Now Enrolling! 2026 Early Professional Classes

GBA’s Early Professional Class (EPC) is the first offering in our Career Continuum—a sequenced set of development experiences that grow geoprofessionals from early career through leadership. EPC addresses the professional competencies that often lag behind technical expertise in the first few years: how to communicate clearly, document rigorously, think ethically, manage scope, build relationships, and run projects effectively.

 

There are seats remaining for 2026 EPCs, which take place:

• Cohort #4: January 8-March 12
• Cohort #5: April 2-June 18
• Cohort #6: October 1-December 17

Each live, virtual session of an EPC cohort is 75 minutes long and held weekly for 10 weeks. Sessions are led by subject matter experts and facilitated using participant-centered methods, including breakouts, “ticket for entry” prompts, and practice/review cycles that drive retention and behavior change.

Ideal candidates to nominate for the EPC are individuals with less than four years of geoprofessional experience; college grads or professional staff early in career; field staff transitioning to professional staff career path.

What Participants Learn

EPC covers the essentials that newer professionals need to embark on a successful consulting career, including:
• Professional communication & documentation
• Soft skills & tough conversations
• Ethics & professionalism
• Proposals & business development
• Contracts, risk & scope management
• Project management fundamentals

The lessons are designed for immediate on-the-job application. Graduates earn a Certificate of Completion and report immediate performance gains in meetings, client communication, and decision-making.

Why Nominate

By nominating your early-career professionals, you:
• Accelerate their readiness for client-facing work.
• Reduce risk through stronger documentation and ethical decision-making.
• Build confidence and leadership potential early.

Seats are limited—secure spots for your rising talent today!