Our mediation training is designed for real learning and lasting impact. Conducted virtually, it fits into your life with two-hour evening sessions twice a week over three months—making it accessible for people with jobs, families, or busy schedules. Unlike the standard 40-hour programs, we offer 60 hours of training for deeper learning, more practice, and better preparation.

We teach the Humans Universal Mediation (HUM) model—a structured, repeatable, and measurable system that ensures consistent skill development. You’ll gain hands-on experience through multiple role plays and solo practice tools, plus personalized feedback.

Our program doesn’t just train you—it sets you on a career path. You’ll become eligible for our apprenticeship, performance-based certification, and even employment opportunities with our partner organization, Humans Mediate.

If you’re looking for thorough, flexible, and supportive mediator training with a clear path to real-world practice, this is it.

Wondering if mediation is right for you?

Start by taking our quick “fit quiz” to get a practical feel for what mediation involves.

Great mediators tend to have a few things in common:

• Willingness to learn and grow through mistakes—perfection isn’t required.

• Deep listening skills—empathy and presence without judgment.

• Adaptability to stay present and handle the unexpected.

• Collaboration—most mediations are co-led, so teamwork and feedback matter.

• Schedule flexibility, including evenings and weekends.

• Comfort with technology—our work and training happen online, using tools like Zoom and Google Drive.

Still unsure? Join a “So You Want to Be a Mediator” info session or book a 1:1 chat with us.

Mediation is about connection, presence, and growth. If that resonates with you, chances are—you’re already a great fit.

Yes—but the path isn’t always straightforward. Most mediators start by volunteering, and many burn out within a few years due to lack of support, compensation, and overwork. Mediation is emotionally intensive and best done no more than once a week.

Here are the four main paths to working as a mediator:

1. Private Practice: Possible, but challenging—starting a business, staying neutral while handling admin, and working solo all come with serious drawbacks.

2. Firms & Law Offices: Some firms hire mediators, though they often prefer those with JDs or advanced degrees. These roles can be hard to access and vary widely in approach.

3. In-House Roles: Rare positions in courts, universities, or large companies. These jobs are highly competitive, often require advanced degrees, and can compromise neutrality.

4. Our Path: We offer a clear, supported route from training to paid work. After completing our training, apprenticeship, and certification, you’re eligible for contract work with Humans Mediate, where we handle clients, admin, and logistics. You get paid a living wage based on where you live and receive ongoing training and support.

You. If you’re human and want to mediate, this training is for you.

We welcome people from all backgrounds—no specific education, income, or experience required. Our curriculum is designed for accessibility, and we provide full support with tech tools like Zoom and Google Drive. Need help? We offer office hours and one-on-one guidance to make sure you’re ready before training even begins.

Conflict comes in many forms—and so should mediators. We need diverse voices, perspectives, and life experiences. If you’re ready to learn, grow, and support others through mediation, we’re ready to welcome you.

If you join this training, you’re committing to showing up—for yourself and your cohort.

This is a live, cohort-based program built on connection, collaboration, and practice. That means:

• Show up to live sessions—your presence supports everyone’s learning.

• Try your best—no perfection required. We expect you to make mistakes. That’s how you grow.

• Give and receive feedback—it’s a core part of how mediators learn and support each other.

• Embrace mistakes—the missteps you make now become your strengths later.

Progress over perfection. That’s the commitment.

A lot! Here’s what you get with our 60-hour online mediation training:

• Live Cohort Sessions – We meet twice a week for two-hour live sessions (best practice for building real mediator skills without Zoom fatigue).

• Training Kit – Mailed to your door with printed materials, tools, and a few surprises to support your learning.

• 4 Full-Length Role Plays – Practice full mediations with real-time feedback:

  • 30 min of pre-mediation

  • 2 hours of mediation

  • 30 min of post-mediation debrief

• Weekly Skill Drills – Focused, repetitive solo exercises to build muscle memory and mastery of key mediator skills.

• Ongoing Feedback – From instructors, teaching assistants, role players, and peers. Feedback is baked into everything we do.

• Completion Certificate – Earn a certificate for 60 hours (20 more than the standard). It lists your competencies and backs your credibility.

This training is built to give you everything you need to start mediating—practically, professionally, and with confidence.

Yes, there is tuition for this training—and it directly supports our small team of trainers, teaching assistants, curriculum developers, and role players who make this program exceptional.

To keep things accessible, we’ve created three pricing tiers:

• 🌱 Seed – Most affordable. Includes everything you need (just no bells and whistles).

• 🌿 Root – Includes extra resources and perks to deepen your experience.

• 🌼 Sprout – All the bells, all the whistles, and extra support to grow your mediation skills.

If cost is a concern—please talk to us.

We offer:

• Payment plans

• Scholarships

• Work-study options

We don’t want finances to be the reason you miss out.

In fact, our Seed tier costs less per hour than a typical 40-hour training—and we provide 60 hours of training plus hands-on practice. You’re getting more value for your investment.

And when you do pay in full, know this:
✅ You’re helping keep the training accessible for others.
✅ You’re helping us pay fair, living wages (based on the MIT Living Wage Calculator) to every team member.
✅ You’re investing in skills that will serve you for life—conflict resolution, deep listening, and collaborative leadership.

We believe in transparency. If you ever want to know where your tuition goes, we’ll happily share.

Most mediation trainings are only 40 hours—just one workweek. But let’s be honest: how much do you master in your first week at a new job?

We’ve designed this to be different. Our 60-hour training takes place over 90 days, giving you more time to learn, practice, and truly integrate the skills of mediation. Here’s why that matters:

✅ More time to practice

Mediation isn’t just theory—it’s a skill. The extra 20 hours mean more role plays, more skill drills, and more feedback, so you’re not just learning about mediation—you’re actually doing it.

✅ Four full role plays (12 hours total)

You’ll participate in four complete mediations, with pre- and post-sessions built in. It’s the closest thing to real-world experience you can get in a training setting.

✅ Spaced, not crammed

With two 2-hour live sessions per week, we pace the learning so it’s not a firehose. This lets you absorb concepts, apply them, and build muscle memory that sticks.

✅ Built for real integration

90 days is what it takes to create real change—whether you’re building a new habit, rewiring how you communicate, or developing a whole new mindset around conflict. This training gives you time to listen differently, speak more effectively, and understand conflict more deeply.

✅ You’ll stand out

Many mediators enter the field with just 25–40 hours of training. You’ll start your journey with a deeper foundation, more confidence, and a more competitive edge.

And here’s the best part:
💡 You don’t have to quit your job or sacrifice two full weekends. Most weeks require just 4–6 hours, with a few weeks at 8–10 hours when role plays happen.

Mediation is just one type of ADR (Alternative or Appropriate Dispute Resolution)—but it stands apart in powerful, important ways. In our training, we dedicate an entire session to unpacking the differences between mediation and other forms of conflict resolution. But here’s a quick overview of what makes mediation truly unique:

💡 1. The Participants Are at the Center

Unlike court systems or arbitration (where judges or practitioners lead the process), mediation centers the participants.

• We call them participants, not “parties,” because they actively shape the outcome.

• The mediator isn’t the decision-maker—we’re there to hold space so participants can talk to each other and make their own decisions.

🤝 2. Mediator Neutrality

Mediators don’t take sides—we are impartial (or “omnipartial”).

• We are there for all participants equally.

• We don’t give advice, make suggestions, or push for any particular outcome.

• True neutrality is a skill, and in our training, you’ll learn how to maintain it—even outside of the mediation room.

🔒 3. Confidentiality

Court cases create public records—mediation does not.

• What happens in mediation stays in mediation.

• Most states protect mediation communications by law.

• Our training covers exactly what confidentiality means in practice, and how it protects everyone involved.

🧭 4. Participant Self-Determination

In mediation, only the participants decide what happens.

• Agreements, plans, and decisions all come from them—not from the mediator.

• We teach you how to support true consent, participation, and autonomy at every step.

• No agreement is final unless everyone involved says yes.

Mediation is neutral ground, and as a mediator, you’ll learn to be the steward of that space. It’s what makes this work so powerful—and so different from any other conflict resolution process.

I practice the Human’s Universal Mediation Model (HUM), which can adapt to any type of conflict. Whether it’s family issues, workplace disputes, or community conflicts, HUM prepares mediators to handle a variety of situations.

Court-Ordered vs. Community Mediation

• Court-Ordered Mediation: Involves legal cases, deadlines, and additional paperwork.

• Community Mediation: Happens outside the courtroom, focusing on resolving disputes like family or neighbor conflicts.

Examples of Mediations

I’ve mediated:

• Parenting plans, estate planning, divorces, couple breakups, business disputes, small claims, and more.

Neutrality Is Key

The mediator’s job is to remain neutral, not taking sides or giving advice. Our goal is to support the participants, no matter the situation.

When Additional Training Is Needed

Some areas, like divorce or parenting plans, may require extra training, but the core mediation skills apply to all cases.

In short, we mediate any conflict participants want to resolve, using the HUM model to guide the process.

1. Start with Training

   • Our 60-hour training (more than the industry standard of 40 hours) provides a solid foundation to become a professional mediator.

2. Apprenticeship

   • After training, you’ll complete an apprenticeship with additional role plays and real mediation experience.

   • You’ll mediate one real situation with another apprentice and one with someone from your own life as a participant.

   • You’ll get feedback from your performance and prepare for evaluation.

3. Performance-Based Evaluation

   • After completing role plays and real mediations, you’ll submit recordings for evaluation.

   • You’ll be assessed on specific skills, and based on that, you’ll receive certification if you pass.

4. Certification

   • Once certified, you’ll be recognized as a professional mediator with at least 100 hours of training.

5. Continual Learning

   • Mediators are always learning. Ongoing education and feedback are essential for growth and mastery.

Becoming a mediator is a lifelong journey of growth, and it’s worth the investment. You’ll always learn from every experience.

When looking for mediation training, it’s essential to be aware of the industry standards. While there’s no central certification body, several organizations have established guidelines for what mediation training should include. Here’s what to look for:

1. Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR)

   • ACR has set Model Standards for mediator certification programs. This document (19 pages) outlines best practices for training, ensuring quality and consistency.

2. Mediation Association of Colorado (MAC)

   • As we’re based in Colorado, we follow MAC’s standards and are an approved training provider.

3. University Accreditation

   • As an adjunct professor at CU Boulder, our training adheres to the higher education accreditation standards for academic programs.

4. Meeting National and Local Standards

   • Be sure that any training program you choose meets state and national standards like those of ACR and MAC to ensure quality and credibility.

At Mediators Practice, our training exceeds these standards, offering a robust and comprehensive program. Always check that any training you consider aligns with these recognized standards to ensure you receive the best education and certification.

In our training, we have a unique component called skill drills (with a Z, like “humans” and “mediators”!) designed to help you master the core skills of a mediator: reflecting and asking open-ended questions.

Here’s how they work:

1. Practice Core Skills

   • We provide you with a video monologue or dialogue, and your job is to identify key parts of what’s being said. Then, you’ll practice your core skills: reflecting (paraphrasing) and asking open-ended questions.

2. Weekly Skill Drills

   • Each week, you’ll practice a new skill. This repetition builds muscle memory, much like practicing free throws in basketball. The more you do it, the better you’ll get.

3. Immediate Feedback

   • After completing a skill drill, you’ll get immediate feedback. This shows you how close you are to mastering the skill and lets you compare your confidence level with your actual ability.

4. Repetition & Optimal Learning

   • Repetition is key! It’s proven that practicing something over and over helps your brain learn. You’ll get multiple chances to practice through drills, live sessions, and even applying these skills in real-life scenarios.

By practicing with skill drills, you’re building solid foundations for being an effective mediator. The repetition and feedback loop help solidify your learning and boost your confidence.

A Performance-Based Evaluation (PBE) is a hands-on way to test and measure your competency as a mediator. It focuses on evaluating your actual mediation skills based on real performance, rather than just theoretical knowledge or quizzes.

Here’s how it works:

1. Recording & Feedback:

   • Your role plays and mediations during training are recorded.

   • Feedback is provided on what you did well (called pluses) and areas for improvement (called deltas).

   • The feedback is detailed, giving you actionable insights to continue improving.

2. Milestones for Mastery:

   • There are milestones to gauge your progress as a mediator. Mastery is a lifelong journey, and PBEs help you track where you are in that journey.

3. Best Practice for Certification:

   • PBEs are considered the best practice for evaluating mediation competency in the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) field.

   • Unlike a quiz or arbitrary standard, your actual performance mediating is assessed, making it a real-world test of your abilities.

4. Certification:

   • After completing the training, you receive a certificate of completion.

   • The PBE then certifies you as a competent mediator based on your performance, qualifying you to mediate professionally.

In summary, the PBE process provides you with the most reliable measure of your mediation skills, ensures you meet the highest standards, and certifies you as a professional mediator based on actual performance.

After completing the training, we provide a streamlined, step-by-step process to help you become a professional mediator. Unlike most programs where you have to search for mentorship, practice, and certification on your own, we guide you through every phase until you’re actively mediating for clients.

Here’s the process:

1. Certificate of Completion:

   • After the training, you’ll receive a certificate of completion for the training itself.

   • This shows you’ve finished the foundational training, but additional steps are needed for full certification.

2. Mediator Apprenticeship:

   • Apprenticeship follows where you get more role plays, practice, and feedback to hone your skills before your first real mediation.

   • You will also practice real mediations, gaining hands-on experience in a supportive setting.

3. Performance-Based Evaluation (PBE):

   • You’ll undergo a Performance-Based Evaluation (PBE), where your best role plays and real mediations are reviewed.

   • This evaluation gives us a clear picture of your competencies and helps us certify you as a professional mediator.

4. Certification:

   • After the PBE, you’ll be certified as a mediator based on your demonstrated skills, making you eligible to work professionally.

5. Mediation Work Through Humans Mediate:

   • Once certified, you will be hired by Humans Mediate, our sister company, where you can start mediating real cases.

   • Humans Mediate provides all the case management and business infrastructure, allowing you to focus entirely on mediating.

6. Advanced Opportunities:

   • If you’re passionate about mediation and want to go even deeper, you can join our cooperative. This is a business where mediators like you work together, share ownership, and run the business collectively.

In short, we provide a clear and supportive path from training to professional practice, offering you all the resources, mentorship, and infrastructure you need to succeed as a mediator.

The unique feature of our online Become a Mediator training is that once you complete it, you become eligible for our Mediator Apprenticeship. Here’s a breakdown of what the apprenticeship entails:

1. Three Role Plays:

   • You’ll participate in three consecutive role plays with the same scenario, co-mediator, and role players.

   • This simulates real mediation where multiple sessions are often needed, allowing you to experience this process and build skills through repetition.

2. Individual Feedback:

   • Your role plays are re-recorded, and you’ll choose the two that you feel you performed best in.

   • We review the videos and give thorough feedback on what went well and areas to improve, helping you grow as a mediator.

3. Real Mediation as a Participant:

   • You’ll also take part in a real mediation as a participant, working through a challenging conversation with someone from your life.

   • This allows you to experience mediation firsthand from both sides of the table, ensuring you understand the process and the impact on participants.

4. Co-Mediating a Real Situation:

   • During the apprenticeship, you’ll also mediate someone else’s real situation.

   • This provides practical experience and prepares you for real-world mediations, with the benefit of learning in a controlled, supportive environment.

5. Performance-Based Evaluation (PBE):

   • After completing the apprenticeship, you’ll undergo a Performance-Based Evaluation (PBE).

   • This includes a review of your role plays, your real mediation, and your co-mediations.

   • You’ll receive feedback and insight into your progress, helping you see where you stand in your mediator journey and which milestones you’ve reached.

This apprenticeship is a comprehensive way to bridge the gap between training and real-world mediations, offering continuous feedback and giving you the confidence and experience to become a certified mediator.

I teach the same content at the University of Colorado Boulder and in the Peace, Conflict, and Security Certificate program, but the format differs for online adult training. Our online course doesn’t require university enrollment, unlike the CU Boulder class. It’s also more affordable and doesn’t require academic articles, which are optional in our training. The CU Boulder class runs over a semester with in-person and virtual meetings, whereas our online course is virtual, runs for 90 days, and includes evening sessions twice a week. It’s designed for adults with flexible scheduling. You don’t need a college degree to enroll in the online course.

Volunteer mediators typically work for free with minimal training (25-40 hours), while professional mediators, like those trained at Mediators Practice, receive over 100 hours of training, including apprenticeships. Professional mediators are paid a living wage based on their local cost of living and receive ongoing compensation and training. They also meet strict ethical standards and are subject to quality control measures like performance reviews and continued education, such as compliance with the Colorado Dispute Resolution Act. This support helps prevent burnout and ensures higher quality mediation.

I’m Elizabeth Franz, your instructor, and here’s a bit about my background and why I’m well-equipped to teach you mediation. I began mediating at 19 through a spring break training at Goucher College. Originally intending to pursue law, I shifted to peace studies after realizing that mediation suited me better. Over the years, I trained in multiple models, including the inclusive, transformative, and facilitative models, and developed the Humans Universal Mediation Model (HUM), which is continuously improved with feedback from trainees and co-mediators.

After 10 years of mediating, I began training others, first with beta tests and then through formal instruction at CU Boulder. My experience has allowed me to refine my curriculum and create over 100 successful mediators, helping them practice at the highest level. I’ve also started three businesses: Humans Mediate (providing mediation services), Mediators Practice (training and certification), and Humans Collaborate (a cooperative that focuses on collaboration and decision-making).

I’ve spent over a decade honing my skills and expertise in the field and now I’m sharing everything I’ve learned with you, aiming to accelerate your learning and success in mediation. I hope you’ll join me on this journey, so you can start further ahead than I did and, eventually, teach me what you’ve learned!

Mediators Practice, Humans Mediate, and Humans Collaborate work together to create a full ecosystem for mediation professionals. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Mediators Practice is where we train mediators, offering the “Become a Mediator” program, continuing education, and resources to help you improve and grow in your mediation skills.

• Humans Mediate is the professional mediation service arm, where we offer direct mediation services to clients. It’s been around for over seven years, and its focus is on maintaining neutrality in all mediation processes.

• Humans Collaborate is a mediator co-op, where trained mediators can go even further. After completing your training with Mediators Practice, you’re eligible to become a contractor with Humans Mediate. If you want to dive deeper into the HUM model, you can join Humans Collaborate, where mediators own the business, share profits, and make decisions democratically. This is where we also offer listening tours, workshops, and coaching, while referring mediations back to Humans Mediate for neutrality.

Our curriculum is built around the Human’s Universal Mediation Model (HUM), which I personally created. I developed HUM to provide a standardized, practical, and easily adaptable mediation process that works across all types of cases and for all skill levels, backgrounds, and languages. We are constantly evolving the model, and we’re currently on version 1.9.

Why does this matter? Many mediators don’t know which model they’re trained in, as there are numerous mediation models out there. While this variety brings creativity, it can cause challenges when mediators trained in different models collaborate or co-mediate. HUM addresses this by offering a consistent, easy-to-follow approach that is applicable to any mediation situation.

We provide a manual that outlines the mediation process step-by-step, using neutral, collaborative language that promotes clarity and minimizes mistakes. Our model is based on the inclusive model and is designed to be accessible, culturally competent, and adaptable for various mediation scenarios.

HUM is proprietary to Mediators Practice and Humans Mediate—we are the only ones who use it. This unique model is our “secret sauce,” ensuring that every mediator works in sync, provides high-quality mediations, and fosters trust with clients. This is the foundation of the training you’ll experience.

We’re offering the Become a Mediator training through Mediators Practice (with a Z) this summer, and we want to help you skill up, earn extra income, and gain real conflict resolution skills. Here’s what you need to know:

• Training Length: 60 hours, which sets you apart as a competitive mediator in the industry.

• What You’ll Learn:

  • Listening skills

  • Maintaining neutrality

  • Asking open-ended questions

  • Relationship building and problem-solving

  • Conflict resolution and guiding people through processes

After the training, you’ll be eligible for our mediator apprenticeship, followed by a performance-based evaluation, and finally certification as a mediator. Once certified, you can start mediating for our clients.

This training is perfect if you want to:

• Skill up in your current field

• Earn extra income through paid mediation work

• Gain conflict resolution skills for both personal and professional growth

The training is virtual and scheduled outside regular work hours, making it easy to fit into your life.

Join us this summer and start your journey to becoming a mediator!

If you’re unsure, that’s completely normal. This is a big investment, and it’s okay to need more information. Check out our FAQ section on the website, or reach out to me directly if you have any concerns.

I don’t accept everyone into the program if it’s not a good fit, and I’m happy to help you figure out if mediation is right for you. If it’s not, we can point you toward other careers in dispute resolution.

Take your time, trust your gut, and feel free to reach out if you need support. We’re here to help you make the right decision.