Build useful mediation skills
Learn to listen for interests, structure dialogue, manage impasse, facilitate negotiation, and develop clear agreements. These skills apply across professional contexts.
ARIZONA / 40-HOUR ONLINE MEDIATION EDUCATION
Develop practical mediation skills through VirNet's flexible, self-paced 40-hour curriculum. Learn neutrality, negotiation, communication, professional ethics, and structured problem-solving across ten progressive modules.
Arizona offers private, community, workplace, and court-connected opportunities, but training and roster expectations differ by program. VirNet provides foundational online educationānot automatic approval for any Arizona court or mediator panel.
Before enrolling to satisfy a specific court, volunteer-panel, or employer requirement, ask that organization whether it accepts this course's on-demand format and certificate.
CHOOSE TRAINING THAT FITS YOUR GOAL
A completion certificate documents education. The requirements for conducting a mediation, joining a volunteer panel, or accepting court referrals are separate questions.
Learn to listen for interests, structure dialogue, manage impasse, facilitate negotiation, and develop clear agreements. These skills apply across professional contexts.
The Arizona Attorney General's Conflict Resolution Program lists at least 40 hours of basic training and current mediation-facilitation experience for volunteer panel applicants. Admission is not automatic.
Court-connected work, especially family mediation, can involve local roster approvals, specialized coursework, experience, and other qualifications beyond basic mediation education.
VirNet awards its own course-completion certificate; it does not represent Arizona state licensure, court certification, or authorization to serve on a particular roster.
ARIZONA MEDIATION PATHWAYS
People study mediation for different reasons. These are possible applications of mediation skillsānot a list of jobs or credentials guaranteed by a 40-hour course.
HR professionals, managers, employment practitioners, and organizational leaders can use mediation techniques to approach disagreement, employee concerns, and difficult decisions more constructively.
Training is educational; employer procedures, confidentiality duties, and applicable law still govern practice.
Community programs and public-sector initiatives may engage volunteers or trained neutrals. Arizona's Attorney General describes a volunteer panel addressing civil-rights and other disputes.
Panel admission may require current experience and program approval in addition to basic training.
Mediation skills support discussions involving contracts, business relationships, property, and other civil matters. Professional competence also depends on relevant subject knowledge and responsible practice development.
A general course does not establish expertise in every dispute category or guarantee referrals.
Family mediation and court programs can involve screening, specialized training, experience, and local approval. Some family-mediator rosters specify training well beyond an introductory general course.
Confirm the currently applicable county, court, or roster requirements before choosing a program.
Official starting points: Arizona Attorney General Conflict Resolution Program Arizona Judicial Branch
Every option includes the same 40-hour foundational curriculum. Select the amount of personal feedback and mentoring that aligns with your learning style and goals.
Full course access with independent study
$775
Complete the 10-module program on your schedule with lessons, assessments, practical simulations, and downloadable course resources. Individualized instructor grading or coaching is not included.
View course & enroll →Personal feedback throughout the course
$1,475
Everything in Self-Directed, plus individualized review and feedback from Dr. Earwicker on two assignments in each of the 10 modules.
View course & enroll →Instructor feedback plus five private sessions
$3,275
Everything in Instructor-Guided, plus five one-on-one sessions with Dr. Earwicker to discuss your technique, professional goals, and growth as a mediator.
View course & enroll →Select a training option to review the full course details, current tuition, and enrollment instructions. Any applicable promotion will be displayed on the course enrollment page.
Moving through this course is more than watching videos. Structured instruction, knowledge checks, realistic simulations, and reflection activities help connect mediation concepts to concrete decisions and conversations.
You can work through the self-paced curriculum wherever you have reliable internet access. If you select guided instruction or coaching, the program also incorporates individualized feedback and mentorship as described in your enrollment tier.
Good mediation is both a thoughtful process and a set of skills that improve with practice. The curriculum develops these capabilities together.
Identify emotions, interests, assumptions, and information gaps without prematurely choosing sides.
Practice introductions, issue identification, negotiation, impasse management, and appropriate closure.
Work thoughtfully with frustration, power differences, difficult conversations, and cultural context.
Support brainstorming, evaluation of proposals, and careful agreement development.
Explore ethics, neutrality, preparation, boundaries, and pathways for continuing mediator development.
ARIZONA COURT AND PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Arizona's mediation opportunities are administered in different settings. A program's specific eligibility rules, acceptance of online instruction, and practical-experience expectations should guide your training decision.
The Arizona Attorney General says applicants to its volunteer panel must have completed at least 40 hours of basic mediation training and have current experience facilitating mediations. The panel's selection and opportunities vary.
Read the program's requirements āSome Arizona court-connected rosters require approved family-specific training, additional domestic-violence and child-abuse instruction, experience, insurance, or other qualifications. The exact rules depend on the court and roster.
Find your court and verify eligibility āPrivate mediation practice calls for skills, relevant knowledge, screening, ethics, and appropriate professional safeguards. A certificate of course completion alone is not proof of competence for every case type.
Review the preparation checklist āIf a specific organization requires live observation, supervised mediation, an approved provider, or a specialty course, do not assume VirNet's on-demand program replaces those requirements.
Whether you are comparing the three course pathways or exploring how the training fits a particular role, we can explain the program and point you toward the questions to ask your local court or credentialing authority.
For a useful response, share your state, intended practice setting, and any specific training requirements you've been given.
General VirNet contact page →Have a question about learning format, guidance options, or state-specific needs? Our training inquiry form is available directly below this section.
For enrollment questions, include your city/state, intended mediation role, and the option you are considering.
40-HOUR MEDIATION TRAINING | PROGRESS SAVED
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Interactive role-play is a distinctive part of the training. Through realistic, AI-assisted scenarios, you take the mediator's role, practice responding in real time, and reflect on the choices you made.
Scenarios increase in complexity as you advance, including workplace, interpersonal, and multifaceted disputes. They give you opportunities to experiment with questions, reframing, neutrality, and ways of moving a conversation forward.
The technology is a learning tool; it is not a substitute for supervised practice or any state-required live training component.
ARIZONA MEDIATION LAW AND PRACTICE
VirNet's course teaches broadly applicable conceptsāneutrality, self-determination, process design, communication, negotiation, confidentiality, and ethical judgment. Arizona mediators must also understand the law and rules governing the particular matters they handle.
A.R.S. § 12-2238 addresses the confidentiality of mediation communications and contains specific exceptions, including circumstances involving disclosure requirements and written settlement agreements. Confidentiality is important, but it is not absolute.
For family and court-connected matters, applicable court rules, safety screening, local procedures, and roster criteria can add further responsibilities. A general certificate does not substitute for specialized legal or procedural preparation.
Dr. Benjamin J. Earwicker brings together hands-on mediation, civil rights and organizational dispute resolution, and years of teaching negotiation and alternative dispute resolution. All three enrollment paths share his 40-hour curriculum; the Instructor-Guided and Private Coaching options add individualized instruction.
Explore Dr. Earwicker's professional background →Students describe their experiences with the self-paced format, interactive role-play simulations, curriculum progression, and personal feedback. Browse their full comments below to see which aspects of the program mattered most to them.
Testimonials reflect individual experiences and do not guarantee any particular outcome or professional credential.
Overall, this was an excellent 40-hour mediation courseāinformative, engaging, and filled with helpful resources. I especially appreciate having continued access to the course materials as I develop my mediation practice.
One of the most valuable aspects was the opportunity to create a concrete plan for my practice. Learning what it takes to build a successful mediation practice, then translating those lessons into practical goals and action steps, was particularly beneficial.
Thank you for putting together such a thoughtful and comprehensive course. I look forward to beginning my mediation journey and putting what I learned into practice.
I completed the self-paced course and found it to be effective at communicating large volumes of important information in an efficient manner. I feel that I am leaving the course with the skills I need to mediate complex disputes and navigate common pitfalls.
I really enjoyed this course, even when I wanted 40-hours to actually mean I only had to work for 20 hours! The role plays worked really well, and I was so impressed by the way they were designed so that I had an opportunity to practice the mediation tools that go with each module. My schedule is so hectic that I was concerned about scheduling and completing a course. However, I felt that you designed the course with your feedback to really give me the best opportunities to learn in self-directed mode.
I recently completed Dr. Benās 40-hour mediation course and found it to be a genuinely valuable investment in my professional development. I was particularly impressed with how the content was organized and delivered as the structure made it easy to build understanding progressively rather than feeling like a series of disconnected topics.
I completed the course with a clear sense of the recommended path and next steps, which speaks well to how the program is designed to set participants up for what comes after.
Overall, Iād recommend this course to anyone serious about building a foundation in mediation. I finished it feeling genuinely ready to move into the next phase of this process, which is exactly what I was hoping to get out of it.
This course was informative, practical, and incredibly valuable. The realistic role-playing scenarios helped me practice essential mediation skills like active listening, reframing, and identifying interests while learning to manage emotions and difficult conversations. The course strengthened my understanding of the mediation process and gave me greater confidence in helping people feel heard, respected, and empowered to work toward mutually acceptable solutions.
I highly recommend Dr. Earwickerās 40-Hour Basic Mediation Training. The on-demand, self-paced format made it easy to complete on my own schedule, and the course gave me a strong foundation in mediation as I prepare to begin a new career after age 60. I would recommend it to lawyers, non-lawyers, therapists, or anyone interested in mediation or a new career path.
The course's use of interactive, AI-assisted role-play sessions was a particularly effective teaching
method. Practicing as mediator in realistic, back-and-forth conversations made the material feel applied
rather than abstract, and the communication throughout each session felt genuine and responsive rather
than scripted. This back-and-forth structure gave me the chance to actually practice de-escalation,
reframing, and interest based negotiation in real time, rather than simply reading about them.
Overall, this course was an enlightening and intriguing introduction to the practice of mediation. It was
clearly well put together, with a thoughtful progression that moved from foundational concepts through
increasingly complex, realistic scenarios. Starting with simpler two-party disputes and building toward
multi-party and emotionally charged situations, such as a parenting plan negotiation, gave the material a
natural sense of momentum and allowed each new skill to build on the last rather than being introduced in
isolation.
The written materials in Dr. Earwicker's course were clear and well organized. Concepts were explained in language
that was understandable without being oversimplified, and each sessions objectives were stated plainly
enough that I always knew what skill I was meant to be focusing on and why it mattered to the broader
practice of mediation.
Dr. Earwicker's course gave me valuable tools for handling impasses, teaching how to slow the conversation, identify underlying interests, and reframe rigid positions into solvable issues. The course gave me lots of techniques for reframing negative perspectives, helping transform tension into constructive dialogue.
The course was straightforward and provided the information to understand the mediation process, the dynamics of power, personality types, and cultures encountered in mediations. It provided the tools to move the parties from the opening to the agreement while de-escalating any issues, understanding the partiesā interests, and making sure everyone is properly heard. I canāt wait to get my practice started and put these tools into action. Thank you for the opportunity to obtain my certification!
Thank you for an exceptional mediation course. The course was clear and well-organized, and the materials were practical and relevant. Each assignment was evaluated within a day or two, which helped me stay engaged and motivated as I progressed through the material. The feedback I received was especially helpfulāit was always constructive, specific, and thoughtful. It not only clarified key concepts but also gave me practical direction on how to strengthen my skills.
This course surpassed my expectations. Not only did I gain knowledge about all aspects of mediation but I had the opportunity to practice mediation skills as I progressed through the course. Practice was not reading case studies but actually mediating in real-time simulations. This was instrumental in building my confidence as a mediator. Another extraordinary aspect of this course was the personal developmental feedback provided by Dr. Earwicker. His feedback provided developmental actions that I could integrate to grow as a mediator and his availability and openness to questions added even more value. This intentional personal touch resulted in my feeling valued as a learner; I was not just another collected fee passing through an automated system.
The course reinforced the importance of empathy, de-escalation, and structured communication. My background in communication and conflict resolution allowed me to feel confident facilitating difficult conversations, while the simulations helped strengthen my mediation techniques and adaptability. Overall, the experience increased my confidence as a mediator and provided valuable practical experience that I can apply in future mediation practice.
What sets this course apart is that it doesn't just teach you how to run a mediation. It teaches you how to listen at a level most people never reach, to find the shared interest buried underneath a hardened position, and to hold space for two people who are hurting without losing your own footing in the process.
The skills I built here extend far beyond a mediation room. If you are serious about becoming someone who can navigate conflict with confidence, clarity, and compassion, this is exactly where you start.
The curriculum moves you from foundational theory into increasingly complex simulations that force you to apply what you've learned under real pressure. By the time I reached the final scenario, I wasn't just recalling techniques, I was actually using them in the moment, with competing emotions and entrenched positions on both sides of the table.
This course exceeded my expectations in both depth and practical application. The progression from foundational concepts to increasingly complex role-play simulations was well-designed and allowed me to build confidence incrementally rather than feeling thrown into the deep end. The pacing felt intentional, and each simulation built meaningfully on the last.
This program was exceptional! I found each of the 10 Modules more interesting than the previous one. I had no real experience in my law practice as a mediator since I spent my career advocating and litigating on behalf of my injured worker clients in the law firm I helped found.
Your program opened my mind and heart to another way to approach problem solving! I particularly appreciated the methods you used in your introductions to each module before diving into the particulars of each set of lessons. It set a framework in my brain of what to expect, which made it easier to really learn once I began the tutorials. Thank you!
I found the course thorough, well constructed and full of valuable content. I hadn't used AI for anything more than parlor tricks. It really felt like I was carrying on a conversation with other people. In fact I had to remind myself more than once I wasn't.
All-in-all, the course was a positive experience. I feel it will benefit me quite a bit in my mediation practice.
This was not a passive, checkbox course. It was self-paced, highly interactive, and designed for real learning rather than simply earning a certificate. I was able to progress through the material around a demanding schedule, with extensive reference resources available for deeper study. The strong emphasis on individualized feedback made the experience practical, engaging, and genuinely valuable.
This 40-hour mediation training exceeded my expectations in both content and delivery. The course was well-structured, practical, and thoughtfully paced, allowing me to build skills progressively while also having time to reflect and integrate what I was learning. The role-plays, scenarios, and guided reflections helped translate theory into practice and deepened my understanding of interest-based negotiation, mediator neutrality, ethical boundaries, and effective communication techniques. I also appreciated the clear explanations of the mediation process, from intake through closure, and the attention given to drafting durable, balanced agreements.
This Mediation Course was phenomenal; it covered everything. I have no questions after the end of this course; it was very detailed, very professional, and very well explained. Dr. Ben Earwicker was professional and attentive. Thank you so much.
Self-paced learning has been the most valuable part of this course for me. I am able to work through each module, review the mediation prompt, and reflect before beginning the exercise. The self-paced design continues to help me absorb the material, reflect, and apply theory in a deliberate way rather than simply enduring an extended training session.
Dr. Earwicker's certification was a fun, engaging, and highly responsive mediation course that brings real-world skills to life. Practical, interactive, and confidence-buildingāIād recommend it to anyone serious about mediation. Thank you, too, for being very quick and responsive. It made the class very relaxing not having to wait long for feedback or help.
The Virtual Mediation program was a great find! The role-play simulations and practical application of mediation skills were the most valuable to me. They helped me better understand how theory translates into real conversations. The course helped me strengthen my active listening, neutrality, and confidence in managing difficult discussions. I found that this course presented a clear structure, realistic scenarios, and opportunities to practice mediator language. Thank you for all of your wonderful feedback and for the opportunity to be a part of this course.
I appreciated how quickly assignments were graded and feedback was given, which helped me build confidence in myself and helped me know what things I could easily improve upon. The videos were engaging, and the amount of work involved was very reasonable. I can tell you put a lot of thoughtful work and effort into this curriculum. Thank you!
This mediation certification course provided me with more information than I realized would even be available. It provided me with real time scenario situations to mediate using the skills I had learned from the videos. What I found most important was the feedback directly from Dr. Earwicker. It wasnāt just cut and paste feedback. It was very specific to my mediation in my reflections
What stood out most to me in your approach was the way you integrated AI into the course. I thought that was ingenious. Iāve taken other mediation courses before and, frankly, many of them felt flatāthey simply didnāt translate well into practice. Your use of AI, by contrast, added an immediacy and practicality that made the lessons come alive. It allowed me to apply what you were teaching contemporaneously, which was invaluable.
Ultimately, this course has helped me evolve from a problem-solver to a solution-facilitator, which I believe will make me not only a more effective attorney, but also a better communicator overall.
In this course, I have come to appreciate that mediation is more than simply managing disputesāit is about creating a safe and constructive space where people can be heard, respected, and guided toward resolution. The role-play simulations allowed me to put theory into practice and experience the challenge of balancing neutrality, empathy, and structure while facilitating difficult conversations.
I wasn't sure how an online training would work for this, but am pleasantly surprised at how effective this training was. I appreciate the time and effort you took to create it, as I would not have been able to receive such great training otherwise - my schedule prevented anything in person. Thank you for everything!
As a licensed clinical social worker, I came into this course with a strong foundation in therapeutic communication, emotional attunement, and conflict work. What this course added for me was a more structured framework for mediationāparticularly how to remain neutral and process-focused in situations where my clinical instincts might otherwise lead me toward interpretation or problem-solving.
As a recent college grad, online classes have been something that I have oftentimes disliked just because of the difficulty of teaching through online lectures. These lectures bypassed many of my fears as they were incredibly informative and helpful. I enjoyed that the modules were laid out so that the exercises that were assigned made sense with the material we had been learning. I was also very impressed by the chat bot model for the exercises as they were surprisingly realistic.
This was a fantastic course with a variety of teaching modalities and thorough content to prepare me for the world of mediation. I am far more confident in my skills after the AI role-play practices and incorporating Dr. Earwicker's feedback after each assignment. Highly recommend!
As a therapist by trade, I found this course to be exceptionally clear, well-structured, and directly applicable to my clinical and professional work. The material was presented in a way that made complex mediation concepts feel accessible without oversimplifying them, which I truly appreciated. The explanations were thoughtful, grounded, and practical, allowing me to immediately see how the skills translate into real-world situations.
Overall, I truly am impressed with the content of the course, and how it is flowing. I'm so impressed by the course :). Thank you, I look forward to what's left!
Even though I came in with no background in mediation, the course helped me feel well prepared. The ideas about interest-based communication and de-escalation really stuck with me and helped during the role-plays. I now see how these tools can apply not just in mediation, but in everyday situations too.
I like the way this course builds. You provide the information, confirm with quizzes, then allow for use of knowledge ā role play. I also enjoy that each role-play has built on the material and itself. It has given me the opportunity to improve including my active listening, open ended questions, reframing, and making sure I stay neutral.
The lectures contained a great deal of depth into a wide range of material, and I appreciated the source references so that I can deepen further into the material. I would highly recommend this course to anyone seeking good mediation training.
This class really helped me understand that mediation isnāt just about following a process ā itās about helping people feel heard and safe enough to communicate honestly. The whistleblower role-play between Maya, a senior accountant, and James, the CEO, was intense but realistic, and it gave me a chance to practice staying calm, neutral, and focused when emotions ran high.
This course has become an invaluable toolbox for meānot only in the context of mediating family law disputes, but also in transforming my overall approach to conflict
To be candid, when I began the class, I wasnāt terribly enthused. I thought it might be something I could shortcut my way through. In fact, it was quite the opposite. It required real effortābut I am better for it. Revisiting the fundamentals of the mediation process was refreshing, and I plan to read Getting to Yes because of your recommendation. I see its application not only in mediation, but in negotiation and everyday life.
One of the most eye-opening aspects of this course has been the exploration of implicit and explicit bias. These concepts have challenged me to reflect on my own assumptions and behaviors, and how they may inadvertently affect my interactions with clients, colleagues, and opposing counsel.
This course has become an incredibly enjoyable and enriching experience. Each module builds upon the last, and the tools Iāve gainedāespecially those related to planning strategies for a successful mediation practiceāare proving to be invaluable in both academic and personal contexts. The practical applications of these strategies have started to influence how I approach conflict resolution in my daily life, making me more thoughtful, intentional, and effective in my interactions.
Ultimately, this course is helping me evolve from a culturally aware attorney to a culturally responsive one. It is not enough to be familiar with different cultures; I must also be intentional in how I engage with them.
The inclusion in your program of both the tools needed to be a good mediator (such as active listening, managing emotions, bias and cultural diversity, ethical standards) and then the practical steps to build a mediation practice were invaluable. There were many suggestions that had not occurred to me before I signed up for your program when I was first asked to become a mediator by several judges in my legal community.
I give this course 5 stars out of 5. I appreciate how efficient it was to get the required 40 hour training without having to sit in a hotel conference room for a week, not get paid the whole time, and listen to someone read from slides with random Q&A for the same five participants. The on-demand format was fantastic.
As a therapist, I found this mediation course to be incredibly clear, well-organized, and immediately applicable to my work. The concepts were explained in a way that felt accessible without being simplistic, and the practical examples helped bridge theory and real-world practice. I especially appreciated how the course complemented my clinical skills while offering a distinct mediation framework. Overall, it was a thoughtful, engaging experience that I would highly recommend to other therapists and helping professionals.
Overall, this course significantly strengthened my confidence and competence as a developing mediator. I am well-prepared to apply these skills in professional and community settings, and I highly recommend this training to others seeking a comprehensive and practical mediation education.
ARIZONA 40-HOUR TRAINING FAQ
These answers help you distinguish foundational learning from program-specific qualification.
No. VirNet provides a certificate documenting completion of its own 40-hour curriculum, not an Arizona-issued mediator credential or guaranteed acceptance by a court, government program, or private organization. Verify requirements with the program in which you intend to serve.
The Attorney General's Conflict Resolution Program identifies at least 40 hours of basic mediation training and current mediation-facilitation experience for applicants. Course completion alone does not guarantee eligibility, panel admission, or program acceptance of the delivery format. Contact the program directly before enrolling for that purpose.
Do not assume so. A particular court or roster may require approved family mediation training, additional specialty instruction, professional experience, or other criteria. Ask the relevant Arizona court for its current rules and whether it accepts this course.
Yes. VirNet's curriculum is on-demand and includes interactive AI-assisted role-play, reflection, and applied exercises. Those activities are educational and should not be represented as court-supervised live mediations or as satisfying any program's observation or experience requirement without its confirmation.
A.R.S. § 12-2238 provides mediation confidentiality protections and identifies exceptions. Anyone practicing in Arizona should review the current statute and the rules applicable to the particular case or program rather than assuming all discussions and records are categorically protected.
All three options share the same 40-hour foundational curriculum. Self-Directed is independent study; Instructor-Guided includes individualized feedback; and Private Coaching adds five one-on-one sessions. Choose based on the guidance you want, after separately confirming any Arizona program requirement.
Training and eligibility requirements may change. VirNet is an independent education provider and does not claim endorsement by the Arizona courts or Attorney General's Office.
Learn what the program includes, what a completion certificate means, and what additional steps might apply in your jurisdiction.
Yes. The foundational course is offered online and on demand, with video learning materials, assignments, quizzes, and interactive practice exercises. Confirm any synchronous or in-person requirements imposed by your intended court or certification program.
All three include the complete curriculum. Self-Directed is independent study. Instructor-Guided includes feedback on two assignments in each of ten modules. Private Coaching adds five individual coaching sessions with Dr. Earwicker.
No particular professional degree is required to enroll in this foundational course. Certain courts or specialized programs may impose additional qualifications for their own rosters or credentials.
A certificate of completion is available after successful completion of the program and its requirements. It documents training completion and is not itself a government license, court appointment, or guarantee of eligibility.
Possibly, but not automatically. Court-connected programs may require approved training providers, specific instructional formats, subject-matter instruction, screening, mentoring, or separate applications. Verify the exact jurisdiction and roster requirements before enrolling for that purpose.
The course builds foundational skills and introduces professional pathways, but starting a practice also requires careful attention to ethical duties, local rules, business formation, insurance considerations, and the scope of services offered.
Students work through realistic, AI-assisted practice conversations while taking the mediator role, then reflect on the communication and process choices they made. Guided tiers add personalized review as described in the course.
Yes. The online curriculum is self-paced, making it possible to organize study around professional and family schedules. Individual coaching appointments in the Private Coaching option must be arranged.
Review the relevant court or program requirements and contact VirNet with your state and intended mediation role. We can explain the course format, but final eligibility and recognition decisions belong to the governing authority.
One 40-hour curriculum, three ways to learn, and a practical focus on the conversations mediators actually navigate. Choose your preferred level of support and review the course before enrolling.