Course List
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This class will start on April 29, 2026 and end on July 28, 2026
PSHRA’s Public Sector HR Essentials Certificate Course Syllabus
Please let us know if you run into any problems or have questions as soon as possible. We want to make sure you are to have the best possible learning experience.
Course Material (All you need is on your dashboard)
- PSHRE Workbook (PDF and Word Versions)
- Public Sector HR Essentials Lessons Summary
- HR20/20 Report
Course Design:
The course spans ten weeks and follows a specific timeline with a sequence of lessons and cohort sessions.
Time Commitment:
Plan for 2 hours for each online lesson to read, complete activities, and prepare for cohort sessions. Individuals have varying learning paces, so it might take more or less time for each person. We recommend completing lessons a day or two before the cohort sessions to allow time for reflection on what you've learned and the development of your plans. All course materials are included on your course dashboard (no textbook is required).
Course Cohort Session Schedule (subject to change):
- Start Date: 4/29/2026
- Completion Date: 7/10/2026
- Cohort Session 1: 5/6/2026 - 1:00 - 2:30 pm ET
- Cohort Session 2: 5/19/2026 - 1:00 - 2:30 pm ET
- Cohort Session 3: 6/2/2026 - 1:00 - 2:30 pm ET
- Cohort Session 4: 6/16/2026 - 1:00 - 2:30 pm ET
- Cohort Session 5: 6/23/2026 - 1:00 - 2:30 pm ET
- Cohort Session 6: 6/30/2026 - 1:00 - 2:30 pm ET
Course Content:
Week 1 - Introduction
Cohort Session 1: Introduction
Week 2 - Lesson 1: Public Sector Basics
Week 3 - Lesson 2: Recruitment
Cohort Session 2: Public Sector HR Basics & Recruitment
Week 4 - Lesson 3: Selection
Week 5 - Lesson 4: Classification and Compensation
Cohort Session 3: Selection, Classification & Compensation
Week 6 - Lesson 5: Benefits
Week 7 - Lesson 6: Labor and Employee Relations
Cohort Session 4: Benefits and Labor Management Relations
Week 8 - Lesson 7: Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity
Week 9 - Lesson 8: Organizational Development
Cohort Session 5: Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity, Organization
Week 10 - Lesson 9: Course Summary
Cohort Session 6: Course Summary and Wrap-up
Certificate of Attendance earned upon course completion.
Making public sector work better®.
Dr. Bernadette Costello
Managing Partner
BCC Consulting
Bernadette Costello is the Managing Partner for BCC Consulting. The foundation of her coaching and consulting practice is “You are Exactly Where You Are Supposed To Be.” Affirming where you are is the first step in any transformation. Transformation is like looking into a labyrinth: a path for discovery, understanding & clarity. One way in & one way out-there are no dead ends. That symbolism expresses Bernadette’s approach to coaching, consulting, learning and the sacred space created with clients to support their journey. Bernadette has over 25 years of talent development, coaching, consulting, and leadership experience in human resources and talent development in the public, non-profit, and higher education sectors. She is also an adjunct faculty member in the George Mason University’s School of Business and Schar School of Policy and Government. Sheis certified in several assessment tools which include Myers Briggs, DiSC, EQi,and Appreciation in the WorkplaceMBA. Bernadette received a Bachelor of Social Work from SIUE, a Masters inPublic Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hilland a doctorate in Higher Education fromGeorge Mason University. She is an PCC certified coach, an Energy LeadershipIndex Master Practitioner and holds a SHRM-SCP certification.
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Includes Multiple Live Events. The next is on 04/17/2026 at 11:00 AM (EDT)
This class will start on April 14, 2026 and end on June 30, 2026
PSHRA’s Public Sector HR Essentials Certificate Course Syllabus
Please let us know if you run into any problems or have questions as soon as possible. We want to make sure you have the best possible learning experience.
Course Material (All you need is on your dashboard):
- PSHRE Workbook (PDF and Word Versions)
- Public Sector HR Essentials Lessons Summary
- HR20/20 Report
Meetings and Discussions:
- Course Cohort Meetings take place in Zoom Events – You will access them through your course "Content Tab."
- Your Course’s Engage Community (for discussions) – You will access the Engage Community through your course "Content Tab."
Course Design:
The course spans ten weeks and follows a specific timeline with a sequence of lessons and cohort sessions.
Time Commitment:
Plan for 2 hours for each online lesson to read, complete activities, and prepare for cohort sessions. Individuals have varying learning paces, so it might take more or less time for each person. We recommend completing lessons a day or two before the cohort sessions to allow time for reflection on what you've learned and the development of your plans. All course materials are included on your course dashboard (no textbook is required).
Course Cohort Session Schedule (subject to change):
- Start Date: 4/14/2026
- Completion Date: 6/30/2026
- Cohort Session 1: 4/17/2026 - 11:00 - 12:30 pm ET
- Cohort Session 2: 4/29/2026 - 11:00 - 12:30 pm ET
- Cohort Session 3: 5/19/2026 - 11:00 - 12:30 pm ET
- Cohort Session 4: 6/2/2026 - 11:00 - 12:30 pm ET
- Cohort Session 5: 6/16/2026 - 11:00 - 12:30 pm ET
- Cohort Session 6: 6/24/2026 - 11:00 - 12:30 pm ET
Course Schedule:
Week 1 - Introduction
Cohort Session 1: Introduction
Week 2 - Lesson 1: Public Sector Basics
Week 3 - Lesson 2: Recruitment
Cohort Session 2: Public Sector HR Basics & Recruitment
Week 4 - Lesson 3: Selection
Week 5 - Lesson 4: Classification and Compensation
Cohort Session 3: Selection, Classification & Compensation
Week 6 - Lesson 5: Benefits
Week 7 - Lesson 6: Labor and Employee Relations
Cohort Session 4: Benefits and Labor Management Relations
Week 8 - Lesson 7: Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity
Week 9 - Lesson 8: Organizational Development
Cohort Session 5: Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity, Organization
Week 10 - Lesson 9: Course Summary
Cohort Session 6: Course Summary and Wrap-up
Certificate of Attendance earned upon course completion.
Making public sector work better®.
Dr. Bernadette Costello
Managing Partner
BCC Consulting
Bernadette Costello is the Managing Partner for BCC Consulting. The foundation of her coaching and consulting practice is “You are Exactly Where You Are Supposed To Be.” Affirming where you are is the first step in any transformation. Transformation is like looking into a labyrinth: a path for discovery, understanding & clarity. One way in & one way out-there are no dead ends. That symbolism expresses Bernadette’s approach to coaching, consulting, learning and the sacred space created with clients to support their journey. Bernadette has over 25 years of talent development, coaching, consulting, and leadership experience in human resources and talent development in the public, non-profit, and higher education sectors. She is also an adjunct faculty member in the George Mason University’s School of Business and Schar School of Policy and Government. Sheis certified in several assessment tools which include Myers Briggs, DiSC, EQi,and Appreciation in the WorkplaceMBA. Bernadette received a Bachelor of Social Work from SIUE, a Masters inPublic Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hilland a doctorate in Higher Education fromGeorge Mason University. She is an PCC certified coach, an Energy LeadershipIndex Master Practitioner and holds a SHRM-SCP certification.
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Includes Multiple Live Events. The next is on 04/17/2026 at 1:30 PM (EDT)
This course is open from April 14, 2026 - May 29, 2026
Public Sector HR Executive Leadership Certificate Program Syllabus
Please let us know if you run into any problems or have questions as soon as possible. We want to make sure you have the best possible learning experience.
Course Materials (All you need is your dashboard):
- Executive Leadership Certificate Program Workbook (PDF and Word Versions)
- HR20/20 Report
Meetings and Discussions:
- Course Cohort Meetings take place in Zoom Events – You will access them through your course "Content Tab."
- Course Discussion Board take place in Your Course’s Engage Community – You will access the Engage Community through your course "Content Tab."
Course Design:
The course spans six weeks with 4 cohort meetings and follows a specific timeline with a sequence of lessons and cohort sessions.
Time Commitment:
Plan for 2 hours for each online lesson to read, complete activities, and prepare for cohort sessions. Individuals have varying learning paces, so it might take more or less time for each person. We recommend completing lessons a day or two before the cohort sessions to allow time for reflection on what you've learned and the development of your plans. All course materials are included on your course dashboard (no textbook is required).
Course Cohort Session Schedule (Subject to Change):
Course Start: 4/14/2026
Course End: 5/29/2026
Cohort #1 – 4/17/2026 - 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM ET
Cohort #2 – 5/1/2026 - 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM ET
Cohort #3 -- 5/15/2026 - 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM ET
Cohort #4 -- 5/29/2026 - 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM ET
Course Schedule:
Week 1:
Online Lesson (self-paced)
Lesson 1: Introduction
Course Introduction.
Week 2:
Online Lesson (self-paced)
Lesson 2: Assess Your Skills Through the Critical Lenses
Learn more about business acumen; innovation; strategic orientation; and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
Cohort Session (virtual)
Session 1: Introduction and Assess Your Skill Set
Reviewing and discussing the content from the first two lessons.
Week 3:
Online Lesson (self-paced)
Lesson 3: Assess Your Skills Through the Areas of Focus
Learn more about leadership, culture, talent, technology, and communication.
Week 4:
Online Lesson (self-paced)
Lesson 4: Your Role as a Trusted Advisor
Learn about executive presence, leading with empathy, and how to build trust to drive collaboration.
Cohort Session (virtual)
Session 2: Area of Focus Skills and Being a Trusted Advisor
Reviewing and discussing the content from the third and fourth lesson.
Week 5:
Online Lesson (self-paced)
Lesson 5: Creating a Personal Development Plan
Take all that you've learned in the online lessons and cohort sessions and create a personal development plan.
Online Lesson (self-paced)
Lesson 6: Leveraging Your Skills
Create a plan to influence agency strategy and short-term projects based upon the skills learned in this course.
Cohort Session (virtual)
Session 3: Personal Development Plan and Leveraging Your Skills
Reviewing and discussing the content from the fifth and sixth lessons.
Week 6:
Cohort Session (virtual)
Session 4: Course Wrap-up
Review of course and opportunity to ask final questions.
Certificate of Attendance earned upon course completion.
Making public sector work better®.
Braxton T. Casey, MPA, PSHRA-SCP, SHRL
People Operations Manager
Braxton Casey is the principal consultant of Thrive Management Solutions, LLC, a small business where his staff provides HR training and development, career coaching, and consulting services. He also offers various organizational development services with his 20+ years of Federal HR, Leadership, and Business Operations experience.
Braxton is a proud Fayetteville State University graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science, a Master's in Public Administration, Doctoral studies at George Washington University, and several HR certifications. He is a certified member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Career Coaches, the Association for Training and Development, the Society for Human Resource Management, Harvard Business Analytics, the Human Capital Institute, and the International Public Management Association for Human Resources (now PSHRA).
Braxton is a graduate of the Harvard Business Analytics Program (HBAP) and the SHRM People Analytics Program.
Braxton's mission is to be a resource for professional transformation and motivation through training, coaching, and consulting.