Prepare your GS 7 to GS 11 talent to lead before you promote them
Six months, three one-week sessions, a 360-degree assessment, a four-week developmental assignment, and a team project on a real agency problem.
Trusted across the federal government
Agency seals reflect organizations Graduate School USA has trained. They do not imply endorsement by, or affiliation with, any federal agency.
NLP: the leading self rung of the continuum
The New Leader Program prepares employees at the GS 7 to GS 11 levels for management and leadership positions under the theme Leading Self. Its curriculum is built on OPM's Executive Core Qualifications framework and pairs live instruction with assessment, experiential learning, and an individual development plan the participant's supervisor approves.
What the 6 months actually contain
Every program is competency-based and cohort-based. Participants stay in their jobs, apply what they learn as they go, and finish with a portfolio of real work rather than a certificate alone.
Three one-week sessions over six months
Thirteen days of live, project-based instruction, Monday to Friday, delivered live online.
Leadership Effectiveness Inventory (LEI)
A 360-degree feedback assessment built on OPM's leadership competency framework, with input from supervisors, peers, and direct reports. Results drive everything that follows.
Personal Development Action Plan (PDAP)
Required assignments and independent study built on the objectives the LEI surfaced, coordinated with and finally approved by the first-line supervisor.
Four-week developmental assignment
Real exposure to a different leadership or managerial setting. Participants secure their own assignment, which keeps agency ownership in the process.
Three-day shadowing assignment
Shadowing a federal manager or executive at least two grades above the participant's current level.
Management interviews and book reviews
Structured interviews with career federal employees at least two grades above the participant, plus reviews tied to the competencies being developed.
Team project and Team Leader report
Teams present to the cohort during graduation week. Every member serves as Team Leader at least once.
Organization Perspective Overview
Each participant analyzes their own agency: what it does, how it works, and how their role aligns to the mission.
Program Impact Paper
A capstone reflection on the six-month journey: achievements, lessons learned, benefit to the organization, and next steps.
What your employee brings back
Graduates return with work product and relationships, not just a completion record.
A supervisor-approved Personal Development Action Plan
360-degree feedback from supervisors, peers, and direct reports
A completed four-week developmental assignment
A verified digital certificate and 9.6 CEUs
A cross-agency professional network
What graduates say
Every quote below is verbatim from a Graduate School USA program page.
The New Leader Program is not only an investment in you as an employee, but it is an investment in you as a person, for you grow in unimaginable ways. I am proof that the program works, for it not only changed the course of my career by opening doors that I could not have opened otherwise, but it also changed the course of my life.
The NLP strengthened my ability to analyze organizational challenges, communicate with clarity amongst my peers, and gave me the tools to gain the courage to lead with purpose. The experience affirmed my long-term commitment to grow into roles that influence people, culture, and mission outcomes.
When I joined this class, I was worried about the amount of work, as my job is a lot of work in itself. I also am not a fan of group projects, but my group is what got me through this program. Without them, I would not have grown as much as I did.
This program allowed me to expand my network and gain valuable organizational insights into my agency. I also made friends for life.
It taught me so much about working with employees and how to handle, let's say, problem ones. The contacts from the program have also benefited me in many ways.
My agency is going to benefit from me completing this program because I am going to return to my job reinvigorated with a renewed commitment and a strong desire to apply the lessons learned.
Professionally and personally, NLP has been the catalyst for my soul. It has opened my eyes to what I can be. Professionally, it has given me an opportunity to network with other individuals and agencies. Personally, my daughter has noticed that I am more confident and sure of myself.
My biggest takeaway was learning my own leadership style and how it may be perceived by others. Recognizing who I am as a leader helped me to identify my own strengths and weaknesses, improve my communication skills, and even allowed me to handle challenging situations more effectively.
Who should attend
GS 7 to GS 11 or equivalent. Applicants apply with supervisor and training coordinator approval.
Employees you have identified as future supervisors
High performers who need to become visible to leadership in your organization
Staff who would benefit from a professional network beyond their own office
Anyone who needs a concrete personal development plan rather than general advice
Cohorts, tuition, and how to enroll
Tuition covers all materials and is due before the class starts. An installment plan is available. Agencies typically fund enrollment with an SF-182 or a government purchase card.
August 10, 2026
Delivered live online, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm Eastern. Contact CLM to confirm the current cohort calendar and remaining seats.
Ask about this cohort$4,175
Covers all materials. An installment plan is available, beginning with a 10 percent non-refundable deposit.
Ask about funding9.6 CEUs
A verified digital certificate of completion from Graduate School USA, an ACCET-accredited institution.
Ask about the credentialVetted procurement, right from the GSA Schedule
Graduate School USA is a GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract holder, allowing federal agencies and other qualifying organizations to confidently purchase our services.
- GSA MAS contract 47QRAA24D004K, SINs 611430 (professional training) and 541611 (management/administrative consulting)
- Held as American Public Training LLC d/b/a Graduate School USA; UEI LA83MCFN1ST3; CAGE 99AA0
- We work with your training office on the paperwork, whether a Schedule order, purchase order, or an SF-182.
A century of developing the federal workforce
Graduate School USA was established by the Secretary of Agriculture in 1921. In 1995 the Office of Personnel Management transferred eight of its training centers to the school, and the Center for Leadership and Management was created. CLM has trained more than 10,000 emerging federal leaders since.
- Founded 1921 as the USDA Graduate School; 500,000+ government employees trained across 125+ agencies
- ACCET-accredited (ACCET is a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accreditor)
- Center for Leadership and Management runs ECQ-aligned executive development, including the Executive Potential Program since 1995
- 200+ federally experienced subject-matter experts across 400+ courses and certificates
- Available on an active GSA MAS Schedule (SINs 611430 and 541611)
Questions agencies ask
The answers training officers and program directors ask for most, in one place.
Does the participant keep working during the program?
Who secures the developmental assignment?
How do we pay for it?
Can you run a cohort just for our agency?
How does my agency buy training from Graduate School USA?
Can courses be tailored to our agency?
Can training be delivered virtually or in person?
Talk to the Center for Leadership and Management
Tell us the levels you need to develop, how many people, and your timeline. We will map them to the right program and cohort, and answer questions about funding and the SF-182.