The CUOCP® professional standard defines the leadership judgment expected of utility professionals responsible for operations, capital programs, safety, and regulatory accountability. It establishes how experienced leaders are expected to think, prioritize, and make decisions in regulated, safety-critical environments.

Most utility leaders are evaluated informally:

• By supervisors

• By regulators after something goes wrong

• By experience and reputation

CUOCP® turns that implicit expectation into an explicit, examinable standard.

The standard defines how leaders are expected to think and decide — not just what they know.

CUOCP® is designed for utility professionals who want to formally demonstrate leadership readiness and accountability across operations, capital execution, and emergency response.

While job titles and responsibilities vary widely across utilities, CUOCP® provides an independent, portable credential that validates applied judgment and decision-making in complex utility environments.

CUOCP® focuses on leadership judgment and accountability in utility operations and capital environments, rather than project management methodology, technical expertise, or asset-specific knowledge.

CUOCP® is not a course-completion credential.

While NACUP provides structured professional modules to define the standard and establish common expectations, the CUOCP® credential is earned through an independent, exam-based evaluation — not by completing training alone.

The examination assesses how candidates think, judge, and decide in real-world utility leadership scenarios, drawing on experience, professional reasoning, and accountability under pressure. Module completion supports preparation and alignment to the standard, but credentialing is based solely on demonstrated competence during the examination, not attendance or instructional hours.

CUOCP® is a rigorous, exam-based professional certification designed to assess applied judgment and leadership readiness in utility operations and capital environments.

While preparation time varies by background and experience, most candidates report investing approximately 40 hours of focused preparation prior to sitting for the examination.

Candidates aren’t learning “utilities” — they’re learning how their experience maps to a recognized leadership framework.

The CUOCP® playbook and modules help candidates:

• Understand how leadership decisions are evaluated, not just made

• Recognize common judgment gaps in safety, capital oversight, and regulatory response

• Practice scenario-based reasoning similar to real-world executive decision points

• Prepare for how leadership accountability is assessed under scrutiny

Many experienced professionals are surprised to find areas where their instincts are strong — and others where the standard expects a different prioritization