Mediation and Dispute Resolution Certificate

Develop the knowledge and practical skills to effectively mediate disputes. Learn conflict resolution methods applicable to a wide range of professional settings. Prepare to achieve your Qualified Mediator (Q. Med) designation.

The Role of Mediation in Alternative Dispute Resolution

Mediation is a popular and highly effective form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Other types of ADR include arbitration, negotiation, and facilitation.

Key features of mediation:

  • The mediator does not decide the outcome of a dispute; instead, they help parties reach mutually agreeable resolutions
  • Resolutions reached through mediation are not legally binding
  • Mediation is private, flexible, and voluntary
  • Mediation can be used to resolve a wide range of commercial and civil disputes

Mediation and Dispute Resolution Certificate鈥擮verview

The Mediation and Dispute Resolution certificate is a 12-week online course. Complete assignments when it鈥檚 convenient for you, participate in live discussions and role plays, and receive personalized support from a dedicated instructor.

In this course, you will learn:

  • An overview and comparison of different ADR models, including arbitration, mediation, and negotiation
  • Practical techniques for resolving workplace conflicts, including coaching, negotiating, and mediating
  • How to uncover and address the root causes of conflicts
  • Procedures and techniques for conducting family mediations
  • Codes of practice and professional standards for mediators
  • How to conduct a mediation online

Mock Mediations and Role Play鈥擯ractical Training Component

The Mediation and Dispute Resolution certificate includes 10 hours of mandatory role play using video conferencing software.

Students simulate and work through a variety of dispute scenarios, including:

  • Workplace conflicts
  • Community-based conflicts
  • Family conflict involving spouses and children
  • Division of property and child support

Role play is a mandatory requirement for earning the Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) designation from the ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC).

Career Options in Mediation and Dispute Resolution

Mediation is used to settle a wide variety of disputes, including labour relations, business and consumer disputes, community and family conflicts.

Graduates of the听Mediation and Dispute Resolution听certificate听are qualified to:

  • Work toward the Qualified Mediator听(Q.Med) designation
  • Work as independentmediators, specializing in a specific industry or听domain
  • Join an ADR听or mediation听firm

Pathway to Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) Designation

Kompass is a long-standing accredited education partner of ADR Institute of Canada, a preeminent ADR professional organization.

If you are interested in earning your Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) designation through ADRIC, Kompass can help. Please note if you applying for your designation through a provincial affiliate of ADRIC check their website directly for any additional requirements that may apply. Click for detailed information on the through ADRIC.

Basic Mediation Training (40 hours)

  • The Mediation and Dispute Resolution certificate fulfills this entire requirement. Register for the entire certificate.

Specialized Mediation and Related Training (40 hours)

  • The 鈥淎dvanced Family Mediation鈥 class (21 hours) and 鈥淐ultural Fluency in Mediation鈥 elective class (21 hours) fulfill this entire requirement. Register for the Mediation and Dispute Resolution Bundle certificate at checkout to add these classes to your certificate schedule at a discounted rate or register for individual classes separate.

Additional Q.Med requirements (not available through Kompass)

Please contact directly and refer to the .

  • Practical Experience: 2 supervised and assessed practice mediations, and/or two actual mediations or co-mediations where the applicant has clearly been the lead mediator1, (or one of each) paid or unpaid. Please contact ADRIC directly for more info on how to fulfill this requirement.
  • Pledge to comply with ADRIC鈥檚 Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct, Membership to ADRIC, Annual Fees, Continuing Education and Engagement (CEE), Insurance.

Meet one of our instructors and learn more about training and career options in mediation.

Course Schedule and Format

Instructor-Led Format

(Synchronous Components)
Instructor-led courses follow a set class schedule with a dedicated instructor and classmates. Students can work on assignments and readings when it works best for their schedule. The instructor posts in the discussion forum and hosts live online lectures (via conference and/or video call). Students can use those opportunities to discuss assignments, industry topics, etc. with their instructor and peers.

The instructor-led format offers increased engagement and more opportunity for discussion. It requires students to complete assignments and participate in live lectures on a weekly basis.

Note: This instructor-led course requires mandatory participation in weekly role-play and mock mediation scenarios.

Live lectures (recommended) take place via video conference call on Tuesdays from 6:30 PM 鈥 8:30 PM EST and role-play sessions (mandatory) are on Wednesdays from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM EST. Please note that these times and days are subject to change with notice. In the event a student misses a mandatory session, alternative arrangements may be made available.

2 Weeks (40 hours)

Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), which spans facilitation, negotiation, mediation, arbitration, adjudication, and litigation. Participants in this course will explore the history and goals of mediation, and the elements of the mediation process. This course examines the role of a mediator and delivers an overview of the skills necessary to successfully mediate.

2 Weeks (40 hours)

There are a number of options for resolving conflict that clients can choose from. The Dispute Resolution Assessment training course describes many avenues for dispute resolution and discusses the importance of understanding the range of options available for both non-adversarial and adversarial dispute resolutions. This information is crucial for assisting clients navigate the most appropriate method[s] for their particular situation.

2 Weeks (40 hours)

A rewarding and fulfilling career helping separated couples reach settlements and chart a better future for themselves and their children lies ahead for those who take part in our field-leading, cutting-edge family mediation course.

The Introduction to Family Mediation training course gives you the foundation to work in a variety of settings. You will learn to provide family dispute resolution services and interventions for families experiencing relationship conflict and going through the process of separation. The course will equip students with the knowledge and skills to mediate family disputes by understanding the fundamentals of family dispute resolution.

Topics focus on family mediation in practice. We cover screening clients for mediation, strategies for family mediation and steps in the family mediation model, and the separation of finances and property.

You will practise applying your family dispute resolution skills in a safe and professional online learning environment, learn to facilitate a family mediation, and examine and apply an ethical framework to your mediation using codes of practice and standards.

2 Weeks (40 hours)

Family mediation is challenging work requiring a commitment to the development of professional skills and practice, an ability to reflect upon and enter into critical analysis of performance, and an ability to produce professional documents to tight timescales. Family mediation requires personable, articulate, and assertive individuals who have good listening skills and practical experience working with individuals and couples. The impact of separation and divorce on all people involved, including children, can be difficult. Students will learn about the impact on families and how they must be carefully approached. The Managing Family Dynamics training course will teach students about the structure, function, and roles within a family system as they relate to the family mediation setting.

2 Weeks (40 hours)

Family mediation is practiced by lawyers and non-lawyers. It is imperative that all mediators understand the legal options and issues that arise during a family separation. While mediators do not provide legal advice, it is important to be aware of the implications of support, property division, parenting decision-making authority, and parenting time. Students will learn how to draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) when a family mediation has concluded. Students will also learn about the importance of collaboration practice and options for a family mediation.

2 Weeks (40 hours)

In the Workplace Dispute Resolution training course, participants examine the sources and dynamics of workplace conflicts. They learn to identify the sources and dynamics of conflict in the workplace, with an emphasis on minimizing power imbalances in interpersonal workplace conflict. This course examines the impact of organizational culture on employees, diversity in the workplace, harassment policies, and the various methods of resolving workplace conflict including coaching, negotiating, and mediating with special emphasis on difficult work situations. Finally, participants evaluate conflicts, their sources, the parties, the relationships between the parties, and the legislative and regulatory environments to best implement organizational and workplace conflict management principles.

Instructors

Meet our industry-expert instructors.

Overview

START DATES
2025: June 30, August 25, October 6, November 17
TOTAL PROGRAM LENGTH
12 weeks (240 hours)
DELIVERY
Online (Instructor Led)
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT
Post-secondary education (degree or diploma) OR experience in a related field

Now Offering Specialized Mediation Training!

  1. The Advanced Family Mediation class from the Family Mediation certificate is accredited by the and the for 21 hours (40 total required) of the specialized mediation and related training education requirement for the Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) designation.
  2. The Cultural Fluency in Mediation an elective class from the Mediation and Dispute Resolution certificate is accredited by the and the for 21 hours (40 total required) of the specialized mediation and related training education requirement for the Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) designation.

Ready to start?

Certificates and individual classes start frequently!

Accrediting Associations

Accreditation and Recognition

Read our for a helpful breakdown.听

  • This online mediation certificate is recognized and accredited by the ) and . The course meets the basic mediation training requirement (40 hours) needed to pursue the Qualified Mediator (Q. Med) designation.
  • The Advanced Family Mediation class from the Family Mediation Certificate 听is accredited by and 听and fulfills听21 hours听of the specialized mediation and related training education requirement for the Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) designation听(40 total are required).
  • The Cultural Fluency in Mediation elective class from the Mediation and Dispute Resolution certificate is accredited by and and fulfills 21 hours听of the specialized mediation and related training education requirement for the Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) designation听(40 total are required).
    Review a complete list of requirements to become a听

Who Should Take the Course?

Our mediation students come from diverse professional backgrounds. We work with:

  • Lawyers and individuals with a legal background
  • Non-lawyers seeking to become professional mediators
  • Business managers and HR professionals
  • Educators
  • Union representatives
  • Government officials

Admission requirements:

  • Post-secondary university degree or college diploma; OR
  • Relevant professional experience

Tuition

Mediation Individual Classes

The chart below outlines the cost of the Mediation and Dispute Resolution Certificate classes if you choose to take them individually. Once you register for three or more classes within a certificate, you will be charged the non-refundable $200 registration fee. Individual classes must be paid in full at time of registration 鈥 click here to register for an individual class.

Mediation Certificate

A $200 non-refundable registration fee is charged when you register for an entire certificate. We offer a payment plan for tuition of three equal payments of $1,031 at week 1, week 5, and week 9, which will be automatically charged to your method of payment unless otherwise coordinated with accounting.

Register for the certificate and receive access to the Online Dispute Resolution Workshop for free! ($299 value).

Mediation Certificate Bundle

If you are looking to fulfill both the basic (40 hours) and specialized (40 hours) training required for the Q.Med designation, at checkout add the听Mediation and Dispute Resolution Certificate – Bundle to your cart. This will include

  • The Mediation and Dispute Resolution Certificate (12-weeks)
  • Advanced Family Mediation class (2 weeks)
  • Cultural Fluency in Mediation class (2 weeks)
  • Access to the Online Dispute Resolution Workshop for free ($299 value)
  • 20% discount on tuition of the 2 specialized mediation training classes

A $200 non-refundable registration fee is charged when you register听 and we offer a payment plan for tuition in three equal payments of $1,381 at week 1, week 5, and week 9, which will be automatically charged to your method of payment unless otherwise coordinated with accounting. Total amount of the certificate bundle (including specialized classes), with the discount, is $4,145 + $200 reg. fee.

We will be offering AfterPay through Affirm Summer 2025. Qualified students will be able to finance the program at 0% APR for up to 24 months.

Payment options through Affirm Canada Holdings Ltd. (鈥淎ffirm鈥). Your rate will be 0鈥31.99% APR (where available and subject to provincial regulatory limitations). APR offered is based on creditworthiness and subject to an eligibility check. Not all customers will be eligible for 0% APR. Payment options depend on your purchase amount, may vary by merchant, and may not be available in all provinces/territories. Actual payment option terms will be shown at checkout. A down payment (or a payment due today) may be required. Affirm accepts debit cards and PAD as forms of repayment on payment options. Select payment options may be eligible for repayment in the form of credit cards. Please review the terms and conditions of your credit card when using it as a form of repayment. Sample payment options may be: a $800 purchase could be split into 12 monthly payments of $72.21 at 15% APR, or 4 interest-free payments of $200 every 2 weeks. For more information, please see .

Kompass Alumni and Corporate Training Discounts

Students who successfully complete a certificate with Kompass are eligible for 20% off future certificates and classes. Group and employer discounts and custom corporate training options are available for three or more students.


Textbooks

*Students are responsible for purchasing these additional printed OR digital textbooks

听鈥 $113 鈥 $168 (digital or print)

鈥 $143-165 (digital or print)

Specialized Mediation Class Textbooks

The elective specialized Cultural Fluency class requires the following textbook. Purchase this only if you are are signing up for the Mediation Bundle听which includes the cultural fluency class.

, Nov. 2 2006, by Michelle Lebaron (Author), Vanashri Pillay (Author) – $29.93 (print)

Courses
Individual Cost
Introduction to Alternative Dispute Resolution (2 weeks)
$515
Dispute Resolution Assessment (2 Weeks)
$515
Workplace Dispute Resolution (2 Weeks)
$520
Introduction to Family Mediation (2 Weeks)
$515
Managing Family Dynamics (2 Weeks)
$515
Family Law for Non-Lawyer Mediators (2 Weeks)
$515
Online Dispute Resolution Workshop – Mediation (4 hours )
$299