The primary goal of mediation training is to provide the theory, conflict resolution skills, and negotiation tools to mediators involved in conflict resolution. The training can be one day long or last for several days, and participants often earn a certificate and/or continuing education credits upon completion. Some mediation training programs offer court certification, such that participants can mediate disputes in local or regional courts if they choose. Those who wish to launch a mediation practice can also gain marketing and finance tips on how to be successful.
Mediation training is available in many disciplines and industries. The best programs are usually those that are specialized. For example, the conflict resolution skills required to earn a workplace mediation certification are often different from those required to earn a divorce mediation certification. For that reason, a lot of mediation training is based on the types of mediation that interest particular groups of participants. Those groups are often formed based on professions or fields of interest.
The training itself is divided into modules, beginning with theory and ending with practical application. To begin, participants are often introduced to general alternative dispute resolution principles and ethics. Next, case studies are analyzed and sometimes demonstrated to illustrate conflict resolution concepts. Relevant case law is often discussed for the mediation certification programs that will give participants the credentials needed to be a local court mediator. Finally, participants are often asked to become mediators in staged sessions, where their mediator skills are evaluated.
Some mediation training programs go a step further and offer entrepreneurial training to mediators who want to launch their own mediation practice. Participants often learn about the local, regional, and international opportunities in the field of alternative dispute resolution, and how to market themselves to prospective clients. Career planning and development as a mediator is another option often covered in mediation training for participants who don't want to build their own business.
Attendance is the key to mediation training, since many programs are approved by local and regional boards and court systems. The hours that participants attend are necessary and are often a prerequisite to receiving credentials to become a mediator for court systems and government agencies. Participants involved in training that lasts for several days can often expect to sign in, verifying daily attendance. The organizers of the training will then save those records to prove that participants who successfully completed the training and earned mediation certification met their attendance requirements.