This year, for the first time, the CEC Training Centre launched the preparatory training course for the applicants willing to pass the certification exam. The training will support those applicants who are interested in obtaining a certificate of election administration officer. 

A five-day online course focuses on electoral legislation, the Constitution of Georgia, substantive discussion of the issues defined by the examination program, and practical tasks. The training course is developed by the Electoral Systems Development, Reforms and Training Centre.

Giorgi Sharabidze, the CEC Deputy Chairperson and Natia Zaalishvili, Director of the Training Centre made opening remarks and talked about the importance of the certification exam that facilitates the selection of qualified officers at election administration. 

Two focus groups are set up for the pilot, composed of no more than 25 participants in each group. To compose the focus groups, participants were identified from the citizens registered for the certification exam announced on February 1, 2022 in two stages: 

• I stage: For the moment of forming a focus group, every 10th citizen out of the registered (250) for the certification exam during the period of 7-11 February was invited to take a pilot course. In case of failure to connect or refusal to participate in the pilot – a following registered citizen; 
• II stage: For the moment of forming a focus group, every 12th citizen out of the registered citizen (306) for the certification exam during the period of 12-16 February was invited to take a pilot course. In case of failure to connect or refusal to participate in the pilot – a following registered citizen; 

Upon completion of the pilot, the possibility of systematically conducting a training course in the preparation training course for the certification exam is planned.