.
Prepare for the CCM - Certified Court Manager exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: What is the typical first step before launching a performance measurement program?
Answer: B. Define goals and clear measure definitions with leadership buy-in
Explanation:
Option B is right because a measurement program only works when people agree on what is being measured and why. Clear goals and definitions keep the numbers meaningful, and leadership buy-in means the results will be used instead of ignored.
Buying new software is wrong because a tool cannot fix unclear goals; it only automates confusion. Publishing rankings of judges is wrong because it creates defensiveness and puts comparison ahead of improvement before anyone trusts the measures. Reducing staff is wrong because it is a response to a conclusion nobody has reached yet, and measurement should inform decisions, not pre-justify them.
Rule to remember: purpose and definitions come before tools, publication or staffing decisions.
Question: How often should courts review their budget status?
Answer: C. Periodically throughout the year
Explanation:
Option C is right because budget status changes as the year goes on. Looking at it periodically, for example monthly or quarterly, lets a court manager spot variances early and adjust before a small gap becomes a problem.
Annually only is wrong because problems found at year end are too late to correct. At the end of each case is wrong because case timing has no link to the fiscal calendar or to spending patterns. Only when over budget is wrong because it is reactive; by the time the budget is exceeded, the chance to steer has gone.
Rule to remember: financial oversight is a regular rhythm tied to the budget period, not an event triggered by trouble.
Question: What is 'chain of custody' in the context of physical evidence in court?
Answer: B. The documented chronological record of who had possession of evidence, ensuring its integrity is not compromised
Explanation:
Option B is right because chain of custody is the documented, chronological record of who held a piece of evidence and when. An unbroken record supports the argument that the item was not altered, which protects its admissibility.
The chain of command in the courthouse hierarchy is wrong because it describes reporting lines among staff, not the handling of evidence. The list of witnesses who testified about evidence is wrong because testimony is a separate matter from physical possession. The order in which evidence is presented at trial is wrong because that is trial sequencing, not custody.
Rule to remember: custody is about continuous, documented possession from collection onward, and any gap invites a challenge.
Start with the official material, because the CCM is earned through coursework. Read the course description for the course you are about to take, and note which topics it covers. Then use the practice sets here to check how well you know the related ground.
Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so treat them as practice for the concepts, not a preview of your coursework.
No. The Certified Court Manager credential is awarded after you complete all six CCM courses. The program tracks your progress and grants the certification when the last course is finished. Each course has its own assignments and quizzes, so check the official NCSC page for how each one is assessed.
The self-study courses are listed at $495 per course on the ICM schedule. Fees for live virtual or in-person sessions may differ, and prices can change, so confirm the current amount on the official Institute for Court Management and NCSC pages before registering.
The course page asks for assignments and quizzes to be completed with a minimum of 70% accuracy. It also advises finishing with at least 2 weeks left in your 90-day window so faculty have time to grade your work. Check the course page for current wording.
Yes, in part. Courses are offered live virtually, in person, or as online self-study. Self-study courses give you a 90-day window to finish, and you have up to 7 years to complete all six required courses overall.
Instructors may return assignments to you for editing or corrections. They grade work within a week of receiving it, according to the course page. Submit early in your window so you have time to revise and resubmit.
Registration continues up to the start of each course. If a course cannot be held because too few people register, ICM may cancel it in advance and notify registrants. For example, Workforce Management is listed for December 2-3 and 9-10, 2026. Check the live schedule for updates.
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