Do I need to have a specific degree or a certain amount of work experience to register for the Public Leadership Credential?

As part of the registration process, learners will need to complete the online registration form and confirm that they meet the following course requirements:

  • They have a bachelor’s degree.
  • They have at least five years of work experience.
  • They are proficient in verbal and written English.
  • They are available to commit 10 to 12 hours per week to coursework, including a required weekly live video conference with other registered learners around the world.

Can I retake a PLC course if I do not successfully complete it the first time? 

A learner may retake any PLC course once, should they withdraw during the course or not receive a passing grade in the course the first time. Learners may not retake a course more than once. Should a learner choose to retake a course, they will be expected to resubmit payment for that course at the time of registration.

Can I defer my registration in a course to a future session? 

Should a learner need to postpone their course, they can defer their registration for a course prior to the orientation start date. Deferrals must be requested in writing. If you defer, you must participate in the course the next time it is offered. You can only defer one time per course. Deferral requests made after the orientation start date are subject to review by the PLC team and will only be granted in the case of extreme life circumstances. There will be no deferrals granted after the conclusion of the second week of the course. Learners can request a withdrawal from a PLC course without a refund through the first four weeks of the course.

Extreme life circumstances include, but are not limited to:

  • Unexpected medical situation for you or a dependent 
  • Death of a family member
  • Natural disaster or other large-scale event 

Can I withdraw from a PLC course once I am registered?

Yes, a learner can withdraw from a PLC course, though refunds are only available under the following conditions:

  • The original transaction occurred less than one year before the request to withdraw. 
  • The withdrawn enrollment was not purchased through an Open Enrollment offer.
  • Courses purchased through Open Enrollment are not eligible for refund. 
  • Withdrawals must be requested by the learner in writing and submitted via our contact form.
  • The request for withdrawal is made prior to the course’s orientation start date. Refunds will not be granted after the start of orientation. 
  • The refunded tuition is credited to the original card used for payment. 
  • These requirements cannot be waived.

Are GRE, TOEFL, or other standardized test scores required to register?

Learners do not need to submit any standardized test scores in order to register for PLC courses.

Once I have qualified for a PLC course, where can I complete my registration?

If you have previously submitted our online account registration form and qualified for a PLC course, you can log into the PLC Community site to register for a course. An account was created for you at the time of registration. Your username for this site is the email address you used to register. You can reset your password at any time by following the “Forgot Your Password?” link on the login page.

Can I register for more than one PLC course at a time? 

Learners may register for up to two course per course run provided they are not registering for an A course and corresponding B course in the same run. For example, they may register for Leadership A and Policy A, but they may not register for Leadership A and Leadership B. Learners cannot take three courses at the same time.

How long do I have to complete the PLC?

 PLC learners have three years from the start date of their first course to successfully complete all six courses and the capstone assessment.  

How much does the overall PLC cost? 

The current tuition for the Public Leadership Credential courses is $1,095 per course. The capstone fee is $1,095. Prices are subject to change.

What forms of payment are accepted?

We accept all major credit and debit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. At this time, we do not accept alternative forms of payment, such as cash or check. Similarly, we cannot coordinate payments on behalf of registrants with outside entities. All payments must be made through our registration system.

Is financial aid available? Do you offer scholarships or discounts? Do you offer payment plans?

HKS does not provide financial aid, scholarships, discounts, or payment plans for PLC courses at this time.

Can I use federal student aid (e.g. GI Bill benefits) to pay for PLC courses?

HKS does not provide federal student aid or GI Bill benefits for PLC at this time.

Can PLC issue a 1098-T form for tax purposes? 

The Public Leadership Credential does not offer academic credit for its courses, and therefore learners enrolled in the program are not issued 1098-T forms. According to the IRS, "institutions are not required to file Form 1098-T or furnish a statement for:  

  • Courses for which no academic credit is offered, even if the student is otherwise enrolled in a degree program;  
  • Nonresident alien students, unless requested by the student;  
  • Students whose qualified tuition and related expenses are entirely waived or paid entirely with scholarships; and  
  • Students for whom you do not maintain a separate financial account and whose qualified tuition and related expenses are covered by a formal billing arrangement between an institution and the student’s employer or a governmental entity, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense."