This program includes
- Live, project-based training from experts
- Additional 1-on-1 mentoring outside of class
- Proprietary workbooks included
- Retake for free within 1 year
- Verified digital certificate of completion
- Learn at an accredited institution
This certification program is a customized learning path designed in partnership with GSUSA to meet the immediate training needs of HR professionals working under the Federal Merit Hiring Plan, Presidential mandates, and OPM federal guidance. This certification equips HR specialists with the critical skills needed to support federal staffing, job analysis, qualification determinations, and pay setting processes. With practical, applied learning, participants will be prepared to implement knowledge directly into their HR practices. This program builds upon recent classification training to provide a comprehensive foundation in federal HR policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with current government standards and best practices.
Courses in this Certificate Program
This is the recommended order, but some courses may be taken in a different order.
Unit 1 5 Days
Federal Staffing and Placement Course
Federal Staffing and Placement Course
This course equips HR practitioners with the expertise to manage federal staffing and placement processes effectively. Participants will gain a deep understanding of recruitment strategies, hiring procedures, and federal regulations to support their agency's workforce needs.
- The role of HR practitioners in federal staffing and placement.
- Recruitment methods, hiring procedures, and appointment authorities.
- Evaluating candidates' qualifications, knowledge, skills, and competencies.
- Applying merit promotion and in-service placement procedures.
- Understanding time-in-grade and time-after-competitive-appointment restrictions.
- Downsizing approaches, including reduction in force (RIF) principles and outplacement assistance.
- Informing applicants and employees about the civil service employment system.
Unit 2 2 Days
Job Analysis for Federal Hiring Course
Job Analysis for Federal Hiring Course
Gain the skills to create job-related selection practices that comply with federal regulations and result in higher-quality candidates. This course focuses on job analysis techniques, assessment tool development, and documentation to support hiring decisions.
- Conducting job analyses that meet OPM and UGESP regulatory requirements.
- Defining and differentiating knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies.
- Developing effective applicant assessment tools to improve candidate quality.
- Identifying and addressing issues in existing assessment tools.
- Creating documentation to justify rating criteria and support hiring decisions.
Unit 3 3 Days
Qualifications Analysis Course
Qualifications Analysis Course
This course provides HR professionals with the tools to assess applicant qualifications effectively for federal positions. Participants will learn to apply OPM's standards and analyze experience, education, and eligibility to make informed hiring decisions.
- The role of qualifications analysis in the federal staffing process.
- Evaluating general and specialized experience using OPM's Qualifications Standards.
- Crediting education and combining it with experience to determine minimum qualifications.
- Understanding selective placement factors and quality ranking factors.
- Applying legal and regulatory requirements for eligibility determinations.
- Assessing minimum qualifications and eligibility for federal job applicants.
Unit 4 3 Days
Pay Setting: General Schedule Course
Pay Setting: General Schedule Course
This course equips federal HR professionals with the skills to implement and apply complex pay administration rules for General Schedule employees. Participants will learn to handle various personnel actions, including promotions, reassignments, and pay changes, while ensuring compliance with federal policies.
- Overview of the General Schedule system and pay-setting policies.
- Setting pay for new appointments, reinstatements, and transfers.
- Managing reassignments, promotions, and changes to lower grades.
- Applying grade and pay retention rules.
- Handling pay changes, severance pay, and movement between pay systems.
- Administering allowances, hiring incentives, and back pay.
Unit 5 3 Days
Federal Human Resources Management Course
Federal Human Resources Management Course
This course introduces participants to the principles and processes of federal human resources management (HRM) within the unique merit system environment. Through expert instruction, participants will explore key HRM functions and their interrelationships to effectively manage federal employees.
- Principles of federal HRM and their impact on decision-making.
- Compensation processes, including classification, pay, and benefits.
- Federal hiring processes and equal pay for equal work.
- Strategies to improve employee engagement and workforce satisfaction.
- Performance management, including employee development and appraisals.
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), employee relations, and labor relations programs.
Certificate Reviews
Our alumni consistently commend the expertise of our instructors and the real-world relevance of our programs. Their feedback highlights how Graduate School USA training has advanced their skills, supported their agencies’ missions, and fostered long-term professional growth.
SSA OIG Federal Merit Hiring Certificate is rated 4.7 stars by 499 students
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Michelle Young Jul 1, 2026Pay Setting: General Schedule Course
Great class! Thank you.
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Michelle Kinell Jul 1, 2026Qualifications Analysis Course
This course was not too long, not rushed, and had a phenomenal instructor!!!
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Kimberlyn R. Jul 1, 2026Qualifications Analysis Course
The instructor was excellent.
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Kimberlyn R. Jul 1, 2026Pay Setting: General Schedule Course
The instructor was excellent.
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Zaria F. Jun 30, 2026Federal Human Resources Management Course
The lesson was good and engaging. I enjoyed how he talked about real-life issues and asked how we would handle them.
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Briana P. Jun 29, 2026Qualifications Analysis Course
Great instructor! Very helpful and informative.
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A'Keisha S. Jun 28, 2026Pay Setting: General Schedule Course
Tammy is knowledgeable about pay setting. She was willing to answer all questions, and she was patient.
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Crystal Velasquez Jun 26, 2026Pay Setting: General Schedule Course
This class had very useful material for an overall view of pay setting in the GS system, as well as a brief overview of other systems.
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Nina-Marie B. Jun 26, 2026Qualifications Analysis Course
The class was good. The instructor was amazing and full of knowledge. She was very patient, especially with someone like me who is not good with math.
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Lucio Aguilar Jun 25, 2026Qualifications Analysis Course
If you want to become more well-rounded with qualifications, this course is a great place to start!
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Rashay L. Jun 25, 2026Qualifications Analysis Course
Great class, I learned a lot. The instructor was very patient and knowledgeable.
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Bobbi Cook Jun 25, 2026Pay Setting: General Schedule Course
The instructor, Tammy, was great! She explained everything and took time to go back and answer all the questions. I feel like I learned a lot.
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Deeanna J. Jun 24, 2026Pay Setting: General Schedule Course
It was a great experience. Ms. T was the best instructor for this course; she broke it down so that we could understand how to use it in our daily workload. She needs to teach all the classes.
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Hayley H. Jun 24, 2026Federal Staffing and Placement Course
Great instructor, very relevant course.
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Hayley H. Jun 24, 2026Federal Human Resources Management Course
Great course! The instructor was very knowledgeable and informative.
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Joseph Packett Jun 23, 2026Pay Setting: General Schedule Course
I can't say it enough, Ms. T was fantastic.
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Eliana V. Jun 18, 2026Federal Human Resources Management Course
Overall, I was very pleased with the opportunity to attend this class and meet and engage with new faces and new backgrounds. It made the content feel very alive throughout the days, and we all had some important perspectives to share with one another. This course helped me gain some confidence in my day-to-day HR responsibilities, as well as helped me prepare for the responsibilities that may come as I advance in my career.
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Jiya B. Jun 18, 2026Federal Human Resources Management Course
The class was amazing, as was the instructor. I came out with more knowledge than I went in with.
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Trey H. Jun 18, 2026Federal Human Resources Management Course
The instructor kept the class moving at a great pace and was engaging the whole time.
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Anthony Range Jun 18, 2026Federal Human Resources Management Course
I recommend this course to any new hire in HR in the federal government.
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Sandra Portillo Jun 18, 2026Pay Setting: General Schedule Course
Arlene, you are the BEST. Thank you for all your knowledge.
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Daniel L. Jun 18, 2026Federal Human Resources Management Course
I enjoyed the way the instructor kept the class engaged and used real-world examples to tie the information together. That helped keep my focus and understand what we were going through better. Being new to HR, I learned many new topics that I can take with me as I continue to pursue a career within the Federal Government.
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Mikell Varnes Jun 18, 2026Federal Human Resources Management Course
This class was awesome. As an employee that has worked for the government for years, there was still a lot of information that was new to me and knowledge for me to gain.
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Reina Pollock Jun 18, 2026Federal Human Resources Management Course
This class is engaging and educational for all levels of HR.
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Brian G. Jun 18, 2026Federal Human Resources Management Course
Overall, the course was very beneficial and introduced information that will help me improve my career. The instructor was very thorough and provided real-world scenarios and outcomes.
Showing 25 of 277 reviews
Tuition
Full Tuition
Price before discounts: $7,045Full tuition: $6,399
Due before the class starts
This program includes
- Live, project-based training from experts
- Additional 1-on-1 mentoring outside of class
- Proprietary workbooks included
- Retake for free within 1 year
- Verified digital certificate of completion
- Learn at an accredited institution
Learning Experience Highlights
Training from government‑experienced instructors
Receive instruction from subject‑matter experts who bring proven government experience.
Specialized for government & DoD
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
Real-world solutions
Directly addressing the day-to-day challenges of federal employees.
125+ departments & agencies served
Your trusted training partner, equipping public service professionals with the skills and knowledge to excel in their roles and drive meaningful impact.
Interactive Training
Attend this certificate program live online or as self-paced training. Engage with expert instructors, ask questions, and get feedback on your exercises and projects.
Live Online Remote, from anywhere
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.
- Live, interactive class
- Experienced instructor teaching live online
- Remote setup assistance provided
Self-Paced Remote, from anywhere
Learn at your own pace with pre-recorded video lessons and hands-on exercises. Work through the material on your schedule with access to course content and resources.
- Learn on your own with access to an instructor for questions
- 24/7 access to premium course videos
- Hands-on exercises and projects
Expert Instructors
Our instructors are industry experts and experienced educators, driven to help you succeed.
Francis Connor
Instructor
Judy Mintze
Instructor
Rhonda Coachman-Steward
Instructor
Christina Pacunas
Instructor
Michele Proctor
Instructor
1-on-1 Mentoring Sessions Included
We want you to succeed in your career goals. In addition to of hands-on, interactive training, you’ll also receive ten 1-on-1 mentoring sessions where you can:
- Review your portfolio work with an expert
- Drill down on challenging concepts
- Polish your resume and LinkedIn profile
- Receive professional advice for applying to jobs
- Ensure you’re on track with your learning goals
Free Retake
Missed a session or need a refresher? We have you covered!
Free Retake
We offer a single free retake of any module or the whole program within a year.