The TPC Certification Process

If you see a serialized TPC badge on a candidate's site or media and you're able to confirm it via the National TPC Registry, then you know that candidate has gone through the following process (managed by The Oath Of Office):

1. Application Submittal  

2. Application Review by the certification team

3. The certification team then contacts candidates who get through the application review to arrange a Pre-screening Call 

While we respect and appreciate the passion so many people have to run for office and represent their community, the successful candidate will demonstrate the critical thinking skills necessary to represent their community well along with the ability to clearly state what they hope to achieve once in office.

4. Pre-screening Call review by the certification team

5. Candidates who get through the Pre-screening Call may be required to participate in a Candidate Readiness & Assessment Interview

The successful candidate at this stage will demonstrate, if not a full understanding of the rigors that lie ahead as part of their campaign, the willingness to adapt and put the tremendous amount of work in that will be necessary to pull off a good election.  It does not do anyone any good if we spend our time and resources certifying people who for various reasons cannot get into office or will give up easily in the face of adversity.  This interview might not be required if in the Pre-screening Call, it was evident that the candidate already has either a savvy campaign team around them or has themselves been involved in campaigning prior to their current campaign.

6. Candidate Readiness & Assessment review by certification team

7. The TPC Interview

The successful candidate will demonstrate both an alignment and a deep understanding of the 7 Articles of the Politician's Creed, both in terms of how they apply to the candidate themself as well as how they apply to the relationship between the candidate and their constituents.  A score of 84 is required to pass this interview.

8. TPC Interview Rubric Review

9. Background Check

For candidates who have gotten to this stage, the Oath Of Office will review their background including social media, news articles, prior policy voting records (if the candidate has held office before), et al.   There may be multiple calls to the candidate during this stage for clarification based upon discovery.

10. References 

If the candidate survives the background check, then between one and three non-familial references of the candidate's will be contacted with regards to the candidate as a gut-check process.   We understand that references, by their very nature, are going to speak positively about the candidate.  We listen for other signals that help us determine the steadfastness of this candidate, et al.

11. Certification team review of Background and References Checks

12. Preliminary Award Email

Candidate is notified that they have successfully passed all of the qualifying hurdles involved in the certification.  There is one task left:  taking the oath itself.

13. Formal Oath Ceremony with the candidate and their team

This 10-minute ceremony is performed and recorded virtually whereby the candidate swears to abide by and be held accountable to each of the 7 Articles of The Politician's Creed separately.  Attendance by at least a few representatives of the candidate's team and/or community is required for the ceremony to occur.   

14. Certification Award Email

Candidate then receives their formal notice of certification and a follow-up meeting is scheduled.

15. Follow-Up meeting

The Oath Of Office provides to the now-certified candidate their trademarked, serialized TPC Badge license and reviews various ways the Oath Of Office can support the candidate going forward.  This meeting is attended by the candidate and/or relevant members of their team.  

After the dust has settled..

For the candidate making it all the way through the certification process, they are now certified under The Politician's Creed.  The candidate will receive their own certification and their awarded badge will reflect their unique certification number.   The video in which they take the Oath of The Politician's Creed will be published to The Politician's Creed channel on YouTube and the candidate will be added to the national register of TPC-certified candidates and politicians.  Certification is not tied to any office, but to the candidate's character as evidenced by their background, references, relationship with constituents, and actions in office.   Be sure to congratulation any candidate you meet who has earned this badge - they unrevocably stand for you.

Note that The Oath Of Office, acting on behalf of The Politician's Creed, reserves the right to revoke certification should circumstances warrant it.