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.
Discover how AI can simplify the way you research and plan for federal retirement. From modeling annuity scenarios to evaluating Social Security timing and FEHB decisions, this course gives you hands-on experience using AI tools responsibly within a government context, reflecting the most current 2026 federal benefits and retirement policy updates.
Master the rules, regulations, and procedures to effectively counsel federal employees on CSRS, CSRS Offset, and FERS retirement benefits.
This course provides HR practitioners with the knowledge to advise employees on federal benefits, including health insurance, retirement systems, and the Thrift Savings Plan.
Build the expertise to advise federal employees on CSRS and FERS retirement benefits. This course helps HR professionals understand eligibility, service crediting, and TSP management to provide accurate and confident guidance.
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 a clear understanding of FEHB, FEGLI, FLTCIP, FSAs, Social Security, and Medicare to confidently advise employees and process federal benefits. This course equips HR professionals with the essential knowledge to interpret regulations and provide accurate guidance.
This course equips HR professionals with the expertise to interpret and communicate Social Security and Medicare benefits. Participants will learn how eligibility, enrollment, and coverage interact with federal retirement programs to help employees plan for a secure and well-informed retirement.
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.
Complete this form and we’ll get back to you within 1 business hour.
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.
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.
GREAT! I think everyone should take this course. Mrs. Johnson was a fountain of information and controlled the classroom well to keep us on track.
Eddie J.
Gathered a ton of useful and applicable information! Don't retire without attending this course! The instructor was on topic, informative, and VERY patient with bloviating students.
Mark Webster
Highly recommend this class for those who are three years and out from retirement. The class met all my needs and answered all my questions. Very Knowledgeable instructor.
Scott Elsass
The instructor was very knowledgeable on all subject matter. Very pleasant to listen to and attentive to our questions.
Mark E.
I would say that the amount of material that was presented was very helpful for someone who is about to retire. I was glad that I was able to take this class. I learned things that I didn't know and was glad to know prior to my retirement. The instructor was great. She had answers to all the questions that were asked of her.
Tamera A.
You want to find out what you didn't know about retirement? Attend this class. The instructor did an outstanding job, adding much more than the student guide and slides had.
Hollis Sizemore
This is my first time attending a retirement seminar. I learned a lot!
Laura M.
This course should be MANDATORY at least once within the 10 years before projected retirement. I learned so much here that I couldn't find on my own.
Joanne Andrys
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.
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
Sue Wilkins was very knowledgeable. The examples and stories she provided were realistic and very helpful.
Michelle A.
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.
A lot of material covered in a short time. Very informative instructor and willing to answer any questions.
Peter N.
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 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!
Maria H.
Great teacher, very knowledgeable. GRB and Ai has most of the information. It is great to hear the Instructor's War story and details of how important to understand both Retirement Systems.
Osbert O.
Susan is amazing! I learned so much good information.
Alexandra S.
Great job!
Jermaine Butler
Lots of detail covering all the benefits. Johnny is enthusiastic and knows his course material. Takes time to answer questions and revisit material the class had questions about.
Denise O.
The best instructor and class!
Vanessa Hurt
My experience was great - 10/10! Very informative teacher and course.
Coco C.
Very knowledgeable instructor. Open to two-way dialogue.
Giovanni M.
Instructor was very knowledgeable and well spoken.
Tamika C.
Dawndee Crawford is a great instructor and was very helpful. I enjoyed this class content. It was the right amount of challenging. Great experience overall.
Jada Glenn
Great. The course was a big help. The instructor was very knowledgeable and friendly.
Michael P.
I left this course with more information on things that I didn't realize I needed to know, and the instructor did a great Job of helping me to understand. I really enjoyed how she made everything a conversation and talked through the situations to help you understand.
Melvin D.
Ms. Johnson's HR background aided in communicating requirements and fine points for the different areas of the course. I spoke with multiple participants, and we all picked up valuable information.
Brian 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 4.6 stars by 831 students
A lot of material covered in a short time. Very informative instructor and willing to answer any questions.
GREAT! I think everyone should take this course. Mrs. Johnson was a fountain of information and controlled the classroom well to keep us on track.
Gathered a ton of useful and applicable information! Don't retire without attending this course! The instructor was on topic, informative, and VERY patient with bloviating students.
Highly recommend this class for those who are three years and out from retirement. The class met all my needs and answered all my questions. Very Knowledgeable instructor.
The instructor was very knowledgeable on all subject matter. Very pleasant to listen to and attentive to our questions.
I would say that the amount of material that was presented was very helpful for someone who is about to retire. I was glad that I was able to take this class. I learned things that I didn't know and was glad to know prior to my retirement. The instructor was great. She had answers to all the questions that were asked of her.
You want to find out what you didn't know about retirement? Attend this class. The instructor did an outstanding job, adding much more than the student guide and slides had.
This is my first time attending a retirement seminar. I learned a lot!
This course should be MANDATORY at least once within the 10 years before projected retirement. I learned so much here that I couldn't find on my own.
Ms. Johnson's HR background aided in communicating requirements and fine points for the different areas of the course. I spoke with multiple participants, and we all picked up valuable information.
I left this course with more information on things that I didn't realize I needed to know, and the instructor did a great Job of helping me to understand. I really enjoyed how she made everything a conversation and talked through the situations to help you understand.
Great. The course was a big help. The instructor was very knowledgeable and friendly.
Dawndee Crawford is a great instructor and was very helpful. I enjoyed this class content. It was the right amount of challenging. Great experience overall.
Great teacher, very knowledgeable. GRB and Ai has most of the information. It is great to hear the Instructor's War story and details of how important to understand both Retirement Systems.
Great class!
Susan is amazing! I learned so much good information.
Great job!
The best instructor and class!
Lots of detail covering all the benefits. Johnny is enthusiastic and knows his course material. Takes time to answer questions and revisit material the class had questions about.
My experience was great - 10/10! Very informative teacher and course.
Very knowledgeable instructor. Open to two-way dialogue.
Instructor was very knowledgeable and well spoken.
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.
Showing 25 of 70 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.
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.
| April 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
April 20–22
Monday to Wednesday
9–4:30pm
|
$1,549
3 Days
|
Develop essential skills and competencies to excel as an Administrative Officer or Executive Assistant in federal roles. |
|
|
April 21–22
Tuesday to Wednesday
9–4:30pm
|
$899
2 Days
|
Gain essential knowledge to make informed decisions about retirement under the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS). |
|
|
April 27–30
Weekdays
9–4:30pm
|
$1,999
4 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. |
|
|
April 28–June 11
Weekdays
9–4:30pm
|
$1,999
4 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. |
|
| May 2026 | |||
|
May 8
Friday
9–4:30pm
|
$699
1 Day
|
Apply FWS pay-setting rules to real-world scenarios involving appointments, promotions, within-grade increases, and wage schedule updates. |
|
Showing 5 of 22 courses
