IMA New Mediator Training

40+ hours of live instruction, expert coaching and foundational content essential to becoming a mediator

  Enroll in Course

This is the essential introductory mediation course. It is a cutting-edge certificate program for new mediators to build skills and confidence.

Our blended learning approach includes live coaching, community support, online self-paced learning and hands-on practice, designed for your convenience.

This course includes the following components:

  • FOUNDATIONAL CONTENT:
    • WHEN: Available immediately upon registration
    • Self-paced and interactive content
    • Assessments, worksheets and video library
    • Supportive online community of new and seasoned mediators
    • Guidance to develop your unique opening statement and mediator style
    • Bonus content and suggested reading

  • COACHED MEDIATION SIMULATIONS
    • WHEN: Available immediately upon registration
    • Virtual mediation simulations based on actual cases
    • Observe, practice and build mediation skills
    • Live sessions to schedule at your convenience
    • Practice with mediators from diverse backgrounds and skill levels
    • State-of-the-art online mediation training
    • Coaching, feedback and support included

This course is perfect for you if:

  • You are frustrated by disagreements that don’t make sense or escalate for seemingly no reason at all
  • You have experienced conflicts that get in the way of your team’s success
  • You are considering launching your own mediation practice
  • You want to enhance your skills in negotiation, communication, listening and/or managing people
  • You long for mediation skills, but do not have the resources or time for a standard 5-day classroom training
  • You took mediation training ages ago and want to refresh your skills
  • You want to earn a 40-hour mediator Certificate of Completion

The IMA New Mediator Course is the introductory-level course for anyone who wants to learn how to mediate. The curriculum in this course exceeds the 40-hour requirements of most court-annexed and community mediation programs. Our courses are designed to maximize your time and learning.

We combine videos of real and simulated mediations, homework and live experiential instruction. Participants receive certificate upon successful completion of each course.

Whether you plan to use mediation skills formally or informally, this course will benefit you.

Looking back on her journey, IMA's founder and CEO, Kate Otting, realized the first mediation course she took 30 years ago was dreadful. She explains, "We sat through lectures that explained what mediation was. (Like everyone else, I slept through those.) The trainer was too busy to provide valuable feedback. We were handed scripts to memorize. We practiced using unrealistic scenarios."

In other words, after experiencing chaotic, uninspiring, overwhelming and disempowering training, Kate understood why the field was stagnant. With the exception of IMA's state-of-the-art training, it's still hard to find a dynamic learning environment with small group sessions that are coached by empowering and supportive professionals. Most other mediation courses require 5 full days of classroom learning. They leave little room for personal development or unique approaches to mediation.

What this course is NOT:

  • Five days of sitting in front of your computer
  • Full of long, boring lectures
  • A stuffy (or freezing cold) classroom setting
  • Demanding any unrelated expenses (travel, lodging, meals)
  • Learning with the same few students in a cohort
  • Time away from work or family
  • Inflexible or demanding
  • Limited to 40 hours (there's plenty of bonus material to explore!)

IMA has revolutionized mediation training. While many mediator-trainers have kept up with the latest research and terminology, most courses are not accessible to busy, working professionals. With over 25 years in the field, we have found it's better to provide you the foundational materials and instruction while you engage in the hands-on learning alongside mediators of all skill levels from around the world.

Moreover, you will learn from our brilliant team of mediator-coaches. Check out our team here.

You won't find another program like this anywhere.

We prepare you to enter the practice of mediation with a solid understanding of mediation principles, skills and applications.

This course offers you everything the old-fashioned classroom-style 40-hour mediation course offers, plus plenty of bonus materials for you to explore and advance your skills.

This course may meet CLE requirements for attorneys, as well as continuing credits for other professions.


Course Curriculum


  Course outline - take a peek
Available in days
days after you enroll

Courses Included with Purchase



IMA New Mediator Online Course Instructions: START HERE
Start your IMA New Mediator journey here.
Kate Otting
IMA New Mediator - Online
The essential introductory mediation course with 40+ hours of blended learning, hands-on practice and expert coaching.
Interaction Management Associates
$678
IMA Mediation Simulation Lab
Advance your mediation skills with coaching and support in 1-hour small group sessions
Interaction Management Associates
$619
IMA New Mediator - Online - OPTIONAL CONTENT
The essential introductory mediation course with 40+ hours of blended learning, hands-on practice and expert coaching.
Interaction Management Associates

Original Price: $1,297


Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
You gain immediate access to the course upon enrollment. Once enrolled, you will have full access to work on it at your own pace. Keep in mind that you will need to fit the required 12 mediation simulations into your schedule. Information about how to sign up for the mediation simulations is explained in the course. Upon completion of the required course content, including the simulations, you will take the final assessment to receive your Certificate of Completion.
How long do I have to complete the course?
After enrolling, you will have access to the online portion of the course for the duration of your purchase, including access to the required 12 simulations, until you receive your Certificate of Completion or your purchase has expired. Most students enroll for a 12-month period, but you should check the details of your enrollment or email [email protected] if you are unsure.
What can I do with a Certificate of Completion in mediation?
A certificate may qualify you to mediate in most courts and it often satisfies continuing education requirements for professionals. In most places, there is no process to officially "certify" mediators. Participants should check with local jurisdictions to find out what you may need in order to be an official mediator wherever you may wish to mediate. More than likely, this course will meet or exceed the requirements. We can guarantee you this: upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion.
Who should take this class?
Anyone who wants to learn how to mediate conflicts, whether in the workplace, within their professions, in communities, in the classroom, within organizations, as volunteers or as parents. Being a third party interventionist requires not only the foundational training included in the online portion of this program, but also the hands-on guidance, practice and support provided in this IMA New Mediator Course.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied, contact us in the first 14 days of your purchase or first payment (if on payment plan) and we will give you a full refund. We cannot refund recipients of scholarships of any amount. If you find you are unable to the course in the allotted time, please contact us, as we may be able to enroll you in a subsequent session, for a nominal transfer fee.
What kind of education or training do I need before taking this course?
None! There are no prerequisites. People from all backgrounds take mediation training. The beautiful thing is that it does not require you to have special training or degrees. In fact, you'll hear some people with advanced degrees say they struggle to "unlearn" many of the things they've been taught before taking mediation training.
What can I do with mediation training?
You could launch a career as a mediator or use this course to boost your skills in your current career. You will learn how to better manage conflicts between people. It can improve the way you supervise, manage, volunteer, parent or participate in your community!
Does this course qualify for continuing education (CLE, CME, CEU, CPE, etc) credits?
This course may meet continuing education requirements for attorneys, mental health professionals, teachers, accountants, as well as continuing credits for other professions. In most cases, our students have found the Certificate of Completion satisfies most continuing or professional education requirements. It is incumbent upon participants to check with the appropriate governing body, agency or jurisdiction to determine whether it qualifies.
How often do you offer this course?
The course is always open for enrollment! You don't have to wait.
What if I can't complete some portions of the course?
Completion of the course is mandatory for receiving a Certificate of Completion. Most mediation courses require participants to clear five full days for instruction. We have created a platform that is convenient for you to receive top-quality mediation training. It's important that you clear your calendar and ensure you have the time, equipment and working internet to complete the course.
What equipment is required?
Participants must have the following equipment: a laptop, tablet or mobile device with a working webcam, microphone and speaker/headphones plus stable internet/wifi connection. If you do not have the proper equipment, contact [email protected] to see if we will be in your area for a classroom-based course.
Do you offer a classroom version of the IMA New Mediator course?
Occasionally, based on demand, we will offer an in-person 40-hour classroom version of the IMA New Mediator Course. If you are interested in a future classroom version of this course, please let us know.
How will I get hands-on experience in a virtual training?
In this course, you will participate in at least 12 live, coached mediation simulations with mediators from around the world. You also have opportunities to build your own unique style and receive supportive feedback from mediators of all levels. In a traditional classroom setting, you would receive 40 hours of live instruction, much of which would be lecture and discussion. Only a few hours of those traditional courses would be dedicated to practicing actual cases, as we do in the IMA New Mediator. Moreover, in a classroom, you would be with a limited number of students. In our course, you will participate in live sessions with mediators from diverse backgrounds from around the world, coached by IMA trainers in a very supportive setting.
What are the mediation simulations?
These are the culminating experience of your mediation training. Think of the simulation portion of your training as a lab, where you role-play real mediation cases. We have hundreds of case studies, based on actual mediations, which we give participants to use to practice their skills. Every simulation lab will have 3-6 participants plus an IMA coach. Each New Mediator must complete 12 of these 1-hour simulations. We encourage you to sign up for these right away, so you can begin to feel comfortable. We offer multiple options each week to accommodate busy schedules across multiple time zones. We assign participants to observe, role-play a disputant with a provided scenario or as the mediator. Your assignment will be based on how much time you have spent in the simulations. We will typically assign someone to the mediator role only after they have participated in at least 6 simulations. In each simulation, you'll have different participants, including your IMA New Mediator classmates, as well as members of our Master Mediator program, providing you a rich experience. At the end of each session, the coach offers a debriefing, feedback and Q&A session.

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