Learn to perform suitability adjudication and fitness determination required for federal employment. This course provides detailed guidance for federal agencies on how to assess an individual's suitability for sensitive positions and positions of public trust. Participants will learn the statutory and regulatory framework outlined in Title 5 CFR, Part 731, including criteria for suitability determinations and fitness adjudication using specific examples. By the end of the course, participants will also be able to apply both traditional methodologies and those used by the Office of Personnel Management for designating position risk and making suitability determinations. Course content also includes the role of national security and evaluating a person's conduct, integrity and reliability. Participants will apply procedures for managing appeals, ensuring efficiency and promoting informed personnel management decisions across the federal government.
Students should have prior experience in federal human resources, personnel security, or background investigations, familiarity with suitability and fitness regulations such as 5 CFR 731, and an understanding of position risk designations.
Receive instruction from subject‑matter experts who bring proven government experience.
Courses that are regularly updated based on feedback and industry developments, ensuring versions are mapped to federal competencies.
The instructor was wonderful and so knowledgeable. The course materials were extremely relevant to what my job is. I feel like I can be better because of this class.
— 2025 student
Directly addressing the day-to-day challenges of federal employees.
Your trusted training partner, equipping public service professionals with the skills and knowledge to excel in their roles and drive meaningful impact.
Attend this course Live Online. Engage with expert instructors, ask questions, and get feedback on your exercises and projects.
At Graduate School USA, you’ll learn in small groups and receive personalized attention.
Get the same interactivity and access to the instructor as in-person students. There are no extra fees and we’ll work with you to ensure your remote setup is perfect.
Upon completion of this course, you’ll receive an official certificate testifying to your mastery of the curriculum. We’ll send you a link where you can download your certificate, share it online with your friends, post it to your professional network on LinkedIn, and view all your earned certificates. Congratulations on your achievement!
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Since 1921, Graduate School USA has partnered with over 125 federal agencies and trained more than one million federal employees. Led by instructors with deep, real-world knowledge of federal regulations, policies, and practices, our private group programs are practical, mission-driven, and tailored to your agency’s objectives. We offer expertise across key federal domains—including human resources, financial management, acquisition and contracting, leadership, and more—to deliver training where and how your team needs it.
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