Certified Leave Management Specialist (CLMS) Certification: Expanded and Redesigned
A dynamic, practical learning experience for professionals managing Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), and state leave programs
INCREASE YOUR PROFESSIONAL VALUE
Become a Certified Leave Management Specialist
As state and federal leave laws continue to expand, more and more companies are finding the need for professional leave management specialists. Distinguishing yourself as a leave expert can be a challenging task — DMEC’s CLMS training is the answer!
Exclusively offered by DMEC, the CLMS program is the only professional designation of its kind that provides interactive, hands-on training to ensure your programs effectively comply with state and federal leave laws. Set yourself apart from the competition with our user-friendly, online self-study course.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The CLMS certification has been redesigned for 2026 with a sharper focus on the realities of today’s compliance landscape.
Participants gain confidence and fluency in applying federal and state leave laws, coordinating accommodations, and guiding their organizations through complex employee requests.
The updated program features a modern structure, interactive case studies, and tools that connect learning directly to day-to-day decision-making.
Who Should Participate
The CLMS certification is designed for professionals at every stage of their workplace leave management career: from those new to HR or benefits administration to experienced managers overseeing complex, multi-state programs.
It is ideal for those who want to:
- Strengthen understanding of FMLA, ADA, PWFA, and related state laws
- Build consistency across teams and processes
- Improve employee communication and experience
- Reduce organizational risk
Designation and Ongoing Requirements
To earn the CLMS certification, participants must complete the online course and pass a final exam demonstrating the ability to manage and administer compliant leave and accommodation programs.
The initial CLMS designation is valid for two years. Renewal requires completion of 20 continuing education units (CEUs) and successful re-testing to ensure up-to-date knowledge of evolving laws and best practices.
Pricing and registration
To learn more about pricing and registration for the CLMS program, visit the pricing and registration page. Group discounts are available for groups of five or more.
Certificate & Digital Badge
Individuals who successfully earn the CLMS designation will be issued an electronic certificate and a digital badge. Certificates will be available to view and download from the DMEC Learning Center.
DMEC partners with BadgeCert, a third-party badging company, to issue digital badges. With each badge earned, individuals will receive an email that contains information about the credential and login instructions to access their BadgeCert portfolio.
Badges can be shared electronically with others via email or through social media networks as well as displayed on resumes, email signatures, and job boards. DMEC’s digital badges are embedded with qualifying information and can be easily verified by others when they access the badge link. This cutting-edge technology allows badge earners to securely share their credentials. Badges can be managed and shared through an individual’s BadgeCert portfolio.
What’s New for the Redesigned Certified Leave Management Specialist Certification Course?
Designed for clarity with expanded content and tools for immediate application
- Simplified course navigation and study roadmap
- Expanded coverage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and PUMP Act
- New state paid leave scenarios and case studies
- Realistic interactive exercises that mirror workplace challenges
- Stronger focus on communication, documentation, and ethics
CLMS for 2026 combines regulatory expertise with the human side of workplace leave management, helping professionals balance compliance and care.
What does the CLMS Certification Course Cover?
Over ten self-guided, self-paced modules (approximately 20 hours to complete), you’ll explore real-world scenarios and apply learning through interactive exercises, quizzes, and a final exam. Each module builds on the last to help you confidently manage leave and accommodation programs that meet today’s legal and organizational expectations.
Downloadable toolkits, policy templates, and updated guidance are included to help you apply what you learn and strengthen compliance in your workplace.
You must complete all modules and the final exam within 180 days of registration or activation of your DMEC Learning Center account.
Your CLMS Certification will open new doors and opportunities.
- Strengthen your expertise in leave and accommodation management
- Build confidence applying FMLA, ADA, PWFA, and state leave laws
- Earn recognition as a trusted compliance professional
- Improve consistency across your team and organization
- Advance your career with a respected professional credential
The 2026 CLMS program is organized into 10 modules that reflect how professionals learn and apply compliance in real-world settings.
- Course Overview & Navigation – Learn how to navigate the course, use resources effectively, and get the most out of interactive tools and quizzes.
- FMLA Level 1: Foundations – Explore the history, purpose, and scope of the FMLA, including eligibility, entitlements, and basic compliance requirements.
- FMLA Level 2: Application & Integration – Apply FMLA concepts through real-world scenarios, covering serious health conditions, military leave, and coordination with other benefits and laws.
- FMLA Level 3: Mastering the Details – Deepen your expertise with complex leave situations, advanced entitlement calculations, documentation best practices, and risk mitigation strategies.
- ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act – Understand employer responsibilities, the interactive process, and reasonable accommodations through practical examples and case studies.
- Pregnant & Nursing Workers – Gain clarity on the PWFA and PUMP Act, including qualifying circumstances, predictable assessment accommodations, and employer obligations.
- State Paid & Unpaid Leave Laws – Review key variations across states and learn how to manage overlapping federal, state, and company leave requirements.
- Privacy & Ethics – Examine privacy laws including HIPAA, GINA, and ADA confidentiality rules, and explore ethical decision-making in leave management.
- Building the Employee Experience – Strengthen communication, empathy, and flexibility in your approach to improve compliance, retention, and workplace culture.
- Applied Learning – Put your knowledge into practice through integrated case studies that combine federal, state, and company policies into complex, real-world scenarios.
Certification Outcome
Upon completion of the program, participants earn the CLMS digital badge and certificate, recognized across the industry as the standard for excellence in leave and accommodation management.
Graduates demonstrate the ability to connect legal knowledge with real-world problem-solving, positioning themselves as trusted compliance leaders.
What CLMS Designees Are Saying
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DMEC members receive discounts on the CLMS program, along with many other benefits.
Already a CLMS
designee?
Review the requirements to maintain your CLMS designation.
Pricing &
Requirements
Following completion of the online course, you must pass a final exam that will cover the knowledge necessary to manage and administer a fully-compliant leave program within your company.
