Our courses provide HR practitioners with the knowledge needed to discuss benefits with employees, help supervisors correctly manage employee benefits, and accomplish the HR work that supports federal employees and supervisors in this arena.
This course provides HR practitioners with the knowledge to advise employees on federal benefits, including health insurance, retirement systems, and the Thrift Savings Plan.
Master the rules, regulations, and procedures to effectively counsel federal employees on CSRS, CSRS Offset, and FERS retirement benefits.
Develop the knowledge and skills you need to handle claims for the Office of Workers Compensation Program (OWCP) and federal disability retirement. Understand the features of each program and help your agency process claims quickly and accurately, reduce worker compensation costs and bring injured employees back to work.
Gain the essential knowledge and federal‑specific procedures needed to accurately process personnel actions in the HR environment. Ideal for HR assistants and federal staff responsible for administering personnel changes.
Start your federal HR career by building core technical skills in staffing, classification, labor relations, EEO, and HR data practices aligned with OPM competencies.
Become a trusted HR advisor to agency leadership. Strengthen advisory and analytical skills aligned with federal HR management competencies.
Elevate your strategic HR capabilities and serve as a high-value advisor to agency leadership by aligning workforce initiatives with mission objectives.
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.
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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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.
This class ended up being a wealth of information and great reference tool. Danny is an awesome instructor. He is a wealth of knowledge, demonstrating passion for the subject material, as well as empathy for the students, especially those with no prior Benefits training. He has great communication skills, enthusiasm, and is open to feedback from the class.
Linde P.
The instructor was very informative and knowledgeable.
Sequoia W.
Ms. Sue was very knowledgeable and informative of the subject matter.
Devron M.
I had a wonderful time. The materials were clear and concise. Johnny was amazing. He was extremely engaging and full of knowledge pertaining to the course material as well as sharing his personal experiences.
Cayla C.
Loved the class and the information. It has given me a better insight into what I was doing when I did a detail in benefits.
Latasha M.
Great class, gave touchpoints and detailed explanation of Federal Employee Benefits!
Brian Deister
Overall, the course was a rewarding experience that significantly enhanced my knowledge and skills. There were plenty of opportunities to ask questions and get feedback. This experience exceeded my expectations, both in content quality and instructor engagement.
Rashidah S.
Johnnie was very knowledgeable and informed. He kept the class engaged with the content.
Tara S.
Johnny was a great instructor.
Sean D.
We had a very good instructor! Engaged us with a lot of information.
Tara D.
This was a great course for those working within Federal benefits. Class content was very informative and followed the materials exactly. Taking the course online allowed for a wide range participants to ask a range of questions.
N'Hlauni B.
I found this class rewarding as I am beginning my knowledge in Federal employee benefits. The materials were very comprehensive. Sue took a lot of time to go over the materials and I greatly appreciated her knowledge.
Carol Ann P.
Sue Wilkins was very knowledgeable. The examples and stories she provided were realistic and very helpful.
Michelle A.
The class materials are wonderful with a lot of helpful examples and resources included. Sue Wilkins is a very knowledgeable, patient, and kind instructor. I especially enjoyed the personal examples she shared; they made the material much easier to understand and connect with.
Cassandra B.
Johnny Bynum was a great instructor and his energy was great in instructing the course. Very knowledgeable.
Latasha M.
Content is helpful. Sue was a clear and organized instructor and communicator.
Natasha D.
Rhonda was a great instructor. I learned a lot from the course.
Kondra P.
Instructor did a great job!
Josiah R.
Very good experience. The class was great and very informative. I would definitely take more classes with Ms. Rhonda.
Inez De Jesus
Great class and the information is great. Thanks Ms. Rhonda for breaking down the process step by step so that us newbies could comprehend. This class is worth it.
Cynthia B.
I appreciate how Ms. Rhonda took it slow and took the time to go over the work after we were done. This class was great to build on the education I had previously received.
Sondra R.
Very informative with excellent instruction. A great experience from beginning to end. I left the class feeling like I had a much firmer grasp of FWS.
Nailah Brinson
Course content was relevant with good examples. Ms. Rhonda was wonderful, I appreciated her wealth of knowledge.
Patricia P.
Very happy with this course! Great course and great instructor. I learned a lot.
Ryan Edwards
Great class for all skill levels, from beginners to experts. The course provided valuable information that will be directly applicable to daily work responsibilities. The learning outcomes were substantial, with participants gaining practical knowledge they can immediately implement.
Mary Mcbride
The instructor was very knowledgeable about the topics and was able to provide lots of examples from his career.
Kayla L.
I recommend the Pre-retirement class to anyone working in the federal government. It taught me more than I expected and motivated me to spend more time thinking about what I need to do to prepare myself and family for retirement.
Carla Mayo
Sue is great and very helpful in everything related to pre-retirement planning. I enjoyed every moment of this class and the breadth of information provided during the training.
Kevin C.
The class content and materials were very informative and helped further my understanding of the federal wage system.
Brittney B.
Great instructor, knew what she was trying to teach. Had a great attitude and a very calm voice when going over and explaining things.
Robert O.
Great pace, great instruction, great course.
Casey M.
The instructor is very knowledgeable and can answer questions very well. She is great at walking through the exercises and explaining different scenarios. Great speaking voice, clearly enjoys what she is doing, and overall, great experience.
Jennifer B.
A lot of good information on pay setting. Learned more than I knew prior.
Linda R.
Great! An eye opener experience! The class was very educational and impactful. A lot of useful learning tools were provided. This information will be incorporated into my daily Administrative Officer's duties.
Gawu G.
Instructor was very knowledgeable and informative. I really enjoyed participating in the class. Thank you, Mr. Redden.
Julissa H.
I loved the class. It is a lot of information but very useful information. I really enjoyed and appreciate the facilitator (Sue) for taking time and explaining, not just from the material but also added information.
Louise Gabriel
Johnny was great! Very engaging and knowledgeable.
Denise Pullen
The instructor was very knowledgeable and answered all questions that were asked.
Miranda H.
Perfect! Ms. Sue was very knowledgeable of the material she was presenting. Her engaging spirit kept the class engaged all 5 days.
Janneise W.
Instructor was organized, professional, and helpful. I enjoyed the class.
Teresa S.
Excellent course. The instructor was wonderful, knowledgeable, and kind.
Sharon C.
Mr. Criscuolo was very pleasant and knowledgeable instructor in the course. I enjoyed being in the class over the two day time period. He made the class very engaging and fun to be in. I would attend another class Mr. Criscuolo teaches in future.
LoGin W.
The Administrative Officer/Executive Assistant training offered by Graduate School USA is a must for all people in this field! Excellent opportunity to learn more about what your roles and responsibilities are.
Jerry Neal
I thought I knew everything and turns out there was still more to learn. Highly recommend! Sue was flexible, understanding and had answers to all questions asked.
Khadija Walker
Know what you need to know for retirement! This class helped me understand the process and parts of retiring as a federal employee.
Lisa Stokes
Excellent instructor, I appreciate the organization and thoroughness of the presentation. She provides a lot of information on how to get information in the future as well as providing an excellent handbook that I can use to plan my retirement.
Cathy L.
It was nice to have the prospective of someone with such immense experience and pride in the position. It gave me a sense that the work I do is valuable.
Michele P.
Impressive instructor! Appreciated learning through his shared experiences. The activities were worthwhile. Great class. Changed my outlook on the AO role. Gave direction on further education.
Tabitha W.
Our Employee Benefits Administration Training are rated 4.7 stars by 479 students
Very informative with excellent instruction. A great experience from beginning to end. I left the class feeling like I had a much firmer grasp of FWS.
Course content was relevant with good examples. Ms. Rhonda was wonderful, I appreciated her wealth of knowledge.
Very happy with this course! Great course and great instructor. I learned a lot.
Rhonda was a great instructor. I learned a lot from the course.
Instructor did a great job!
Very good experience. The class was great and very informative. I would definitely take more classes with Ms. Rhonda.
Great class and the information is great. Thanks Ms. Rhonda for breaking down the process step by step so that us newbies could comprehend. This class is worth it.
I appreciate how Ms. Rhonda took it slow and took the time to go over the work after we were done. This class was great to build on the education I had previously received.
Content is helpful. Sue was a clear and organized instructor and communicator.
The instructor was very knowledgeable and answered all questions that were asked.
Perfect! Ms. Sue was very knowledgeable of the material she was presenting. Her engaging spirit kept the class engaged all 5 days.
Great class for all skill levels, from beginners to experts. The course provided valuable information that will be directly applicable to daily work responsibilities. The learning outcomes were substantial, with participants gaining practical knowledge they can immediately implement.
Sue Wilkins was very knowledgeable. The examples and stories she provided were realistic and very helpful.
The instructor was very informative and knowledgeable.
I loved the class. It is a lot of information but very useful information. I really enjoyed and appreciate the facilitator (Sue) for taking time and explaining, not just from the material but also added information.
Ms. Sue was very knowledgeable and informative of the subject matter.
I had a wonderful time. The materials were clear and concise. Johnny was amazing. He was extremely engaging and full of knowledge pertaining to the course material as well as sharing his personal experiences.
Loved the class and the information. It has given me a better insight into what I was doing when I did a detail in benefits.
Great class, gave touchpoints and detailed explanation of Federal Employee Benefits!
Johnnie was very knowledgeable and informed. He kept the class engaged with the content.
Overall, the course was a rewarding experience that significantly enhanced my knowledge and skills. There were plenty of opportunities to ask questions and get feedback. This experience exceeded my expectations, both in content quality and instructor engagement.
Johnny was a great instructor.
Johnny was great! Very engaging and knowledgeable.
We had a very good instructor! Engaged us with a lot of information.
This was a great course for those working within Federal benefits. Class content was very informative and followed the materials exactly. Taking the course online allowed for a wide range participants to ask a range of questions.
Showing 25 of 48 reviews
Attend courses in-person in Washington, DC or 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 face-to-face interaction with an instructor and other students when you learn at our DC campus. Courses are hands-on with a computer and software provided.
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.
All times are listed in Eastern Time unless otherwise specified.
| October 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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October 14–15
Tuesday to Wednesday
9–4:30pm
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$1,549
2 Days
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Develop essential skills and competencies to excel as an Administrative Officer or Executive Assistant in federal roles. |
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| November 2025 | |||
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November 3–7
Monday to Friday
9–4:30pm
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$1,999
5 Days
|
This course provides HR practitioners with the knowledge to advise employees on federal benefits, including health insurance, retirement systems, and the Thrift Savings Plan. |
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November 17–21
Monday to Friday
9–4:30pm
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$1,999
5 Days
|
This course provides HR practitioners with the knowledge to advise employees on federal benefits, including health insurance, retirement systems, and the Thrift Savings Plan. |
|
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November 18–19
Tuesday to Wednesday
9–4:30pm
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$1,549
2 Days
|
Develop essential skills and competencies to excel as an Administrative Officer or Executive Assistant in federal roles. |
|
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November 18
Tuesday
9–5pm
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$699
1 Day
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Apply FWS pay-setting rules to real-world scenarios involving appointments, promotions, within-grade increases, and wage schedule updates. |
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Showing 5 of 16 courses
