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How do I register for GAI courses?
Registration takes place via our website. After you submit your registration, you will receive an automatic confirmation by email with a web registration ID number.
Please note: You must complete the online registration on our website in order to reserve a spot in a course. Submitting only a training form request such as SF-182 or DD-1556 does not constitute proper registration and may delay your enrollment in our courses.
Can I register without submitting payment information?
Yes, you can submit your registration without payment information. However, please note that your registration status will be considered only “reserved” (meaning we are holding a spot for you) until we receive payment information. Once payment is received by our office you will be considered officially “enrolled” in the course.
Is there a deadline for submitting a course registration?
While there is no official deadline for submitting a registration, the deadline for submitting payment information is two weeks before the start date of a course. Registrations will be accepted (provided there are spaces available) as late as 2 working days prior to the start date of a course. If you register after the payment deadline you are expected to submit the tuition payment at the time of your online registration.
In order to be enrolled and guaranteed a spot in any of our courses, payment information should be submitted two weeks before the start date of the course. However, some of our courses fill up quickly so participants are urged to submit registrations as early as possible.
What is the deadline for submitting payment information?
Payment information is due two weeks before the start date of a course. If you submit your registration after the payment deadline (provided there are spaces available) please submit your payment information to our office as soon as possible in order to ensure that you are enrolled in the course. Please reach out to gai@georgetown.edu if you have questions about payment and/or registration process.
Can I register after the payment deadline?
Yes, you can submit your registration after the payment deadline provided there are spaces available in the course. However, please note that you must submit your payment information to our office as soon as possible in order to ensure you are enrolled in the course.
What forms of payment do you accept?
You can submit payment by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) or an approved and funded training form such as SF-182 or other purchase order forms.
Credit card payment can be submitted online here.
Training forms can be submitted online during the registration process or by email at gai@georgetown.edu.
If you have additional payment questions you can call our office at (202) 333-4838 or email at gai@georgetown.edu.
What is your tax identification number (TIN), DUN & Bradstreet number and Cage Code?
Our Tax Identification Number is 52-1943698; DUN & Bradstreet number is 176125474; Cage Code is 097R0.
How do I cancel or transfer a course registration?
A written notification is required for cancellation or transfer requests. Participants may cancel or transfer their Core, Advanced, and Workshop course registrations and receive a full refund by notifying GAI by email at gai@georgetown.edu no later than two weeks prior to the start of the course.
If a participant cancels or transfers a course registration less than two weeks prior to the start of the course, but at least two working days prior to the start date, a $125 cancellation/transfer fee will apply. If participants fail to properly notify GAI of a course cancellation/transfer at least two working days prior to the start of the course, they will be charged the full tuition.
For Research Seminars, cancellations or transfers must be received in writing at least two weeks prior to the first course meeting to avoid a $300 partial tuition charge. Cancellations or transfers received after that, but prior to the second class meeting, will result in a $500 partial tuition charge. No refunds will be given after the second class meeting.
You can also review our cancellation and transfer policy here.
Do you allow substitutions and are there additional fees to process a substitution request?
Substitutions of one participant for another are allowed and no additional fees will be charged. Requests to substitute someone for a registered participant must be submitted in writing by email at gai@georgetown.edu. Please include the following information in your request: name of registered participant, course name and dates of attendance and name and contact information (email and phone number) for substitute.
How do I place my name on a course waitlist?
If you submit an online registration for a course that is currently at capacity (designated “waitlist only”), you will be automatically placed on the waitlist. If a slot becomes available, you will be contacted by GAI to confirm your attendance in the course; you will be officially enrolled in the course once GAI receives your payment information.
When and where are GAI courses conducted?
Most of our open-enrollment courses are conducted in House and Senate office buildings on Capitol Hill (unless otherwise indicated) and normally begin at 8:00 a.m. on the first day of the course. On some occasions, courses may be conducted in Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies and McCourt School meeting space or in the Hall of the States building located in close proximity to the Capitol Hill campus. Research Seminar courses which are part of the certificate program curriculum are typically conducted in the Government Affairs Institute offices, though some meet online.
Enrolled participants will receive an email confirmation approximately two weeks before the start date that specifies the exact location of a course. You can always contact us at gai@georgetown.edu or (202) 333-4838 if you have questions regarding the location of a course, or if you need location information in advance for travel planning. In addition, if you are enrolled in a course and you have not received this information in the specified timeframe please reach out to us to make sure you get this information promptly.
We do offer some of our courses online, and these will be marked as “online instruction” on our website.
When will I receive the course agenda?
A detailed course agenda will be distributed to all participants on the first day of the course during the morning session. We typically send out a tentative agenda by email a few days before the course begins. For most courses, the schedule for each day will vary slightly; however, sessions will not begin before 8:00 a.m., nor adjourn after 4:00 p.m.
When will I receive course related materials?
Course reading materials will be emailed to participants before the beginning of the class. Additional handouts and resources will be distributed during the various class sessions.
Are meals included in the tuition price?
Breakfast and lunch are provided on some of our courses, but not all – it generally depends on location. Your course director will provide further information about meals prior to the start of the class, but you can always contact the office at gai@georgetown.edu if you have any additional questions or special requirements,
What is the dress code?
Civilian business or business casual attire and shoes suitable for walking are appropriate dress for most of our courses, especially those conducted on Capitol Hill. Participants are expected to dress professionally but comfortably.
Does GAI provide hotel accommodations for out-of-town participants?
No, participants are responsible for making their own hotel accommodations and travel arrangements. However, we do provide suggestions for hotels that are within a reasonable distance from Capitol Hill. You can refer to our website for more information.
Do courses include a tour of the U.S. Capitol?
No. However, in most of our 4- or 5-day courses, participants will have the opportunity to attend congressional hearings in the House and/or Senate office buildings when one or both of the chambers are in session. In addition, participants may also have the option to observe floor action from the House and/or Senate galleries in the U.S. Capitol. Access to the galleries is via the Capitol Visitors’ Center, which includes a variety of interesting exhibits that participants can explore on their own time.
How do I request a certificate of completion for a course?
GAI provides electronic certificates of completion by written request only. To obtain a certificate of completion, please email gai@georgetown.edu with your full name and course attended. Please allow a couple of days for the request to be processed.
Are there eligibility requirements for GAI courses?
While our courses are designed primarily for federal executive branch personnel, participants from the private and nonprofit sectors (especially those who are more likely to interact with Congress), as well as legislative branch staff, are all welcome to attend. Please email gai@georgetown.edu if you would like to discuss specific course content or have any additional questions about course requirements or suitability.
Are there any prerequisites for GAI courses?
Two of our advanced courses, Advanced Budget and Appropriations Process and Advanced Legislative Process, assume a solid understanding of congressional vocabulary, institutions, and procedures. The best preparation for these courses is the Congressional Operations Seminar or any of our 4-day courses tailored for individual agencies. It is strongly advised that attendees who wish to participate in the Congressional Justifications Workshop first complete the Advanced Budget and Appropriations Process course or have significant practical experience with congressional funding processes.
It is helpful, although not required, that participants taking the Preparing and Delivering Congressional Testimony or Executive-Legislative Branch Relations courses first complete our Congressional Operations Seminar. Those who haven’t taken a core course but have work experience in legislative affairs may contact GAI (gai@georgetown.edu) to discuss if enrollment in any of the advanced courses would be appropriate.
Do you offer tailored programs and courses?
Absolutely. We conduct tailored classes for dozens of agencies and organizations each year, and we can tailor almost any of our courses. Depending on your specific needs, we can provide tailored training on the Hill, on-site at your offices, virtually, or at a location outside of DC.
How can I request tailored training?
Please get in touch with our Director, Kristin Nicholson, to discuss your needs and options. It’s always helpful to share as much of the following information as you can: which class or topics you’d like to tailor; how many people would attend and information about their roles/backgrounds; how long you’d like the training to last; where the training would take place; and when you hope to schedule the training.
How much does it cost?
Pricing varies widely depending on a variety of factors including content, length, format, location and number of participants. The more information you can share when you make an inquiry, the easier it will be for us to provide an initial estimate. From there, we can discuss details and provide a formal proposal and quote.
What is the application deadline for the Legislative Studies Certificate program?
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. For more details about the certificate program, including program requirements, please refer to our website here.
How long does it take to process and review applications?
Applicants will receive an email with admission status approximately two weeks after submission of a completed application. Please note that we will only review applications that include all of the required supporting materials.
How long does it take to complete the certificate program?
The program is designed to be completed within approximately eighteen months, but participants have the flexibility to finish the requirements in a longer or shorter period. If you have additional questions about the curriculum and/or completion timeline please reach out to the Director of the Certificate Program, Katina Slavkova at kes69@georgetown.edu.
Can I apply previously completed GAI courses towards the requirements for the certificate program?
Generally you will be able to apply past courses completed within a relatively recent timeframe towards the completion of the certificate program. Please email us at gai@georgetown.edu so that we can review your registration record and advise you as to which courses will count towards completion of the requirements.
Can I apply work experience towards completion of the certificate program requirements?
No, we do not grant course credit for work experience.
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