Leadership Education and Development

OPM’s LEAD Certificate Program

Target Grades

Up to GS-15

Location

Online

Tuition

$6,200 - $16,500*

Length

5 courses within 3 years

Accelerate your career with a clear path to leadership development. 

Leadership Skills for an Extraordinary Career

Take charge of your professional development with the right leadership 

education for your career. With OPM’s Leadership Education and 

Development (LEAD) Certificate program, your education goes well 

beyond the classroom – what you learn is immediately applicable on the 

job. Courses align with the Executive Core Qualifications used by many 

departments and agencies in selection, performance management, 

and development for leadership positions. To formally recognize your 

achievement, you’ll receive a certificate signed by the Director of OPM.

Guided Learning for Leadership Development

The LEAD Certificate Program offers a clear path to career development for 

four essential leadership roles: Aspiring Leader, Team Lead, Supervisor, 

and Manager. 

Each level is a strategically curated learning experience that takes you 

from the job you have to the job you want, providing guided, purposeful 

learning at any point in your career. Gain core knowledge and develop 

capabilities for leadership success refined by our more than 50 years of 

Federal leadership development experience.

Certificate Levels

Choose your program based on your 

leadership experience and career 

goals:

Aspiring Leader: $6,200*

Emerging leaders in non-supervisory 

or non-managerial roles.

Team Lead: $11,600*

Individuals aspiring to be a team lead 

or currently leading teams/projects.

Supervisor: $13,500*

New federal supervisors, supervisors 

in their first year, or any supervisor 

wanting to excel.

Manager: $16,500*

Second-level leaders and/or 

supervisor of supervisors.

*Tuition estimate based on five total 

courses. Will vary with choice of electives.

Learn More >

www.opm.gov/LEAD
The LEAD Certificate Experience

In powerful, collaborative environments, learn and practice the skills you need 

to take on greater responsibilities and advance to the next level of leadership. 

All courses are taught by faculty with extensive government expertise who bring 

diverse ideas and techniques to this immersive learning environment. 

Learn Alongside Your Peers

Build a lasting professional network and grow with your peers in multi-agency 

courses that bring collective experiences to the learning environment. 

Build to Your Strengths

Identify and develop your personal strengths with electives and optional 

individualized coaching sessions.

Reinforce Learning

Take courses at your own pace giving you time to digest, reflect, and plan how to 

transfer learning to on-the-job roles.

Demonstrate Mastery

Validate your mastery with a capstone presentation that synthesizes your 

learning through reflection, planning, and action.

Bring LEAD to Your Agency

In addition to individual employees enrolling in the LEAD Certificate program, 

LEAD can also be delivered in a cohort format for groups within your agency. By 

training tomorrow’s leaders today, the program provides clear progression to 

support succession management, bringing agencies measurable value through 

networking and sharing of best practices with the ease of government-togovernment interagency agreements. Contact our team to learn how the LEAD 

Certificate program can develop your organization’s leaders. 

Start Your Leadership Journey

A combination of core classes and electives will put you squarely on the path to career development. You’ll focus on essential 

leadership competencies while personalizing your own growth journey to help fulfill your Individual Development Plan (IDP). 

View a list of required courses for each certificate level at www.opm.gov/LEAD.

Aspiring Leader Team Lead Supervisor Manager

Objective Gain fundamental skills to 

grow your confidence as 

a high-performing, rising 

leader.

Learn leadership strategies 

while refining skills for 

building, managing, and 

participating in teams and 

projects.

Build skills that emphasize 

exercising influence and 

authority, knowing when to 

lead and when to manage, 

and fostering a diverse and 

inclusive workforce.

Acquire strategies to 

align operations with 

organizational priorities, 

mobilize employees, and 

create innovative solutions 

to complex challenges.

Audience Emerging and aspiring 

leaders in non-supervisory 

or non-managerial roles. 

Recommend for grades up 

to GS-9.

Individuals aspiring to be 

a team lead or currently 

leading teams or projects. 

Recommended for grades 

GS 11-13.

New federal supervisors, 

supervisors in their first 

year, or any supervisor 

wanting to excel. 

Recommended for grades 

GS 13-15.

Second-level leaders, 

supervisor of supervisors, 

and/or accountable 

for specific line or staff 

functions. Recommended 

for grades GS 14-15.

Why Choose OPM?

For over 50 years, OPM’s Center 

for Leadership Development 

has developed visionary leaders 

to transform government. 

Our programs, services, and 

technologies help transform 

people and organizations, focusing 

on contemporary challenges 

through the lens of government. 

We are the only Federal program 

uniquely designed and focused 

on providing individuals and 

agencies with a path to career and 

organizational success built upon 

OPM’s Executive Core Qualifications

(ECQs) and competencies. 

Learn how our innovative learning 

solutions transform today’s 

employees into tomorrow’s 

leaders at www.opm.gov/CLD. 

Enroll Today >

Email LEAD@opm.gov

Questions?

202-606-2005

www.opm.gov/LEAD

LEAD@opm.gov

Level