This course will provide you with the comprehensive training needed to become a certified mediation or arbitration professional. It is structured around the Mediators Without Borders INACCORD® conflict resolution model and offers you the chance to practice your skills through simulated role-playing exercises. Skills covered include facilitating hearings, weighing evidence and testimony, and rendering awards, as well as fundamentals of conflict analysis and resolution. Upon successful completion, Mediators Without Borders will award you four individual certificates in Mediation, Applied Mediation Practice, Arbitration, and Professional Mediator and Arbitrator. A final exam is optional upon completion of the course.
Please research your state's requirements before enrollment to ensure this course is the right fit for you. This course is not suitable for students in GA who desire to handle court-referred or court-ordered cases.
Requirements:
Hardware Requirements:
- This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.
- You need a microphone to participate in the role play practices.
Software Requirements:
- PC: Windows 8 or newer.
- Mac: OS X Snow Leopard 10.6 or later.
- Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
- Microsoft Word (not included in enrollment).
- Windows Media Player (not included in enrollment).
- Skype.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
Other:
- Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
Instructional Material Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:
- In Justice, INACCORD®
- Touchstone Skills for Authentic Communication
- INACCORD Arbitration, Basic Skills for the New Arbitrator (PDF)
Prerequisites:
You must be able to use a browser and Microsoft Word to complete the assignments and navigate the online campus. You should have basic computer skills and be comfortable navigating the Internet and using email. You must be willing to learn to write at a professional level in order to generate contracts and fulfill various written tasks related to mediation and restorative justice.
Brian Luther is a Colorado licensed attorney and certified mediator and arbitrator. He has more than 15 years of mediation and dispute resolution experience. He spent eight years supervising and mentoring attorneys at LexisNexis, a leading legal research corporation and over five years as Lead Trainer and Internship Supervisor for Mediators Without Borders. Luther presides as an impartial Hearing Officer for the City of Longmont, Colorado and was just appointed as an alternate board member for the City of Longmont Board of Adjustments & Appeals. He is a graduate of Rutgers University and has a law degree from the New England School of Law.
Naseem Ghaffari, JD assists with investigations related to employee relations issues, while effectively and accurately maintaining confidential employee relations. She monitors precedents and manages consistency in EEO practices: Including critical incident management, investigations, contract negotiations, and resolution recommendations. Naseem has 7+ years' experience resolving disputes in the workplace and international environments and has extensive investigative experience. She is an expert in negotiations, bargaining, and mediation resulting in favorable agreements and contract terms. In order to do so, she fosters reconciliations to improve organizational effectiveness and employee performance. Most recently, she worked in the public sector as an Employee Relations, EEO and ADA consultant. In addition to this, she holds a Juris Doctorate, has a Masters Certification in International Conflict Resolution and Mediation, and is a Certified California Mediator.
Can I register for a course if I am an international student?
Yes, ed2go courses are completely online. However, keep in mind that not all certifying bodies or industry-specific certifications are recognized internationally. Please review your country's regulations prior to enrolling in courses that prepare for certification.
Does this course prepare for a certification?
Yes, this course prepares you to sit for the Mediation and Arbitration Certification Exam. At the conclusion of the three course course, students may elect to sit for the Mediators Without Borders Professional Certification Exam. This exam has been created by the Mediators Without Borders team with the assistance of the Center for Educational Measurement.
When can I start the course?
This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.
How long does it take to complete this course?
This course is self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start when you want and finish at your own pace. When you register, you'll receive six (6) months to complete the course.
What if I don't have enough time to complete my course within the time frame provided?
The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact your Student Advisor to help you work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.
What kind of support will I receive?
You may be assigned with an instructor or team of industry experts for one-on-one course interaction. Your support will be available (via e-mail) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our instructors are successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach. You will be assigned to an Advisor for academic support.
What happens when I complete the course?
Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a certificate of completion and sit for the professional Certification Exam.
Am I guaranteed a job?
This course will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.
Can I get financial assistance?
This course is non-credit, so it does not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. Additionally, some students may qualify for financial assistance when they enroll, if they meet certain requirements. Financing is available from select schools. Learn more about financial assistance.
How can I get more information about this course?
If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us" form.
What is the difference between a mediator and an arbitrator?
A mediator is a professional who acts as a neutral party helping two or more people in conflict come to a collaborative, negotiated agreement that is referred to a Memorandum of Agreement. An arbitrator is a professional who acts as a neutral party but, unlike the mediator, functions more like a judge, hearing evidence and witnesses and then rendering an award to one party.
There are a lot of mediation trainings out there. What sets this apart from the others?
This is one of the most comprehensive mediation and arbitration distance learning courses available with online learning that includes role play practice.
The proprietary InAccord® Conflict Analysis model is only available through this training, and offers students the following:
- A psychologically based empirical research model that tracks the role of emotions in conflict and client satisfaction and understanding at every stage of the ADR process.
- The ability to recognize the emotional state of individual disputants in order to determine whether to use a relational approach with all parties in the same room or a directive approach that involves starting the sessions with disputants in separate rooms until a balance of emotions between disputants is achieved.
Are there any internship/externship opportunities?
Upon successful completion of the course, you may choose to submit an application to Mediators Without Borders to be considered for a referral network to work as a professionally Certified Mediator and Arbitrator or as a professional Interviewer.
What is the typical demographic/target audience for this course?
Mediation is a profession that is open to anyone with the desire to learn to negotiate, to facilitate others' negotiations, or to mediate simple and complex disputes.