Factors reported to be important in the design, implementation, and evaluation of professional development programs for department chairs are described. Attention is also directed to results from a goal-focused evaluation of the 6-year-old program to train new department heads in the nine state universities of Florida, a program that is being adopted across the United States and Canada. The widespread recognition of a need to train chairs and some important characteristics of such programs are considered. In addition, the means by which institutional administrators can assess the need for training are examined. Results are also provided of several training programs, which should complete the information institutional officials need to decide the kind of program they should underwrite for the professional development of department chairs. It is noted that an important way to determine the need for training before the situation becomes critical is to carefully examine the job and role characteristics of all chairs in an institution. Several kinds of surveys that have been used to study department heads are discussed. Information from reports about training programs is presented concerning the participants, what is learned, experiences after the training program, and whether the programs are successful. (SW)