Penny Rhodes Owens received her certification as a North Carolina Master County Clerk on March 23 during the annual conference of the NC Association of County Clerks in Pinehurst.

Owens succeeded Connie Hopkins as clerk to the Tyrrell County Board of Commissioners in March 2002. She is also administrative assistant to the county manager.

She obtained her North Carolina Certified County Clerk certification is 2012 and was designated a Certified Municipal Clerk through the International Institute of Municipal Clerks the following year.

“Continuing my education is very important to me,” Owens said after the presentation. “I strive to be the best that I can be to better serve the citizens of Tyrrell County.”

The office of clerk was created by the General Assembly simultaneously with the county commissioner form of local government in 1868.

The North Carolina Master County Clerk certification requires a prerequisite of six years as an NC Certified County Clerk, 60 hours of continuing education that must be obtained within a three-year period, and an additional 45 hours of continuing education that may be accrued over time.

The master certification can be maintained as long as the clerk accrues the regular 60 hours of continuing education and participation every three years.