If you are a commissioner or want to know more about being a commissioner, commissioner training is a good fit for you. There are different types of training available, from self-paced to instructor-led, virtual and in-person. Check out the Scouting America Commissioner Training resources.
Position-Specific
There are 4 position-specific commissioner training modules available at my.scouting.org:
(The links below are deep-links into my.scounting.org and require you to be already logged in. If you are not logged in already, the link will take you to the course catalog home page.)
Note that Assistant Commissioners (Roundtable, District, and Council) take the same course as the primary role.
National-Level Commissioner Training
National-Level Commissioner training is usually attended by members of the National Commissioner Corps which offers a unique opportunity to interact with and get insights from them.
National-Level Commissioner Training
Commissioner Impact Sessions are 1-day events and may be either in-person or virtual. The in-person impact sessions are held in various locations around the country. Participants are responsible for their own transportation, food, and lodging, although a light breakfast and / or lunch is often included on the day of the training. Use the “National-Level Commissioner Training” link above to get the details of upcoming Commissioner Impact Sessions.
Philmont Training Center in New Mexico offers a week-long training conference known as Commissioner Week, usually held in early to mid-June. The Commissioner Week conference provides opportunities to meet and interact with the National Commissioner and members of the National Commissioner Service Team while networking with commissioners throughout the country.
In addition, Philmont has a District (and Council) Key 3 conference intended for the District Executive, District Chair and District Commissioner to work and learn together.
College of Commissioner Science
Even if you are not a commissioner, College of Commissioner Science (CoCS) offers valuable training from problem-solving to coaching and from recruiting to building relationaships. And that is just the Bachelor’s level cources. CoCS offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees as well as continuing education. College of Commissioner Science is offered by service territories or councils across the country. A College of Commissioner Science may be either self-paced (offered by Aloha Council) or instructor-led and may be virtual or in-person.
Self-Paced
Aloha Council offers the Pacific College of Commissioner Science, which is self-paced and includes all national commissioner curriculum including Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate, and continuing education courses. Registration is for the calendar year.
Instructor-Led
An instructor-led CoCS may be either virtual, in-person, or hybrid and the course offerings are determined by the council or service territory. Most often, an in-person CoCS offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate, and continuing education, though not always.
Scouting.org provides a page for councils / service territories to list their upcoming College of Commissioner Science.
Night School
Night School is a unique virtual College of Commissioner Science offered by the Suffolk County Council in New York. Unique because it offers 2 classes on one Friday evening in each of 4 consecutive months. The 2025-2026 Night School is from November 2025 to February 2026. Check out the 2025-2026 Commissioner Night School Flyer or register now.
Other Commissioner Training
The North Shore District commissioners meet monthly on the last Thursday of each month (usually) to discuss the status of the district and our units. Each commissioner meeting includes a training topic selected to help you be successful in your commissioner role. The monthly commissioner meeting may be either in-person or virtual. The link for the Zoom bridge when virtual is available on the district calendar. In-person meetings are coordinated with the commissioner corps in the week preceding the meeting date. If you are not a commissioner but would like to attend an in-person meeting, contact the North Shore District Commissioner.
Commissioners Site at scouting.org offers a plethora of resources and information including:
- Newsletter eBlast
- Roundtable Support
- Technology for Commissioners
- Unit Connections
- Commissioner Manuals
- And more…
Scouting forums hosts a Scouting America Commissioners forum where you can go to ask question, get answers, and share information with commissioners across the country.
Scouting America has a couple of official Facebook groups to support the commissioner service and there are dozens of unofficial groups and pages. Here are the official groups:
One on one with the North Shore District Commissioner. Whether you are a serving commissioner or just want to know more about the commissioner service, use the email link above to setup a call or Zoom meeting with the district Commissioner.