Protocol School Washington

What Protocol School Washington does

The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW) is a privately held, ACCET-accredited educational institution founded in 1988 by Dorothea Johnson and acquired in 2005 by current president Pamela Eyring. It delivers certificate and customized training in international protocol, business etiquette, cross-cultural communication, and executive presence to professionals in government, military, corporate, diplomatic, and individual career-track segments. Core programs include Protocol Officer Training, Intercultural Etiquette and Protocol Trainer, International Protocol Manager Training, and the Advanced International Protocol Course, delivered in in-person, live-online, and on-demand formats.

The underlying technology stack is modest and centered on delivery rather than differentiation: live-online courses run on the Brightspace Learning Management System and Zoom, with students joining as guests from PSOW accounts. The proprietary moat sits in curriculum and content — most notably the 576-page Honor & Respect reference by Deputy Director Robert Hickey covering forms of address across 190+ countries — rather than in software. A newly launched "Everything Speaks – Protocol & Business Etiquette Intelligence" program (June 2026) signals a push toward scalable, workplace-readiness training.

PSOW generates revenue through five streams: per-learner professional certificate programs, customized onsite/online group training sold to government and corporate clients (often via the GSA Schedule Professional Services Schedule SIN 611430), 1:1 executive coaching and dining tutorials, on-demand e-learning subscriptions, and keynote/guest speaking fees. The school maintains offices in Washington D.C., Columbia, South Carolina, and Dubai (the MENA regional hub established in 2012), and reports having trained over 6,000 professionals from 90+ countries since 1988. It is bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding.

Name

Protocol School Washington

Legal name

The Protocol School of Washington

Website

https://psow.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Protocol School of Washington is an ACCET-accredited private institution delivering certificate and customized training in international protocol, business etiquette, and cross-cultural communication to government, military, corporate, and diplomatic professionals across more than 90 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Etiquette and Protocol Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Protocol, State Visits & Diplomatic Events Management (BPAIAIAJ)

Keywords

• Business etiquette training
• Protocol training
• Executive coaching services
• Cross-cultural communication
• Professional development courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Certificate Programs: PSOW offers multiple certificate programs including Protocol Officer Training, Intercultural Etiquette and Protocol Trainer, International Protocol Manager Training, and Advanced International Protocol Course. Programs are available in-person and live-online formats with tuition including training materials and certificate of completion.
2. Customized Group Training: Private onsite and online sessions of certificate programs delivered for government agencies, military organizations, and corporations. Training can be delivered in entirety for certificates or customized to concentrate on key topics.
3. 1:1 Consulting and Executive Coaching: Private consulting services including dining tutorials, business etiquette coaching, and executive coaching sessions for senior officials and professionals preparing for careers in public or executive service.
4. On-Demand E-Learning: Flexible, mobile, and cost-effective e-learning options for in-person or virtual teams seeking to develop business etiquette skills.
5. Guest Speaking: Keynote and guest speaker services for live and virtual events delivered by subject matter experts including President Pamela Eyring.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Protocol School of Washington provides accredited certificate training programs in international protocol, business etiquette, cross-cultural communication, and executive presence. Programs are delivered via in-person, live-online, and on-demand formats to government agencies, military organizations, corporations, diplomats, and individual professionals seeking recognized credentials in protocol and etiquette.

Product overview

Protocol School Washington offers a portfolio of protocol and etiquette training programs delivered in multiple formats (in-person, live online, and on-demand). The core offerings include four main certificate programs: Protocol Officer Training, Intercultural Etiquette and Protocol Trainer, International Protocol Manager Training, and Advanced International Protocol Course. These are supplemented by single subject courses, the Speakers Training Camp, and the newly launched 'Everything Speaks – Protocol & Business Etiquette Intelligence' program. Additional services include customized group training, 1:1 consulting, and keynote speaking. All programs are available in live online, in-person, or on-demand modalities, with the flagship classroom-based curriculum also delivered via Brightspace LMS and Zoom.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Protocol Officer Training Comprehensive training program providing a thorough foundation in the fundamentals of operational protocol, covering titles and forms of address, precedence, introductions, and ceremonial planning for government, military, and corporate professionals.
• Intercultural Etiquette and Protocol Trainer Trainer certification program teaching expert instruction on business protocol, executive dining and entertaining, professional image, and cultural awareness for individuals seeking to become certified protocol and etiquette trainers.
• International Protocol Manager Training Advanced certificate program focused on international protocol management, providing comprehensive training for professionals managing VIP visits, international delegations, and diplomatic events.
• Advanced International Protocol Course Advanced-level protocol training for experienced professionals seeking to enhance their international protocol expertise beyond the foundational certificate programs.
• Communication Courses Courses teaching skills to communicate successfully with any audience and master cross-cultural communications with people from different countries, cultures, generations, and genders.
• Everything Speaks – Protocol & Business Etiquette Intelligence Scalable training program designed to enhance professional presence, communication, networking skills, and workplace readiness for participants across all career stages in hybrid work environments.
• Speakers Training Camp Specialized training program for developing speaking and presentation skills in professional and diplomatic contexts.
• Customized Group Training Private onsite and online sessions of certificate programs delivered exclusively for government agencies, military organizations, and corporations, customized to concentrate on key topics relevant to the client.
• E-Learning / On-Demand Training Flexible, mobile, and cost-effective e-learning option for in-person or virtual teams seeking to develop business etiquette skills on demand.
• 1:1 Consulting and Executive Coaching Private consulting services including dining tutorials, business etiquette and protocol coaching, and executive coaching sessions for senior officials and professionals preparing for careers in public or executive service.
• Guest and Keynote Speaking Keynote and guest speaker services for live and virtual events delivered by subject matter experts including President Pamela Eyring, covering US and international protocol practices.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% increase in inquiries and bookings for courses targeting younger professionals
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACCET accreditation is foundational to PSOW's credibility as an educational institution. ACCET is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. This accreditation allows PSOW to maintain high standards for curriculum, instructional delivery, and facilitators while providing recognized credentials to graduates.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American School of Protocol: Direct competitor offering etiquette, protocol, and corporate image training to similar individual and corporate customers in the U.S.
• International School of Protocol: Direct competitor offering protocol and etiquette training programs serving similar individual and corporate clients in the U.S. and internationally.
• Civility Experts Worldwide: Specialized training provider focused on workplace civility, etiquette, and protocol for corporations and government clients with similar subject matter.
• Protocol & Etiquette School of New York: Direct competitor based in a major U.S. market offering certificate programs in etiquette, protocol, and corporate image serving similar U.S. professional clients.
• Protocol & Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association: Industry association and training provider serving the same protocol officer community, with overlapping faculty networks and recognized industry credentials.

Regional players

• Debrett's: UK-based authority on British etiquette, protocol, and forms of address with comparable training programs and reference content for international markets.

Broad incumbents

• Emily Post Institute: The most established consumer-facing etiquette brand in the U.S., offering business etiquette and manners training with broader consumer rather than protocol-officer focus.
• Dale Carnegie & Associates: Global training incumbent offering professional development, leadership, and interpersonal skills courses that overlap with PSOW's corporate communication and executive presence content.
• LinkedIn Learning: Mass-market enterprise learning platform with protocol, communication, and soft-skills modules that competes for corporate training budget at a much lower price point.

Emerging players

• Manners Concierge: Modern etiquette and corporate soft-skills training provider competing for similar corporate clients with a contemporary brand and digital delivery approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/TheProtocolSchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-protocol-school-of-washington
• Xx.com/the_psow
• Facebookfacebook.com/theprotocolschoolofwashington

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Protocol School Washington