Certified Workers' Compensation Professional Program
REGISTRATION: $2,800
REGISTER2025 Program Catalog Now Available
We are thrilled to share our 2025 Program Catalog and invite you to explore the programs we have planned for the coming year.
WHY PURSUE A CERTIFICATION IN WORKERS' COMPENSATION?
As a workers' compensation professional, you need specialized knowledge and skills in many diverse areas, including law, claims handling, disability management, safety, and medicine. The more versatile and knowledgeable you are as a professional, the more value and opportunity you create for yourself and your organization.
Michigan State University is the premier provider of professional education and certification in the area of workers' compensation. This program uses an innovative, hands-on and practical approach that prepares you to develop and implement a comprehensive set of skills as a Certified Workers’ Compensation Professional (CWCP).
WHO BECOMES A CWCP?
- Workers' Compensation Managers
- Claims Adjustors
- Case Managers
- Environmental Health and Safety Managers
- Compensation and Benefits Professionals
- Occupational Health Nurses
- Insurance Agents and Adjustors
- And more...
Public or private, large or small, if your organization has employees, you need to know how to manage workers' compensation costs and claims.
HOW HRLR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PREPARES YOU FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION CHALLENGES
The relaxed class atmosphere stimulates participants to learn from each other as well as from the instructor. At times, attendees will break into small groups to work on problems or exercises and to discuss issues. Courses are designed to allow individuals to raise questions and get answers.
WHY CERTIFY?
Earning your professional certification from MSU's School of Human Resources & Labor Relations, one of the best and most respected programs in the country, demonstrates mastery of content and commitment to the field of workers' compensation. Mastery of course content will be evaluated via an online examination. Certification is achieved by participating in the entire four days of the workshop and passing the examination.
THE CWCP DESIGNATION
When you successfully complete the course, take part in discussions and exercises, and pass a comprehensive examination, you will be recognized by Michigan State University as a Certified Workers' Compensation Professional. You are then entitled to use the designation CWCP after your name.
Certifications are valid until December 31, 2026. To maintain your credentials, you will need to recertify before the end of the second year. Learn how to maintain your certifications.
It was great to be able to do these classes online via Zoom. It was nice to do the breakout rooms when possible. Both instructors were very happy to answer any questions or go back to the parts where we had questions. Both instructors were very helpful!
October 20 - November 12, 2025
Meeting Mondays & Wednesdays
1:00pm - 5:00pm ET
Live Interactive Program via Zoom
REGISTRATION FEE: $2,800
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
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This is a 4-week program meeting on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00pm - 5:00pm ET
- Week 1: Monday, October 20 & Wednesday, October 22, 2025
- Week 2: Monday, October 27 & Wednesday, October 29, 2025
- Week 3: Monday, November 3 & Wednesday, November 5, 2025
- Week 4: Monday, November 10 & Wednesday, November 12, 2025
- All of our classes include strategies to maximize learning and ensure an enjoyable, informative learning experience.
MSU employee discount & education assistance available. Please contact Kristi White at whitekr@msu.edu for more information.
AGENDA
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Module 1: Principles of Disability Law
- The elements and principles of state workers’ compensation laws
- The four statutory schemes for workers’ compensation
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Module 2: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and Other Disability Laws
- Federal employment legislation and other laws that affect workers’ compensation benefits, policies and practice
- How these laws interact with state workers’ compensation laws
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Module 3: Claim Management, Disability Prevention, and Disability Management
- Steps and best practices for managing basic and complex claims from beginning to end—how to get the best possible result
- Best practices for management of litigation, settlements, and attorneys
- Disability prevention including wellness, employee selection practices, fraud prevention, and management climate and culture
- Best practices for effective return to work programs—mitigating you exposure
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Module 4: Insurance and Self-Insurance, the Experience Modification Factor and State Funds
- Insurance and self-insurance, and the advantages and disadvantages of the various alternatives
- Calculation and effective management of the experience modification factor for employers
- The various State Funds and how the employer may use them most advantageously
The CWCP instructors utilize a very interactive approach, and employ an exercise-based teaching style. Throughout the program, the instructors also will be incorporating and discussing the myriad of frequently recurring workers' compensation medical conditions and issues.
INSTRUCTOR
Tony Lemke, is a Human Resources Manager who began at Michigan State University in 2006. Tony holds a bachelor's degree of science in human resources from MSU and a number of professional certifications. He's been working with MSU's workers' compensation and disability plans since 2008 and has been leading the Leaves of Absence area since 2016.
REGISTRATION POLICY
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Registration closes 2 business days before the start of the program or until the program reaches a maximum registration limit of 50.
CANCELLATION POLICY
- Cancellation fees may be waived if the participant registers and attends the same program within 12 months. Fees may only be waived once.
- Participants may send a substitute from the same organization for the same program and date by notifying Kristi White via email at least 5 calendar days in advance of program start date.
- Cancellation more than 30 calendar days before program start date: full refund.
- Cancellation 14 – 29 calendar days prior to program start date: 50% cancellation fee, remainder of program fee refunded.
- Cancellation 13 or fewer calendar days prior to program start date: no refund.
MSU reserves the right to cancel programs when enrollment criteria are not met or for conditions beyond its control. Any additional costs incurred by the enrollee of canceled programs are the responsibility of the enrollee.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- MSU's Federal ID Number is 38-6005984
- Business casual attire.
- Please, no audio or video recording.
RECERTIFICATION CREDIT HOURS
This program has been approved for 28 continuing education credit hours towards Professional Development Program recertification.
Learn more about Recertification
Questions? We would be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding this or any of our training programs. Please contact Director of Professional Development, Melanie Zaremba at mzaremba@msu.edu.