For over 25 years, the Institute at GPO has provided Federal publishing professionals with courses designed to help their agencies communicate effectively with a broad range of audiences using a variety of channels. Our courses and seminars in desktop publishing, digital management, and print management integrate hands-on exercises, demonstrations, discussions, and presentations led by nationally recognized experts in their fields. We can help your agency:

  • develop training for your staff in Federal sector publishing and printing best practices
  • increase your knowledge about emerging digital technologies that impact the planning, processes, and budgets for publishing, printing, and information dissemination
  • improve your skills in areas that are unique to Federal agency publishing

The Institute Offers –
All trainings are currently offered in online format only. For FY27 the Institute is introducing a new “Core Skills” series of training courses that will serve the essential training needs of Federal employees with no cancellation. Every other posted training session will require a minimum of 4 enrollees to run as scheduled. The Institute will also offer one on one training sessions for customers by special request. In person (special) off site training is also available upon request for private groups sessions only. The Institute is here to serve our federal customers training needs please contact us, if you are interested in coordinating a customized training session for any courses offered on the Institute schedule.

Free Webinars for Federal Publishers

The Institute is offering free webinar training opportunities, for Federal publishers. Each session runs one hour and starts at 1:30 pm Eastern. You can register below for courses that apply to your work load. Digital content managers and producers will learn how to catch accessibility problems before content goes live, and how to make accessibility part of the publishing system, not a one-off fix.


Publishing the Hard Stuff: Forms, Media, Interactive Content, and Other High-Risk Experiences
This session tackles the formats that generate the most friction and remediation work: forms, transactional experiences, dynamic content, video, audio, captions, transcripts, player decisions, and interactive patterns. The goal is to show how teams can reduce risk before these assets become expensive fixes.
October 14, 2026
1:30 pm-2:30 pm EST

Quality Before Go-Live: Review Systems and Metrics That Improve Publishing Performance
This session turns quality control into a repeatable function instead of a last-minute scramble. It covers what should be reviewed, by whom, at what point, and with what level of rigor, then connects that review model to useful KPIs such as rework rates, defect patterns, turnaround time, template adoption, and high-risk asset counts.
November 4, 2026 1:30 pm-2:30 pm EST

AI in Accessible Production: Why Out-of-the-Box Fails and What Reliable Use Looks Like
This session combines a practical AI risk framework with a side-by-side demonstration of trained and untrained agents completing the same accessibility-related production tasks. It shows attendees why generic prompting is not enough, and why reliable AI use depends on standards, context, review discipline, and deliberate training.
November 23, 2026 1:30 pm-2:30 pm EST

Future-Proofing Content Publishing: Structured Content, AI Discovery, and the Next Wave of Findability
This closing session looks ahead at how structured content, metadata discipline, semantic clarity, and accessibility-aware publishing influence both traditional search and AI-driven discovery. It gives attendees a forward-looking view of what content teams should strengthen now so their publishing capability remains resilient as search and retrieval continue to shift.
December 16, 2026 1:30 pm-2:30 pm EST

Print and Digital Design

Acrobat DC for Desktop and Mobile
This course teaches users to create PDF documents for desktop, mobile, or print, use editing and navigation tools, apply commenting and reviews, add digital signatures, and protect documents using Acrobat's security features.
2 Days - $775
Dates:
November 5-6, 2026; January 7-8, 2027; March 8-9, 2027; May 10-11, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Acrobat DC: Creating PDF Forms for Desktop and Mobile
This course teaches users to create a new PDF form or from an existing document, using Adobe FormsCentral, distribute forms across desktop and mobile platforms, and track, collect, and collate form submissions efficiently.
Prerequisite: Acrobat DC for Desktop and Mobile, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory.
1 Day - $575
Dates:
November 12, 2026; January 13, 2027; March 10, 2027; May 13, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Adobe Acrobat AI Productivity Features
This course teaches users how the AI Assistant can help with prompt engineering, extract data, gain insights, transform and generate content, rephrase text, and identify better SEO opportunities to boost productivity.
1/2 day - $425
Dates:
February 11, 2027; April, 14, 2027; June, 15, 2027
Time: 9:00 – 12:00 p.m.
Prerequisites - None

InDesign
Users learn preferences, workspace, & presets; fundamentals of documents, templates, & views; how to work with margins, columns, headers, footers, AI style packs, shapes, objects, & the Layers Panel; export documents.
3 Days - $1250
Dates:
November 11-13, 2026; January 6–8, 2027; March 8-10, 2027; May 10 -12, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

InDesign: Advanced Styles, Long Documents & AI
Users learn to manage pages, master pages, and spreads; work with styles and effects; use headers, footers, footnotes, endnotes, and Live Text variables; create and sync Books; and build a table of contents and indexes. 3 Days - $1250
Dates:
October 14-16, 2026; December 9-11, 2026; February 8-10, 2027; April 7-9, 2027; June 7-9, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Prerequisites - InDesign, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory.

InDesign: Creating Accessible PDFs with WCAG 2.1
Users learn to create PDFs that are WCAG 2.1 AA, ADA, & Section 508 compliant, author InDesign documents with accessibility in mind, structure content for accessible export, use built-in tools, and test PDFs for compliance. 2 Days - $775
Dates:
January 21-22, 2027; March 18-19, 2027; May 17-18, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Prerequisites - InDesign: Advanced Styles, Long Documents , WCAG 2.1: Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory.

Illustrator
This course teaches users to work with Artboards, grids, fills, and strokes; draw shapes with the Pen and Anchor Point tools; transform objects; and design with type, colour, gradients, and swatches.
2 Days - $775
Dates:
November 16-17, 2026; January 11-12, 2027; March 11-12, 2027; May 13-14, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Prerequisites - None.

Illustrator: Advanced Illustration Techniques
This course teaches users to work with blends, clipping masks, and Gradient Mesh, draw in 1-, 2-, and 3-point perspective, use patterns and brushes, and export artwork for web, video, After Effects, and Premiere Pro.
2 Days - $775
Dates:
December 14-15, 2026; February 11-12, 2027; April 12-13, 2027; June 10-11, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Prerequisites - Illustrator, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory.

Illustrator: Intermediate Illustrator with AI
This course teaches users to work with the Contextual Task Bar, use AI-assisted drawing and tracing, apply filters and effects, design with 2D/3D materials and lighting, combine complex shapes, and create advanced type.
2 Days - $775
Dates:
November 19-20, 2026; January 14-15, 2027; March 15-16, 2027; May 20-21, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Prerequisites - None

Photoshop
Users learn to process, crop, and straighten images; use adjustment features to enhance color, brightness, and contrast; work with masks for advanced selections; merge images with Layers; and save images for web and print.
2 Days - $775
Dates:
November 2-3, 2026; January 4-5, 2027; March 1-2, 2027; May 3-4, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Prerequisites - None

Photoshop: Advanced Composites and Retouching
Users learn to work with layers and blending, make advanced selections, use channels and the alpha channel, apply photo retouching techniques, and understand color correction using HDR, toning, levels, and curves tools. 2 Days - $775
Dates:
October 5-6, 2026; December 3-4, 2026; February 11-12, 2027; April 1-2, 2027; June 14-15, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Prerequisites - Photoshop, Photoshop: 3 Days, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory.

Photoshop: Advanced Photoshop with AI
Users learn to work with Camera Raw and AI features for non-destructive editing, use AI to enhance image quality, apply filters & adjustments, improve technical qualities, & enhance both realistic & imaginative composites.
2 Days - $775
Dates: October 8-9, 2026; December 7-8, 2026; February 4-5, 2027; April 5-6, 2027; June 3-4, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Prerequisites - None

Adobe AI: Powering Creativity with Intelligent Tools
This course teaches users to harness AI-powered tools in Photoshop, Illustrator with Adobe Sensei, Premiere Pro for editing, and AI for captions, plus generate images, social media designs, and presentations with Adobe Express and Firefly.
1 Day - $575
Dates: December 10, 2026; February 4, 2027; April 1, 2027; June 2, 2027
Prerequisites - None

AI for Coders: Code Smarter, Faster, Not Harder
Users learn to integrate tools like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, and AI-assisted debugging to write, optimize, & document code, scaffold projects, solve bugs, generate tests, & use AI to dramatically boost productivity.
1 Day - $575
Dates: November 17, 2026; January 12, 2027; March 16, 2027; May 21, 2027
Prerequisites - None

AI Powered Content Design
This course teaches users basic AI concepts, types of AI, and prompt engineering while examining ethics. Learn what AI can and cannot do, blend AI with traditional design, and integrate AI effectively into your content design process.
1 Day - $575
Dates: November 20, 2026; January 19, 2027; March 25, 2027; May 27, 2027

508 Accessibility

Acrobat DC: Accessible PDFs - WCAG 2.1
This course teaches users to create accessible PDFs, make existing PDFs accessible, add accessibility features from source documents, comply with WCAG 2.1 AA, ADA, & Section 508, and evaluate and repair accessibility issues.
2 Days- $775
Dates:
October 7-8, 2026; December 7-8, 2026; February 8-9, 2027; April 5-6, 2027; June 7-8, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m
Prerequisite: Acrobat DC for Desktop and Mobile, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory.

Acrobat DC: Creating Accessible PDF Forms - WCAG 2.13
This course teaches users to create accessible PDF forms from existing documents, add accessibility features, ensure compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA, ADA, & Section 508, evaluate accessibility and repair compliance issues.
3 Days - $1250
Dates: October 7-9, 2026; December 7-9, 2026; February 8-10, 2027; April 5-7, 2027; June 7-9, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Prerequisites: WCAG 2.1: Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Acrobat DC for Desktop and Mobile, Acrobat DC: Creating PDF Forms for Desktop and Mobile, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory.

Accessible Documents in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
This course teaches users to recognize accessibility issues, add accessibility features in Excel and PowerPoint to meet WCAG 2.1, ADA, Section 508, and AODA standards, and test for issues.
1 Day – $575
Date: October 30, 2026; December 4, 2026; January 5, 2027; March 23, 2027; May 11, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

AEM Forms Designer: Accessible PDF Forms with WCAG 2
This course teaches users to create PDF forms that are WCAG 2.1 AA compliant, filter WCAG 2.1 techniques to suit specific needs, understand Sufficient vs. Advisory Techniques, identify and fix common accessibility failures.
1 Day- $575
Dates: November 30, 2026; February 3, 2027; May 12, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Prerequisites - WCAG 2.1: Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, AEM Forms Designer: Designing PDF Forms, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory.

Creating Accessible Documents in Microsoft Word
This course teaches users to add accessibility features to meet WCAG 2.1, ADA, Section 508, and AODA standards, test documents for accessibility compliance, and repair any issues to ensure full accessibility.
1 Day - $575
Dates: October 29, 2026; December 3, 2026; January 4, 2027; March 22, 2027; May 10, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Prerequisite -WCAG 2.1: Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Microsoft Word 365 - Level One, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory.

Creating Accessible 508 Compliant Templates Using Microsoft Word
This course teaches users to create properly structured Microsoft Word templates, add accessibility features to meet ADA, Section 508, AODA, and WCAG 2.1 standards, and test and repair documents for accessibility compliance.
1 Day - $575
Dates: October 29, 2026; December 3, 2026; January 4, 2027; March 22, 2027; May 10, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Prerequisites - Understanding Web content accessibility guidelines, Microsoft word 365 level 1, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory.

Creating Accessible Storyline eLearning Projects
Users learn to take advantage of accessibility support for your Storyline project, work with accessible audio, create keyboard-accessible content, build accessible quizzes, and include additional accessibility features.
1 Day - $575
Dates: October 13, 2026; February 11, 2027; April 9, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Prerequisites - Create Engaging eLearning with Articulate Storyline, WCAG 2.1: Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory.

Designing an Accessible User Experience
This course teaches users to ensure people understand and digest information in the most usable environment, identify WCAG 2.1 AA, ADA, and Section 508 compliance levels, create enriching user experiences accessible to all.
1 Day - $575
Dates: November 4, 2026: January 6, 2027; February 24, 2027; April 7, 2027; May 19, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Prerequisites - None.

InDesign: Creating Accessible PDFs with WCAG 2.1
Users learn to create PDFs that are WCAG 2.1 AA, ADA, & Section 508 compliant, author InDesign documents with accessibility in mind, structure content for accessible export, use built-in tools, and test PDFs for compliance.
1 Day - $575
Dates: January 21, 2027; March 18, 2027; May 17, 2027
Prerequisite - InDesign: Advanced Styles, Long Documents , WCAG 2.1: Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory.

LiveCycle Designer: Accessible PDF Forms with WCAG 2.1
This course teaches users to create PDF forms that are WCAG 2.1 AA compliant, filter WCAG 2.1 techniques to suit specific needs, understand Sufficient vs. Advisory Techniques, identify and fix common accessibility failures.
1 Day - $575
Dates: November 30, 2026; February 3, 2027; May 12, 2027
Prerequisite - EWAW101-WCAG 2.1: Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and Adobe.

Mobile Accessibility Experiences
Users learn to make content accessible for a mobile web environment, apply the best web and mobile app testing techniques, ensure content meets WCAG 2.1 AA, ADA, & Section 508 compliance, building an engaging experience.
1 Day - $575
Dates: November 12, 2026; Jamuary 27, 2027; March 30, 2027; May 20, 2027
Prerequisites - None

Screen Reader Testing for Desktop Content
Users learn to test websites and common document formats using screen readers on Windows, check content for clarity and reading order, adjust preferences to reflect user settings, and document findings and issues.
1 Day - $575
Dates: November 26, 2026; January 7, 2027; February 25, 2027; March 24, 2027; May 13, 2027
Prerequisites - WCAG 2.1: Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory.

Screen Reader Testing for Mobile Content
Users learn to test websites and common document formats using screen readers on mobile browsers, check content for clarity and reading order, adjust preferences to reflect user settings, and document findings and issues.
1 Day - $575
Dates: November 27, 2026; January 1, 2027; February 2, 2027; March 25, 2027; May 14, 2027
Prerequisites - WCAG 2.1: Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory

Testing Accessible Web Pages
Users learn to test web pages and websites against WCAG 2.1 AA, ADA, and Section 508 criteria, document findings for design and development teams, and apply a reliable 5-step process to ensure accessibility compliance.
1 Day - $575
Dates: January 28, 2027; March 11, 2027; April 22, 2027; June 10, 2027
Prerequisites -WCAG 2.1: Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory.

Testing Accessible Web Applications and Forms
Users learn to test web pages and websites against WCAG 2.1 AA, ADA, and Section 508 criteria, document findings for design and development teams, and apply a reliable 5-step process to ensure accessibility compliance.
2 Days - $775
Dates: January 28-29, 2027; March 11-12, 2027; April 22-23, 2027; June 10-11, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Prerequisites - WCAG 2.1: Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory.

Testing Accessible WCAG PDF Documents
Users learn to test PDF documents against WCAG 2.1 AA, ADA, Section 508, and AODA criteria, and document accessibility findings clearly for the design and development team to support compliance and improve accessibility.
1 Day - $575
Dates: November 23, 2026; January 14, 2027; March 15, 2027; May 27, 2027
Prerequisites - WCAG 2.1: Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory.

Testing Accessible WCAG LiveCycle Designer PDF Forms
Users learn to test LiveCycle Designer PDF (XFA) forms against WCAG 2.1 AA, ADA, Section 508, and AODA criteria, and document findings clearly for the design and development team to support accessibility compliance.
1 Day- $575
Dates: February 12, 2027; June 29, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Prerequisites WCAG 2.1: Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory.

Testing Accessible WCAG PDF Forms (AcroForms)
Users learn to test PDF Forms (AcroForms) against WCAG 2.1 AA, ADA, Section 508, and AODA criteria, and document findings effectively for the design and development team to support accessibility and compliance goals.
2 Days - $775
Dates: November 23-24, 2026; January 14-15, 2027; March 15-16, 2027; May 27-28, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Prerequisites: WCAG 2.1: Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory.

WCAG Techniques for Web Content
Users learn to create HTML content that is WCAG 2.1 AA, ADA, & Section 508 compliant, filter W3C WCAG 2.1 techniques to fit project needs, distinguish between Sufficient and Advisory Techniques, and identify common failures.
1 Day - $575
Dates: November 9, 2026; December 21, 2026; January 18, 2027; March 1, 2027; April 12, 2027; May 17, 2027
Prerequisites - WCAG 2.1: Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Introduction to HTML, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory.

WCAG Techniques for Web Applications and Forms 2
Users learn to create HTML content that is WCAG 2.1 AA, ADA, & Section 508 compliant, filter W3C WCAG 2.1 techniques to fit project needs, distinguish between Sufficient and Advisory Techniques, and identify common failures.
2 Days - $775
Dates: November 9-10, 2026; December 21-22, 2026; January 18-19, 2027; March 1-2, 2027; April 12-13, 2027; May 17-18, 2027
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Prerequisites - WCAG 2.1: Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Introduction to HTML, or equivalent knowledge or experience is mandatory.

WCAG Certification

Schedule to come

WCAG 2.1: Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Users learn the roles and responsibilities in a WCAG workflow, how to identify WCAG 2.1 AA, ADA, & Section 508 compliance levels, determine relevant guidelines, recognize exemptions, understand compliance deadlines. Prerequisites - None
1 Day - $575
Dates: October 14, 2026; November 18, 2026; December 16, 2026; January, 13, 2027; February, 17, 2027; March 17, 2027, 2026; April 14, 2027; May 26, 2027; June 16, 2027

Training Events Calendar and Registration

To see a list of the FY 27 training courses and to register, view our Events and Training Calendar.

Cancellation

In the event that a class must be cancelled by the Institute, every effort will be made to notify you by email of the cancellation at least 2 weeks prior to the class date. You will receive information regarding the option to transfer your registration to another class offered by the Institute or choose to receive a refund.

If you are unable to attend a class for which you are registered, contact us at [email protected] as soon as you know you will not be able to attend. Every effort will be made to reschedule you for a later class date.

Special Accommodations

If you need an interpreter, screen reader, or other special accommodation, please let us know at least 5 weeks in advance of the class. Although we are pleased to make arrangements to ensure that all students receive the maximum benefit from the training, we operate on a cost-recovery basis and must recoup any added costs from the student's agency.

Contact

Inquiries about Institute courses or suggestions for future courses are welcome. Send your question or suggestion to [email protected].

U.S. Government Publishing Office
The Institute at GPO
732 North Capitol Street, NW
Mail Stop HCT, Rm A843
Washington, DC 20401

ph 202.512.1283

Terri Cooks
Program Analyst
[email protected]

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