Debt Administration gives you a solid background in debt issuance in a governmental environment. This NASBA-approved online course allows you to progress at your own pace, supplemented by a consultation with a financial professional upon request.

Snapshot

Format: Online

Hours: 12

Credits: 1.2 CEUs / 14 CPEs

When: Start anytime

Cost: $299 - $339

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This online course will teach you about different types of debt governments can issue and the documents accompanying that offering. You will also learn why governments issue debt and the relationship of debt to capital improvement programs. You will also learn how agencies rate bonds and how to lower your interest rates without going through the rating process.

You will learn: 

  • The relationship between the types of purchases made and the types of debt issued
  • The typical sources of funding capital projects
  • The common types of debt issued by government
  • Where to obtain monies to finance projects
  • The most common alternatives in debt structure

This dynamic course has a detailed curriculum consisting of 10 Lessons:

Lesson 1 — Why Governments Borrow Money

  • Recognize why governments borrow money.
  • Differentiate between short-term and long-term debt.
  • Define debt policy.
  • dentify the relationship between a capital improvement program, debt policy and the debt process.

Lesson 2 — Typical Methods of Financing Capital Projects

  • Identify different sources for funding capital projects.
  • Explain advantages and disadvantages of each funding mechanism.

Lesson 3 — Common Types of Debt Issued

  • Identify different kinds of long-term and short-term debt.
  • Recall the advantages and disadvantages of each type of debt.

Lesson 4 — How Bonds Are Rated

  • Define bond ratings.
  • Name the agencies that issue bond ratings.
  • Compare the designations from each of the bond rating agencies.
  • Discuss the ratings process.
  • Distinguish between types of credit enhancements.

Lesson 5 — The Players

  • Identify the key players in the bond issuance process.
  • Contrast the roles of each of the key players in the bond issuance process.
  • Compare the methods of key player selection and payment.

Lesson 6 — The Method of Sale

  • Cite the three most common methods of sale.
  • Contrast the competitive bid and the negotiated sale.
  • Illustrate when a private placement is applicable.

Lesson 7 — Bond Structuring — Interest and Maturities

  • Define the term “debt structuring.”
  • Differentiate between fixed-rate and variable-rate bonds.
  • Understand the differences between serial and term bonds.
  • Discover alternatives in debt service structures.

Lesson 8 — Bond Documents

  • Recall the various documents included in a bond offering.
  • Discuss the notice of sale in competitive bids and negotiated sales.
  • Illustrate the value of redemption provisions to the issuer of bonds.
  • Describe the role of the preliminary official statement for the underwriter.
  • Explain the significance of disclosure in the bond process

Lesson 9 — So, Am I Done Yet?

  • Relate the investing of bond proceeds to the debt process.
  • Define arbitrage and explain its relation to bonds.
  • Explain why continuing disclosure is important.

Lesson 10 — The What, Why, and When of Refunding Bonds

  • Define refunding.
  • Cite the reasons for refunding.
  • Identify the types of refunding.

Who Should Attend?

  • Local government finance professionals and paraprofessionals who want to improve their skills and career prospects through the Georgia Finance Officer Certification Program.
  • Government professionals with past private sector experience who want to learn debt management.
  • Credentialed individuals that require continuing professional education.
  • Many state licensing boards require that CPAs maintain and improve their skills through continuing professional education (CPE) courses. This course is approved by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)

Course Information

Course Number: 

0514-006

Course Date Info: 
  • Enroll at any time
  • Complete the course's required online quizzes and exercises within 60 days of issuance of course access details (i.e., a Welcome email containing the course URL, username and password)
  • View Frequently Asked Questions for more details about the course.

Field of Study: Finance
Delivery Method: QAS Self Study
Advance Preparation: None
Program Level: Basic
Prerequisites: None

Course format: 

Online

Course Fee(s): 

$299 (US Funds) — Residents of Georgia
$339 (US Funds) — Non-Residents of Georgia
$50 (US Funds) — One-Month Extension (Only one extension is granted per participant.)

Prepayment is required to be registered. Prices listed are per person. Prices are subject to change.

Cancellation/Refund Policy: The Georgia Center will gladly issue full refunds for cancelations received in writing before the release of course access information. You may cancel your enrollment at any time during the course and receive a refund, minus a $50 administrative fee if you have not accessed the online course material at all. Written requests should be sent to questions@georgiacenter.uga.edu