NCSL provides a wide range of professional development and training opportunities designed specifically with legislative staff in mind. These opportunities include professional development seminars, planned by each of the professional staff associations, leadership and management development for emerging, new or tenured staff leaders and directors, a biannual meeting for HR professionals, NCSL’s annual Legislative Summit as well as customized, in-state professional development.
Staff Association Professional Development Seminars (PDS) and Online Training
The Staff Associations have completed their 2023 Professional Development Seminars. The 2024 fall seminar dates and locations will appear here in the near future.
American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries (ASLCS)
The ASLCS Professional Development Seminar is held annually in the fall.
Legislative Information and Communications Staff (LINCS)
The LINCS Professional Development Seminar is held annually in the fall.
Legislative Research Librarians (LRL)
The LRL Professional Development Seminar is held annually in the fall.
Leadership Staff Professional Association (LSPA)
The LSPA Professional Development Seminar is held annually in the fall.
National Association of Legislative Fiscal Offices (NALFO)
The NALFO Professional Development Seminar is held annually in the fall.
National Association of Legislative Information Technology (NALIT)
The NALIT Professional Development Seminar is held annually in the fall.
National Legislative Services and Security Association (NLSSA)
NLSSA holds its annual training conference annually in the fall.
National Legislative Program Evaluation Society (NLPES)
The NLPES Professional Development Seminar is held annually in the fall.
Research, Editorial, Legal and Committee Staff (RELACS)
The RELACS Professional Development Seminar is held annually in the fall.
Legislative Education Staff Network
The Legislative Education Staff Network (LESN) is a partnership between the Education Commission of the States and the National Conference of State Legislatures. LESN is a coordinated network of professional and knowledgeable legislative staff from across the country who work on education policy.
LESN holds two annual convenings. The summer 2023 meeting will be held in conjunction with the ECS National Forum on Education Policy July 11-12, 2023, in Minneapolis. More information about this meeting, the winter gathering and other opportunities will be shared through the LESN listserv, and inquiries about LESN membership or upcoming meetings can be sent to LESN coordinators, Emily Ronco.
NCSL Base Camp and Legislative Summit
Two opportunities to learn from experts and network with legislative staff.
NCSL Base Camp 2023 | Nov. 8-9
In a dynamic online setting, NCSL Base Camp brings together policy experts on a wide range of topic areas to educate policymakers and legislative staff.
NCSL Legislative Summit | Aug. 5-7, 2024 | Louisville, Ky
The Legislative Summit is NCSL's premier annual event and provides a platform for legislators, staff and other public policy professionals to learn from the nation's foremost experts, as well as each other, about solutions to the country's most pressing issues.
Legislative Staff Management Institute
The Legislative Staff Management Institute (LSMI) provides legislative staff with the opportunity to develop and enhance their management and leadership skills. The 2023 program was held in Sacramento, Calif. Applications for 2023 have closed.
Senior Staff Leadership Development Program
NCSL’s Senior Staff Leadership Development Program is an executive leadership workshop exclusively for legislative staff directors, senior department directors, chamber, caucus or leaders’ chiefs of staff. Check back for more information on 2023 programming.
National Seminar on Human Resource Management in State Legislatures
NCSL’s biannual National Seminar on Human Resource Management in State Legislatures is designed for legislative HR professionals and senior legislative staff responsible for creating, implementing and enforcing HR policies and practices. No other national training program offers this special focus on the legislature as an employer or brings together legislative staff who need to know more about this critical body of knowledge. Was held in Raleigh, N.C., in 2023.
Legislative Staff Institutional Essentials
NCSL’s Legislative Staff Institutional Essentials (formerly Legislative Staff Certificate Program) applications are closed for the 2023 program. The five-week program is for newer legislative staff, with one to three years of legislative employment, seeking a broader context about state legislatures. Core competencies covered include the legislative institution, model code of conduct, legislative fiscal procedures and clear and concise communications.
Legislative Training Institute
NCSL has trainers who can develop in-state training and retreat programs customized to you and your office's or chamber's needs.